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FLORIDA - Florida has officially launched a statewide animal abuser database designed to publicly track individuals convicted of animal cruelty offenses across the state.
The online registry, maintained by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, was created under Dexter’s Law and allows the public, animal shelters, and rescue organizations to search for people who have been convicted of or entered guilty or no contest pleas to animal cruelty charges.
State officials say the goal is to increase transparency and prevent individuals with documented abuse histories from adopting or purchasing animals.
The law is named after Dexter, a four year old dog that was adopted from a Florida animal shelter and later killed.
According to arrest records, the suspect in Dexter’s case was charged with aggravated animal cruelty after investigators determined the dog suffered fatal injuries.
Court documents show the suspect was taken into custody and formally charged, though the criminal activity remains alleged until adjudicated in court.
Prior to the creation of the statewide database, animal welfare groups often had to search individual county court records to screen potential adopters.
The new system consolidates records into a single platform, listing offender names, dates of birth, offense details, and case outcomes.
Only individuals with qualifying convictions or plea agreements appear in the registry.
Dexter’s Law also expanded sentencing options for judges, allowing harsher penalties in severe animal cruelty cases and providing courts with more discretion when issuing bans on animal ownership.
The database went live at the start of the new year and is expected to be updated regularly as additional cases are reported.
State officials emphasize the registry is intended as a public safety and animal welfare tool, not a replacement for court records, and note that information listed reflects judicial outcomes, not accusations alone.