Florida Animal / Dog Law Questions & Answers
Q: Me and my boyfriend purchased a dog. I recently left him because he's abusive to me and the dog
Can I legally take the dog and not get arrested? He originally paid for him... he's not registered... I pay for all the vet bills toys and food. I care for the dog. The only thing he has with his name on it was when we bought the dog, the papers to register him, but he never was. Can he have me... Read more »
This not a criminal law question; this is a civil matter...sounds like the dog is a gift.
Q: renters insurance coverage to avoid landlord removing pitbull
I have already spoke with State Farm and have been informed that if my pitbull “goes off the rails” it will be fully covered in case of biting or anything and I will have my landlord added which leads me to can they still kick my dog out if I have them added and covered as well?
As I opined here before, this solution is the best one--as far as you should be concerned. However, before you sign up and pay for all the new liability coverage, you should discuss all of this with your landlord--because they may not want to accept your solution to their problem.
Here is... Read more »
Q: I have a pit bull puppy if I get renters insurance with coverage for my dog can my landlord still make my dog leave ?
The only reason their claiming I can’t have her is because there insurance doesn’t cover my dog.
Your plan to get insurance renters insurance will not solve this problem. Why? Because most renter's insurance policies are fire policies that do not cover all liability risks. Your employer is concerned because they do not have insurance to cover any lawsuit AGAINST THEM if your pit bull goes of... Read more »
Q: I had 2 dogs that I rescued kept them at a my mothers house for over 2yrs I rescued them 7-8 yrs ago I lived with my fa
family member called animal control had dogs removed without notifying me... they are gone. im54 don't have kids I live in arcadia florida went to sheriffs office they said I cannot press charges against them I have over 3,000 dollars invested in them shots ,food and the time I spent with them..... Read more »
Animal control, in most jurisdictions, won't pick up pets unless they've been abused or neglected, not simply because someone calls and says, "I don't want my pets anymore." Don't know if that's the case here, but your first step is to contact animal control to ask the reason for the pick-up and... Read more »
Q: I worked/boarded dogs in a kennel; can they hold my dogs until bill is paid when they haven't paid valid wages?
I boarded dogs at a kennel. After 5 months of payments the owner offered me a part-time job. It progressed from a 3-4 hour morning/evening to 24 hours (10 hrs in the kennel & 14 hrs in their home taking care of their 8 pets) over 3, 5, 7, or 10 day periods. On lunch, I was required to answer phones... Read more »
None of these historical facts matter because your former employer still has your dogs. After you have recovered your dogs you can think about suing these people for overtime wages and other things.
Q: 8 year old son bit by service dog at sports complex
My son jumped off the bleachers and ran over to a friend yelling their name. As he ran past the dog it bit the back of his leg. The dog owners are trying to claim that he kicked the dog and that because this is a service dog it is a misdemeanor. My son did not kick this dog and I feel they are... Read more »
You can sue the dog owner for your son's damages. Dog owners in Florida are strictly liable for injuries their dog causes to bite victims. Retain counsel here in Fl. on contingency fee. Good luck.
Q: I need to know is if I can sue someone for calling animal control on my dogs that haven’t hurt anyone
My dogs got captured by animal control and it is a $110 fee. They haven’t injured or hurt anyone in anyway. No one in my neighborhood has had a problem with them except for the people that called animal control.
If your dogs were running loose, Animal Control acted properly by impounding them. Keep your dogs in a fenced yard, in your house, or on a leash.
Q: I am being charged with animal cruelty in Flagler County Fl. I was protecting my animals on my property from the dog
I tried to scare off the dog for over an hour and it would not leave my area. at last resort, I was feeding birds and started to leave pen area and the dog was in the location of birds in a stalking manner so I shot him.
What is your question?
Q: 2 labs playing off leash on private property in Pasco County. Neighbor complains, seeks Animal Control fine. Thoughts?
Our two labs typically play off the leash on deed-restricted private property in Pasco County, Florida. Neighbor has complained previously several times of the dog's "smell." Now neighbor complains to Pasco County Animal Control that the dogs are a nuisance, while playing off the leash on private... Read more »
If the local ordinance requires dogs to be "under control". normally voice command isn't sufficient.
