ORLANDO, Fla. — A new Florida law is expanding the state’s animal abuse database, giving shelters, rescues and others more information to screen potential pet adopters.
The law, which took effect this week, requires the database to include additional identifying details for people convicted of animal abuse — not just their names.
What’s changing
Florida’s animal abuse database first launched Jan. 1 with the names of people convicted of animal cruelty offenses.
Under the updated law, the database must also include:
- Aliases
- Dates of birth
- Race
- Case information
- Identifying marks or tattoos
- Mugshots
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement has until Jan. 1 to add the newly required information and records.
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How shelters can use it
The database is intended to help animal shelters, rescue organizations and prospective pet owners identify people with prior animal-abuse convictions before placing an animal in their care.
“This is like a resource tool, basically,” database user Darino said. “Look their name up, make sure they’re not in the database, so that you don’t give that animal to an animal abuser.”
Supporters say the added information could make it easier to distinguish people with common names and verify whether a potential adopter has a history of animal abuse.
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