Quote:JUST IN: The father of @MattGaetz - Florida State Sen. Don Gaetz - has just filed legislation making it a 3RD DEGREE FELONY to commit animal cruelty during a state of emergency.

The charge is normally a misdemeanor.

This comes after a dog was found TIED TO A POLE before Hurricane Milton. Luckily, the guy was caught and charged.

The dog, Trooper, found a new family as well.

Quote:State Sen. Don Gaetz files bill to hike penalties for animal cruelty during emergencies
Florida News
By Amber Jo Cooper
Published Jan. 8, 2025, 10:57 a.m. ET | Updated Jan. 8, 2025

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – State Sen. Don Gaetz has filed SB 150, a bill to increase criminal penalties for animal cruelty offenses committed during a declared state of emergency.

Currently, it is a first degree misdemeanor if a person “unnecessarily overloads, overdrives, torments, deprives of necessary sustenance or shelter, or unnecessarily mutilates, or kills any animal, or causes the same to be done, or carries in or upon any vehicle, or otherwise, any animal in a cruel or inhumane manner.”

The bill would make it a third-degree felony for anyone who commits a violation during a state of emergency.

The bill is filed months after State Attorney Suzy Lopez announced she is pursuing animal cruelty charges against the owner of the dog found tied to a pole along the interstate before Hurricane Milton’s landfall.

If passed, the bill will take effect July 1.

As a dog person, and an admirer of most animals in general, I like it. Being cruel to a helpless animal should carry strict penalties.

I guess this just moves up the minimum penalty, cause I know they charged that guy with a felony a few months ago.

(01-09-2025 07:57 AM)TigerBlue4Ever Wrote:  As a dog person, and an admirer of most animals in general, I like it. Being cruel to a helpless animal should carry strict penalties.

Same here. I have had dogs all my life. Just lost my all time favorite not too long ago. For many years, he sat on the arm of my chair with me while I worked on my website, and learned to type with my left arm up in the air, lol.

I can't imagine what kind of person would deliberately get out of their car on the interstate, put their dog in a puddle of water in a thunderstorm, then chain it to a fence and abandon it, as a hurricane was moving ashore.

Answering to a felony doesn't seem like punishment enough. At least they found the creep.

(01-09-2025 07:57 AM)TigerBlue4Ever Wrote:  As a dog person, and an admirer of most animals in general, I like it. Being cruel to a helpless animal should carry strict penalties.

This


Plus there is a special place in hell for people who do it

Wow, for one how can you abandon this breed of dog? Those dogs are expensive. Good law.

The animal abuse stories are always in Florida