Q: I have my exhusband dogs and he won't take them back and I cant keep them. What can I do so he does. He's listed owner.
I gave him the dogs as a gift. During breakups throughout our marriage he always took them. We are now divorced and we already were when he left them with me. Agreements were never made between us. I now need him to take them for I can no longer care for them and he won't. He is listed as owner on... Read more »
Take them to the pound.
Q: My boyfriend and I break up we have two dogs and he wants one
I don’t want to separate them , they been together since 3 months old , we been together for 2 years + , I paid for most of dogs expenses. Do I have case
Since you aren't married, a divorce settlement (including equitable division of property) is not an option. It depends on which of you owns the dogs. Who paid for them?
Q: i'm a tenant who has a dog and my landlord is scared he will be held liable if my dog bites someone.
my dog isn't aggressive to strangers and doesn't have a history of biting. I've offered to get renters insurance but he's still scared of being sued being that he is the property owner. his homeowners insurance isn't helping at all with making him feel comfortable he's scared they will cancel his... Read more »
Your landlord doesn't seem to understand how insurance works. See if you can get your insurance broker to explain it to him.
Q: can a rv park decide to no longer allow your dog on their property? Even if you are a long term tenant...
My dog accidentally bit a mans foot going for a golf cart tire.
We have never had any previous issues. This was truely a one time accident where my 10 year old let him go by mistake.
Our lease was one printed sheet that said we agreed to pay $xxx per month for xxx months.... Read more »
Do you have a lease, and if so what does it say about dogs?
Q: Dog injured in hit/run. Police say it's not personal property. How do I prove it is, in FL? Statute?
Can't tell why you're asking - for insurance coverage purposes? A dog that you own is your personal property, and you may sue the driver and owner of the vehicle that struck your dog for your vet bills, and if your dog dies, for the fair market value of your dog. In some circumstances, you may... Read more »
Q: I Want to sue for ownership of my dog in Florida which they say my deceased husband gifted them.
I adopted a mixed breed dog in Idaho in 2008 for my then 7 year old son xmas/birthday. I was married in 12/2009. My dog has been with us until 12/2017. (My son is now 17 years old). My husband passed away 12/2017 in Florida and now my husband's family has been concealing the dog from me and now... Read more »
Is there a question here?
Q: I am being sued by a dogs owner who gave dogs to her neighbor who gave them to me.
Should the owner sue me, or the person she gave the dogs to? I am willing to give back the dogs, I've had them 8 months , understood they needed a forever home, I fed them, got shots update, last shots in 2016. Her children are in foster care for abandonment by her. she lives in a shelter, the dogs... Read more »
The owner was probably correct in suing both of you. You should attend the final hearing and explain that you arranged to deliver them to her but that she failed to show up at the meeting.
Q: If you take care of an animal for over 6 months with no bills for food can the old owners legally take him away
Did they give or sell the animal to you; or did you simply take care of it. If it's the former, it's yours and they can't legally take it from you.
Q: Can city police departments be sued for using dogs inside a criminals home ,and the dog was in the leash the whole time?
I had a warrant for right at three months for violation of probation. I had failed a drug screen at my out patient drug treatment class back in October 2018. On January 15,2019 i was arrested at my home . Although i did not come out of my house for 6 &1/2 hours,i feel the city police used... Read more »
I don't see it. They are required to secure fugitives. When you didn't come out you put yourself in that classification. If the dog was never unleashed they likely used the least intrusive alternative. Contact the Fla. civil liberties union to see if they have a different take.
Q: My neighbors have 6 dogs. They are little dogs but...
I have 2 young children with a 3rd on the way. These dogs are aggressive and have been known to bite. They have a fenced in back yard and let the dogs out of the front yard. Every time you drive down the road, you have to slam on your breaks to stop from hitting them. They have now began coming... Read more »
If you don't want to spend the money, for either a fence or an attorney, and if animal control won't help, the only remaining option is to not let your children out of the house unaccompanied.
If I were you I would advise the neighbors that, if they continue to let the dogs into the front... Read more »
Q: I gave my 2 micro chipped husky's away to someone for free, now they are selling them for $500. is the illegal?
Dogs are property. When you give property away, the recipient is free to sell that property. So yes.
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