Ron DeSantis has been on a mission to crack down on animal abuse in Florida.
He's already signed tough laws that sent shockwaves through the state.
And Ron DeSantis just dropped the hammer on criminals who use children for this sick purpose.
New Bill Targets Adults Who Force Children Into Animal Abuse
DeSantis stood at Big Dog Ranch Rescue in Loxahatchee last week and announced his support for legislation that should make every parent's blood boil.
Criminals who force children to harm or sexually abuse animals could face five years in prison under identical bills filed by Democrat Senator Kristen Arrington and Republican Representative Linda Chaney.¹
SB 676 and HB 559 would create a third-degree felony for adults who abuse animals in front of children or encourage kids to do the same.
That includes bestiality, forcing animals to fight, or torturing them.
The new legislation establishes a pattern where adults who cause or contribute to a child committing an offense face escalating charges based on the severity.
An adult who helps a minor convicted of a third-degree felony would be charged with a first-degree misdemeanor.
If the child commits a second-degree felony, the adult faces a third-degree felony.
The penalties stack up from there.
DeSantis made it clear at the press conference that Florida won't tolerate adults corrupting children by involving them in animal cruelty.
"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.²
https://twitter.com/GovRonDeSantis/status/1993321812961493304?s=20
He told legislators to "churn this out" so he could return to Big Dog Ranch for an "even bigger celebration" when he signs it into law.²
DeSantis Built Momentum With Trooper's Law and Dexter's Law
The Governor's latest push follows two major victories from the 2025 legislative session that lawmakers passed overwhelmingly.
Trooper's Law made it a third-degree felony to restrain and abandon a dog outside during a natural disaster.³
The law was named after a Bull Terrier found tied to a Tampa fence as floodwaters rushed in ahead of Hurricane Milton.
Florida Highway Patrol troopers rescued the dog and gave him the nickname "Trooper."
Animal cruelty charges against his former owner were eventually dropped for lack of evidence of intent.
Dexter's Law lengthens prison sentences for Floridians who torture, mutilate, or kill pets.³
https://twitter.com/GovRonDeSantis/status/1993365700518236523?s=20
The law came after a bulldog mix named Dexter was found decapitated and dumped in St. Petersburg just days after being adopted from the Pinellas County Animal Shelter.
Both laws carry penalties of up to five years in prison and $10,000 in fines.
Dexter's Law also created Florida's first-ever animal abuse database requiring law enforcement to publicly post the names of convicted animal abusers.
Those on the registry are banned from owning, living with, or working with animals.
The database goes live in January 2026.
DeSantis is proving that Florida means business when it comes to protecting animals from sadistic criminals.
"Ninety-five percent of the people in our society would never do any of this," DeSantis explained at the May signing ceremony. "But you got that small number of people that just don't have that same basic care for the pets and these animals that everyone else does, and that can turn very sadistic."⁴
The new legislation targeting adults who involve children in animal abuse takes Florida's crackdown to another level.
Research has long shown a connection between animal cruelty and other forms of violence, including child abuse and domestic violence.
https://twitter.com/GovRonDeSantis/status/1993382053120032918?s=20
Florida law already recognizes this link and requires child protective investigators to report suspected animal cruelty to animal control officers.⁵
By criminalizing adults who corrupt children through animal abuse, DeSantis is attacking the problem at its root.
The 2026 legislative session begins January 13.
If this bill passes with the same overwhelming support as Trooper's Law and Dexter's Law, DeSantis will have another major victory in his campaign to make Florida the toughest state in the nation on animal cruelty.
¹ Livia Caputo, "Floridians who harm, sexually abuse animals near children could face 5 years in prison," Florida Phoenix, December 1, 2025.
² Ibid.
³ Ibid.
⁴ "Gov. DeSantis visits Big Dog Ranch in Loxahatchee, signs 2 bills focused on animal rights," WPTV, May 28, 2025.
⁵ "Chapter 39 Section 208 – 2024 Florida Statutes," The Florida Senate, 2024.
