(1) A person who 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, commits animal cruelty, a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or by a fine of not more than $5,000, or both.
(2) A person who intentionally commits an act to any animal, or a person who owns or has the custody or control of any animal and fails to act, which results in the cruel death, or excessive or repeated infliction of unnecessary pain or suffering, or causes the same to be done, commits aggravated animal cruelty, a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or by a fine of not more than $10,000, or both.
(a) A person convicted of a violation of this subsection, where the finder of fact determines that the violation includes the knowing and intentional torture or torment of an animal that injures, mutilates, or kills the animal, shall be ordered to pay a minimum mandatory fine of $2,500 and undergo psychological counseling or complete an anger management treatment program.
(b) A person convicted of a second or subsequent violation of this subsection shall be required to pay a minimum mandatory fine of $5,000 and serve a minimum mandatory period of incarceration of 6 months. In addition, the person shall be released only upon expiration of sentence, is not eligible for parole, control release, or any form of early release, and must serve 100 percent of the court-imposed sentence. Any plea of nolo contendere shall be considered a conviction for purposes of this subsection.
(3) A person who commits multiple acts of animal cruelty or aggravated animal cruelty against an animal may be charged with a separate offense for each such act. A person who commits animal cruelty or aggravated animal cruelty against more than one animal may be charged with a separate offense for each animal such cruelty was committed upon.
(4) A person 18 years of age or older commits a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084, if he or she causes or entices a minor to commit, or in the presence of a minor commits, a violation of subsection (2).
(5)(a) If a minor commits an act of animal cruelty as described in subsection (1) or subsection (2), the juvenile court must order the minor to undergo a psychological evaluation and, if recommended, receive counseling or treatment for a length of time as prescribed by the juvenile court.
(b) The minor’s parent or guardian, or the state if the minor is a ward of the state, shall pay the cost of the psychological evaluation, counseling, or treatment as ordered by the juvenile court in paragraph (a). If the juvenile court makes a finding of indigency and significant financial hardship, the court shall waive the fee or reduce it to an amount deemed appropriate. If the minor’s parent or guardian willfully refuses to follow the recommended treatment for the minor, the juvenile court may hold the parent or guardian in contempt.
(6) A veterinarian licensed to practice in the state shall be held harmless from either criminal or civil liability for any decisions made or services rendered under the provisions of this section. Such a veterinarian is, therefore, under this subsection, immune from a lawsuit for his or her part in an investigation of cruelty to animals.
(7) A person who intentionally trips, fells, ropes, or lassos the legs of a horse by any means for the purpose of entertainment or sport commits a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084. As used in this subsection, the term “trip” means any act that consists of the use of any wire, pole, stick, rope, or other apparatus to cause a horse to fall or lose its balance, and the term “horse” means any animal of any registered breed of the genus Equus, or any recognized hybrid thereof. This subsection does not apply when tripping is used:
(a) To control a horse that is posing an immediate threat to other livestock or human beings;
(b) For the purpose of identifying ownership of the horse when its ownership is unknown; or
(c) For the purpose of administering veterinary care to the horse.
(8) In addition to other penalties prescribed by law, a person who is convicted of a violation of this section may be prohibited by the court from owning, possessing, keeping, harboring, or having custody or control over any animal for a period of time determined by the court.
(9)(a) 1By January 1, 2027, the Department of Law Enforcement shall post on its website, in a searchable format prescribed by the department, the names and 2any aliases, the date of birth, the race, the counties of conviction, the charge or charges, the case numbers, the dispositions, the description of any identifying marks and tattoos, and a photograph taken at the time of booking related to the animal cruelty offense of each individual who has been convicted of, or who has entered a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to, regardless of adjudication, a violation of this section.
(b) The department shall post the information about each individual as required in paragraph (a) for the following periods:
1. Three years from the date of conviction, for a first conviction of a misdemeanor offense.
2. Five years from the date of conviction, for a first conviction of a felony offense.
3. Ten years from the date of conviction, for a subsequent conviction of either a misdemeanor or felony offense.
(c) The department shall develop a procedure to allow a person whose conviction has been overturned or who has received a sealing of the criminal history record for which his or her information was publicly posted as required in paragraph (a) to petition for the removal of his or her information. The department, after receiving a petition with adequate documentation, must remove such information from the website within 30 days. The department may adopt rules to implement this paragraph.
(d) Each clerk of court and county detention facility must provide the Department of Law Enforcement with the information, data, and images required in paragraph (a).
(10) Each clerk of court and county detention facility must provide the Department of Law Enforcement with the information, data, and images required in 3subsection (9).
History.—s. 4, ch. 4971, 1901; GS 3395; RGS 5244; CGL 7363; s. 2, ch. 70-50; s. 4, ch. 71-12; s. 949, ch. 71-136; s. 1, ch. 82-116; s. 2, ch. 89-194; s. 5, ch. 94-339; s. 1286, ch. 97-102; s. 26, ch. 99-391; s. 35, ch. 2000-308; s. 1, ch. 2002-51; s. 1, ch. 2013-245; s. 2, ch. 2018-87; s. 2, ch. 2025-102; s. 1, ch. 2026-76; s. 1, ch. 2026-78.
1Note.—As amended by s. 1, ch. 2026-76. The amendment by s. 1, ch. 2026-78, uses the word “Before” instead of the word “By.”
2Note.—As amended by s. 1, ch. 2026-76. The amendment by s. 1, ch. 2026-78, uses the word “all” instead of the word “any.”
3Note.—Substituted by the editors for a reference to subsection (7) to conform to the redesignation of subunits by s. 1, ch. 2026-78.
