Domestic Animals

828.12 Cruelty to animals.—

(7) Beginning January 1, 2026, the Department of Law Enforcement shall post on its website, in a searchable format prescribed by the department, the names of those individuals who have been convicted of, or who have entered a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to, regardless of adjudication, a violation of this section.

828.12 Cruelty to animals.—

(7) By January 1, 2027 , the Department of Law Enforcement shall post on its website, in a searchable format prescribed by the department, the names and any aliases, the date of birth, the race, the counties of conviction, the 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.

(8) Each clerk of court and county detention facility must provide the Department of Law Enforcement with the information, data, and images required in subsection (7).

828.29 Dogs and cats transported or offered for sale; health requirements; consumer guarantee .—

(5) If, within 14 days following the sale by a pet dealer of an animal subject to this section, a licensed veterinarian of the consumer’s choosing certifies that, at the time of the sale, the animal was unfit for purchase due to illness or disease, the presence of symptoms of a contagious or infectious disease, or the presence of internal or external parasites, excluding fleas and ticks; or if, within 1 year following the sale of an animal subject to this section, a licensed veterinarian of the consumer’s choosing certifies such animal to be unfit for purchase due to a congenital or hereditary disorder which adversely affects the health of the animal; or if, within 1 year following the sale of an animal subject to this section, the breed, sex, or health of such animal is found to have been misrepresented to the consumer, the pet dealer shall afford the consumer the right to choose one of the following options:

(a) The right to return the animal and receive a refund of the purchase price, including the sales tax , and reimbursement for reasonable veterinary costs directly related to the veterinarian’s examination and certification that the dog or cat is unfit for purchase pursuant to this section and directly related to necessary emergency services and treatment undertaken to relieve suffering ;

(b) The right to return the animal and receive an exchange dog or cat of the consumer’s choice of equivalent value, and reimbursement for reasonable veterinary costs directly related to the veterinarian’s examination and certification that the dog or cat is unfit for purchase pursuant to this section and directly related to necessary emergency services and treatment undertaken to relieve suffering ; or

(c) The right to retain the animal and receive reimbursement for reasonable veterinary costs for necessary services and treatment related to the attempt to cure or curing of the dog or cat. Reimbursement for veterinary costs may not exceed the purchase price of the animal. The cost of veterinary services is reasonable if comparable to the cost of similar services rendered by other licensed veterinarians in proximity to the treating veterinarian and the services rendered are appropriate for the certification by the veterinarian.

(6) A consumer may sign a waiver relinquishing his or her right to return the dog or cat for congenital or hereditary disorders. In the case of such waiver, the consumer has 48 normal business hours, excluding weekends and holidays, in which to have the animal examined by a licensed veterinarian of the consumer’s choosing. If the veterinarian certifies that, at the time of sale, the dog or cat was unfit for purchase due to a congenital or hereditary disorder, the pet dealer must afford the consumer the right to choose one of the following options:

(a) The right to return the animal and receive a refund of the purchase price, including sales tax, but excluding the veterinary costs related to the certification that the dog or cat is unfit; or

(b) The right to return the animal and receive an exchange dog or cat of the consumer’s choice of equivalent value, but not a refund of the veterinary costs related to the certification that the dog or cat is unfit.

(7) A pet dealer may specifically state at the time of sale, in writing to the consumer, the presence of specific congenital or hereditary disorders, in which case the consumer has no right to any refund or exchange for those disorders .

(8) The refund or exchange required by subsection (5) or subsection (6) shall be made by the pet dealer not later than 10 business days following receipt of a signed veterinary certification as required in subsection (5) or subsection (6). The consumer must notify the pet dealer within 2 business days after the veterinarian’s determination that the animal is unfit. The written certification of unfitness must be presented to the pet dealer not later than 3 business days following receipt thereof by the consumer.

(10) If a pet dealer wishes to contest a demand for veterinary expenses, refund, or exchange made by a consumer under this section, the dealer may require the consumer to produce the animal for examination by a licensed veterinarian designated by the dealer. Upon such examination, if the consumer and the dealer are unable to reach an agreement that constitutes one of the options set forth in subsection (5) or subsection (6) within 10 business days following receipt of the animal for such examination, the consumer may initiate an action in a court of competent jurisdiction to recover or obtain reimbursement of veterinary expenses , refund, or exchange .

(12) Every pet dealer who sells an animal to a consumer must provide the consumer at the time of sale with a written notice , printed or typed, which reads as follows:

It is the consumer’s right, pursuant to section

828.29, Florida Statutes, to receive a certificate of

veterinary inspection with each dog or cat

purchased from a pet dealer. Such certificate shall

list all vaccines and deworming medications

administered to the animal

and shall state that the

animal has been examined by a Florida-licensed

veterinarian who certifies that, to the best of the

veterinarian’s knowledge, the animal was found to have

been healthy at the time of the veterinary

examination. In the event that the consumer purchases

the animal and finds it to have been unfit for

purchase as provided in section 828.29(5), Florida

Statutes, the consumer must notify the pet dealer

within 2 business days of the veterinarian’s

determination that the animal was unfit. The consumer

has the right to retain, return, or exchange the

animal and receive reimbursement for certain related

veterinary services rendered to the animal, subject to

the right of the dealer to have the animal examined by

another veterinarian.

(13) For the purposes of subsections (5)-(12) and (16), the term “pet dealer” means any person, firm, partnership, corporation, or other association which, in the ordinary course of business, engages in the sale of more than two litters, or 20 dogs or cats, per year, whichever is greater, to the public. This definition includes breeders of animals who sell such animals directly to a consumer.

(17) Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, a person who violates any provision of this section commits a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.

