Gov. DeSantis signs new animal protection laws into effect

Danny Federico  reporter3.riverbendnews@gmail.com Two new laws targeting both animal abandonment during emergencies and aggravated animal cruelty were recently signed into law by Governor Ron DeSantis. Florida Senate Bill 150, known as Trooper's Law, makes it a third-degree felony to restrain or abandon a dog during a declared disaster or evacuation. Offenders could face up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000. The legislation also codifies penalties for "failing to provide confined animals with sufficient food, water and exercise" and for abandoning an animal as first-degree misdemeanors with similar fines. The law was named after Trooper, a dog rescued by the Flori