On July 1, 2020, domestic violence survivors in Florida received expanded legal protections that include their pets. Governor Ron DeSantis signed the bipartisan Senate Bill 1082 into law in June, 2020 allowing courts to include their pets in restraining orders against abusers.1 Perpetrators of coercive control may target pets as a means of inducing fear and submission in the victim, putting their lives at risk….
Animal Cruelty
Animal cruelty occurs when someone causes unnecessary pain, suffering, or death to an animal, usually a pet. Severe neglect, such as withholding food or water, can also cause suffering or put the animal at risk of death.
Penalties for animal cruelty include up to one year in jail and fines up to $5,000. However, with aggravating factors, the punishment may rise to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine. In Florida, harming an animal results in criminal charges.