828.29 Dogs and cats transported or offered for sale; health requirements; consumer guarantee; disclosures.—

(5) If, within 30 days after the sale by a pet dealer of an animal subject to this section, a licensed veterinarian of the consumer’s choosing certifies that, at the time of the sale, the animal was unfit for purchase due to illness or disease, the presence of symptoms of a contagious or infectious disease, or the presence of internal or external parasites, excluding fleas and ticks; or if, within 1 year after the sale of an animal subject to this section, a licensed veterinarian of the consumer’s choosing certifies such animal to be unfit for purchase due to a congenital or hereditary disorder which adversely affects the health of the animal; or if, within 1 year after the sale of an animal subject to this section, the breed, sex, or health of such animal is found to have been misrepresented to the consumer, the pet dealer shall afford the consumer the right to choose one of the following options:

(a) The right to return the animal and receive a refund of the purchase price, including any interest accrued and sales tax or fees paid or due from the purchaser, and reimbursement for reasonable veterinary costs directly related to the veterinarian’s examination and certification that the animal is unfit for purchase pursuant to this section or directly related to necessary emergency services and treatment undertaken to relieve the suffering of such animal. If the consumer financed the animal pursuant to a financing agreement with the pet dealer, the pet dealer must ensure that the financing agreement is terminated without penalty to the consumer;

(b) The right to return the animal and receive an exchange animal of the consumer’s choice of equivalent value, and reimbursement for reasonable veterinary costs directly related to the veterinarian’s examination and certification that the animal is unfit for purchase pursuant to this section or directly related to necessary emergency services and treatment undertaken to relieve the suffering of such animal; or

(c) The right to retain the animal and receive reimbursement for reasonable veterinary costs for necessary services and treatment related to the attempt to cure or curing of the animal, or necessary emergency services or treatment undertaken to relieve the suffering of such animal received within 1 year after purchase . The cost of veterinary services is reasonable if comparable to the cost of similar services rendered by other licensed veterinarians in proximity to the treating veterinarian and the services rendered are appropriate for the certification by the veterinarian.

(6) All financing terms must be disclosed by the pet dealer to the consumer before the sale of the animal

.

(7) Before the sale of an animal, a pet dealer must provide to the consumer copies of records of all medical examinations or tests that were conducted on the animal or any medication given before the purchase of the animal. A pet dealer may specifically state at the time of sale, in writing to the consumer, the presence of specific congenital or hereditary disorders, in which case the consumer has no right to any refund or exchange for those identified disorders, if such consumer signs a notification that indicates that the animal has been examined by a veterinarian who determined that the animal has the identified congenital or hereditary disorder.

(8) The refund or exchange required by subsection (5) must be made by the pet dealer not later than 10 business days after receipt of a signed veterinary certification as required in subsection (5) . The consumer must notify the pet dealer within 7 business days after receipt of the veterinarian’s determination that the animal is unfit. The written certification of unfitness must be presented to the pet dealer not later than 3 business days following receipt thereof by the consumer.

(10) If a pet dealer wishes to contest a demand for veterinary expenses, refund, or exchange made by a consumer under this section, the dealer may require the consumer to produce the animal for examination by a licensed veterinarian designated by the dealer. Upon such examination, if the consumer and the dealer are unable to reach an agreement that constitutes one of the options set forth in subsection (5) within 10 business days after receipt of the animal for such examination, the consumer may initiate an action in a court of competent jurisdiction, or the county court small claims court division, in the county where the animal owner resides, to recover or obtain reimbursement of veterinary expenses and a refund, or exchange, as set forth in subsection (5), and may collect punitive damages in an amount not less than $2,500 at the discretion of the court.

(12) Every pet dealer who sells an animal to a consumer must provide the consumer at the time of sale with a printed, written notice in 14-point boldface type to be signed by the consumer which is separate from the contract and reads as follows:

RIGHT TO CANCEL

Florida consumers have certain rights under section

828.29, Florida Statutes. You have the right to: 1)

return the animal; 2) exchange the animal; and 3)

receive reimbursement for certain veterinary expenses

under certain circumstances. Please have your new pet

seen by a veterinarian immediately. A copy of this law

is attached to this notice.

It is the consumer’s right, pursuant to section

828.29, Florida Statutes, to receive a certificate of

veterinary inspection with each animal

purchased from a pet dealer. Such certificate shall

list all vaccines and deworming medications

administered to the animal and list any medical

diagnosis and treatments

. In the event that the consumer purchases

the animal and finds it to have been unfit for

purchase as provided in section 828.29(5), Florida

Statutes, the consumer must notify the pet dealer

within 7 days after the veterinarian’s

determination that the animal was unfit. The consumer

has the right to retain, return, or exchange the

animal and receive reimbursement for certain related

veterinary services rendered to the animal, subject to

the right of the dealer to have the animal examined by

another veterinarian.

...(Signature of Animal owner or Lessee, or Owner’s or Lessee’s Authorized Person)...

(13) For the purposes of this section , the term “pet dealer” means any person, firm, partnership, corporation, or other association which, in the ordinary course of business, engages in the sale of more than three litters, or 30 dogs or cats, per year, whichever is greater, to the public. This definition includes breeders of animals who sell such animals directly to a consumer. This definition does not include not-for-profit entities that do not purchase dogs or cats from a breeder or broker.

(17) Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, a person who violates this section commits a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.

(18) Any record provided to a consumer pursuant to the sale of an animal under this section must be maintained by the pet dealer for a period of at least 7 years after the sale.

(19) A pet dealer who violates this section commits an unfair method of competition or an unfair or deceptive act or practice in violation of part II of chapter 501 and is subject to the penalties and remedies provided for such violations.