Ron DeSantis has been on a roll protecting Florida's pets from abuse.
He signed laws cracking down on animal cruelty that sent a clear message to abusers.
And Ron DeSantis just blindsided Florida puppy mills with one move they never saw coming.
DeSantis announces crackdown on unethical dog breeders
Governor Ron DeSantis announced a sweeping new proposal to end puppy mill abuse across Florida during a press conference at Big Dog Ranch Rescue in Palm Beach County on Tuesday.
The timing couldn't be more crucial as shelters across the state face overcrowding and unethical breeders continue operating in the shadows.
"There are some bad actors who keep these animals in inhumane conditions, and we want to put an end to that type of practice in the state of Florida," DeSantis stated.¹
Florida's puppy mill problem has spiraled out of control in some parts of the state.
Miami-Dade County earned the shameful distinction of having the highest concentration of puppy-selling pet stores in the entire country according to a 2023 Humane Society report, with roughly 28 stores peddling dogs from commercial breeding operations.²
https://twitter.com/GovRonDeSantis/status/1993382053120032918?s=20
The proposal would force the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation to license all dog breeders and hold them accountable for abusive conditions.
That includes cramming multiple dogs in small cages, denying them access to water, overbreeding female dogs, and leaving animals exposed to extreme heat or cold.
Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson will partner with the state to develop science-based best management practices for ethical breeding using the same expertise his department applies to Florida's agricultural industry.
"We will work with the Florida Board of Veterinary Medicine to ensure that the BMPs are based on the latest advancements in animal care and are effective," Simpson explained.³
The legislation would establish a hotline for Floridians to report suspected abuse by breeders, giving concerned citizens a direct way to crack down on bad actors operating puppy mills.
Pet stores forced to prioritize shelter dogs over puppy mill puppies
DeSantis wants to require pet stores to offer space to local animal shelters for adoption events before they can use that space to sell dogs from commercial breeding operations.
With shelters across Florida facing dangerous overcrowding, this requirement would help save adoptable dogs from euthanasia.
"Why would we not want to be focusing on helping find these dogs homes that are in a shelter?" DeSantis asked. "That should be the priority one for everything that we're doing with respect to dogs."⁴
More than 70 local governments in Florida have already banned pet stores from selling dogs and cats, but DeSantis wants statewide action.
The proposal also includes consumer protections to end deceptive payment plans and predatory financial agreements that trap families into expensive purchases.
Veterinarians would be required to provide accurate bills of health to ensure sick dogs aren't passed off as healthy to unsuspecting buyers.
The Humane Society has represented numerous families stuck with thousands of dollars in veterinary bills after purchasing gravely ill puppies from pet stores that made false claims about the animals' care.
https://twitter.com/GovRonDeSantis/status/1993365700518236523?s=20
DeSantis also proposed increasing criminal penalties for individuals who abuse or torture animals in front of minor children, noting the psychological harm such acts cause to kids who witness the cruelty.
Legislature failed to act on similar proposals last year
Republican Representative Meg Weinberger of Palm Beach sponsored similar legislation during the 2025 session with a companion bill filed by Republican Senator Jonathan Martin in the Senate.
Their bills would have required breeders to register with the state, undergo inspections, and be listed in a public database.
Both bills died in the House Industries and Professional Activities subcommittee without ever receiving a vote.
Two other dog breeding bills also failed last year including HB 1481, which would have established a presumption that breeding female dogs is for breeding purposes and required breeder registration.⁵
HB 1583 would have required dog breeders to pay registration and renewal fees but also died in committee.⁶
"For three years, we've been working tirelessly to advance legislation that will hold bad breeders accountable to end the cruelty," Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation Secretary Melanie Griffin said at Tuesday's press conference.⁷
The American Kennel Club strongly opposed the previous bills, calling them "overreaching" and "anti-breeder."
AKC Director of Policy Analysis Phil Guidry warned that responsible breeders shouldn't be swept into regulatory crackdowns targeting puppy mills.
https://twitter.com/GovRonDeSantis/status/1993321812961493304?s=20
"As we look forward to the 2026 legislative session, we hope that all stakeholders will be included in developing reasonable, effective, and appropriately tailored solutions that ensure the health and welfare of dogs without punishing Florida's responsible breeders and dog owners," Guidry stated.⁸
The 2026 Florida Legislative session begins January 13, and lawmakers attending DeSantis's press conference pledged to push the puppy mill legislation.
DeSantis already signed Trooper's Law and Dexter's Law earlier this year, making it a felony to abandon and restrain a dog during a state of emergency and creating sentencing multipliers for anyone who tortures, mutilates, or kills a dog.
Both laws also established a public database of convicted animal abusers to prevent them from adopting pets.
Big Dog Ranch Rescue founder Lauree Simmons strongly backed DeSantis's proposal, describing the trauma seen in dogs rescued from irresponsible breeding operations.
"Let me be clear, we are not against good breeders. We value and respect ethical breeders who care for their dogs, maintain proper standards and preserve purebred lines with love and responsibility," Simmons said. "What we stand firmly against are the bad actors, the backyard breeders and puppy mills."⁹
Florida's puppy mills have operated in the shadows for too long while raking in profits from animal suffering.
DeSantis just put them on notice that their days of abusing dogs for money are numbered.
¹ Ron DeSantis, Press Conference at Big Dog Ranch Rescue, Florida Governor's Office, November 25, 2025.
² John Goodwin, Humane Society of the United States, "Miami-Dade County ranks highest in the country for pet stores peddling puppy mill puppies," Humane World for Animals, 2023.
³ Wilton Simpson, Press Conference at Big Dog Ranch Rescue, Florida Governor's Office, November 25, 2025.
⁴ Ibid.
⁵ "Gov. DeSantis introduces bill to crack down on puppy mills and bad breeders," WPBF, November 25, 2025.
⁶ Ibid.
⁷ Melanie Griffin, Press Conference at Big Dog Ranch Rescue, Florida Governor's Office, November 25, 2025.
⁸ Phil Guidry, "Statement on Florida dog breeding legislation," American Kennel Club, November 25, 2025.
⁹ Lauree Simmons, Press Conference at Big Dog Ranch Rescue, Florida Governor's Office, November 25, 2025.
