January 1st: New Florida Law Adds Animal-Cruelty Database
Under legislation recently signed by Ron DeSantis, Florida is establishing a statewide public database of animal-cruelty offenders. The measure — Dexter’s Law (House Bill 255 of 2025) — requires the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) to maintain a searchable online database listing individuals convicted of, or who pleaded guilty or no contest to, crimes under the state’s cruelty-to-animals statute.
The law also increases penalties for aggravated animal cruelty: when the offense involves the knowing and intentional torture or killing of a companion animal, sentencing points are multiplied by 1.25.
Although the law took effect July 1, 2025, the database itself is now posted online at https://web.fdle.state.fl.us/dexter/about.jsf. According to the statute, once operational, the database will include the names (and potentially photographs or other identifying details) of individuals found guilty or who entered pleas for animal-cruelty offenses — even in cases where adjudication was withheld.
Debbie Darino, founder and president of the Ponce Animal Foundation, worked to get this legislation passed during the 2025 session. She was also behind Ponce’s Law, which is the felony animal abuse statute in the State of Florida, passed in 2018.
The database aims to provide transparency — enabling shelters, rescues, and pet adopters to screen out individuals with a history of cruelty before allowing them to adopt or handle animals.