Florida Animal / Dog Law Questions & Answers
Q: As a tenant do I have to remove my pets when the homeowner is showing house to perspective buyer or can I use a crate?
I have 5 dogs and on several occasions I have moved them outside in their crates for the agent to show the house. More than one occasion the agent never showed and I waited outside for greater than 45 minutes. Its hot outside to wait that long. There is no defined time of any showing I receive... Read more »
You should discuss that with the homeowner or real estate agent, since safety of both your pets and the prospective buyers and other persons coming into the house is of the greatest concern. Don't forget that people make appointments to see the house and then never show up so it is not always the... Read more »
Q: If we dog sit and the dog has puppies at our home who has rights to the puppies?
The woman can no longer have the mother at her home. The day we picked her up she told us she was, house trained and pregnant(first time hearing it) she now stated she just wants us to take care of them until she can find a place. The mother gave birth her second night with us. We would like to... Read more »
No, the puppies belong to the owner of the dog.
Q: I let a person pet sit . They wont return my dog a police wont help me. What now
She got evicted played games bout her location. O found her police wont help. Hes no pure breed . And I have 4 yrs of pics along with papers stateing he is my emotional support dog. But police couldn't find her. 2 months have passed I've located her police still wont help me
If you have the location of the dog, advise the police; you may need to file a report with the police...
Q: Animal control showed up because r/m has been neglecting her animals. Stopped trying to help when r/m became abusive.
Was also not in a financial situation to care for them as I just gained employment on 7.19.19. I have an 11 year old child that I have struggled to feed and shelter due to finances and have been trying to get out of this unhealthy environment. Animal control said that all persons in the home could... Read more »
What is a r/m?
https://acronyms.thefreedictionary.com/R%2FM
Q: My dog was given away without my consent 2 years ago - I have been trying to get her back but they refuse - can I sue?
I bought my dog in 2008 and she lived with my wife and I from 2008-2015. My wife and I split up but on good terms and I left her with my wife to look after her when I had to go to england for medical care in 2016 In 2017 when i returned she had given the dog to her boyfriends dad without my... Read more »
Yes, you can sue for replevin (return of personal property). If your ex simply took the dog from her boyfriend's dad, that wouldn't be breaking the law and probably wouldn't be prosecuted criminally, assuming she can prove it belongs to you.
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 »
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