Florida Animal Cruelty Laws
In the state of Florida there are many laws that offer protection to animals from acts of cruelty. These laws cover many different species and situations, and the penalties for violation range from a less severe misdemeanor to a steep felony.
If you have been criminally charged with animal cruelty in Florida, you may face an aggressive prosecution that is eager to have you convicted even if the evidence is questionable. It is therefore important that you consult with an experienced criminal defense lawyer to discuss the details of your case and to begin preparing a sound legal defense for court.
Cruelty to Animals
A person may be found guilty of animal cruelty under a number of scenarios. Under Florida law, animal cruelty is punishable as either a first degree misdemeanor or a third degree felony and may include:
- Driving an animal to work to the point of exhaustion
- Tormenting or mutilating an animal
- Starving an animal or denying it shelter
- Carrying an animal in a vehicle in an inhumane or cruel way
Anyone who commits any of the above acts and causes injury or death to an animal may be charged with cruelty to animals.
Animal Fighting Act
The Animal Fighting Act is a wide-ranging law that may be prosecuted as either a third degree felony or first degree misdemeanor. Animal fighting may include any of the following offenses:
- Baiting an animal or using an animal to bait another
- Owning or operating a facility that is used for fighting animals or for baiting animals
- Hosting, advertising, or charging admission to a fight between two animals
- Betting on an animal fight
- Attending an animal fight
Anyone involved in animal fighting, whether as a spectator, gambler, manager, owner, host, operator, breeder, or other participant, may be charged with criminal animal fighting.
Contact Us
Don’t enter the courtroom feeling unprepared to defend your case. If you have been charged with animal cruelty, contact the West Palm Beach criminal attorneys of Eric N. Klein & Associates, P.A. today at 561-353-2800.
