Senate Bill 1356 (2026) — Handling of animals
SB 1356
Florida Bills
Florida Senate - 2026 SB 1356 By Senator Garcia 36-01238A-26 20261356__ Page 1 of 13 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. A bill to be entitled 1
An act relating to the handling of animals; creating 2 s. 585.701, F.S.; providing legislative findings and 3 intent; defining terms; requiring the Department of 4 Agriculture and Consumer Services to develop and adopt 5 rules, best management practices, and other measures 6 for dog breeding in this state; requiring the 7 department to consider certain criteria in developing 8 the rules; requiring the Board of Veterinary Medicine 9 to verify that the proposed rules meet certain goals; 10 providing construction; creating s. 828.265, F.S.; 11 providing legislative findings; defining terms; 12 preempting the regulatory and operational oversight of 13 local animal shelters to the department; requiring the 14 department to adopt certain rules; encouraging the 15 department to collaborate with certain entities; 16 amending s. 828.29, F.S.; requiring that a pet sale 17 financing agreement be terminated without penalty 18 under certain circumstances; deleting a limit on 19 veterinary costs under certain provisions; requiring 20 that all financial terms be disclosed to the consumer 21 before the sale of an animal; requiring a specified 22 mandatory waiting period between the purchase and 23 receipt of an animal if the transaction is financed by 24 the consumer and prohibiting the signing of such 25 agreement before the conclusion of such waiting 26 period; deleting certain provisions relating to a 27 consumer’s waiver relinquishing his or her rights to 28 return an animal; requiring a pet dealer to provide 29
Florida Senate - 2026 SB 1356 36-01238A-26 20261356__ Page 2 of 13 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. copies of specified medical records to a consumer; 30 revising requirements for a required notice to a 31 consumer; revising the text of the required notice; 32 requiring a pet dealer to retain a copy of the signed 33 notice; requiring that the consumer be given a copy of 34 the signed notice; requiring a pet dealer to retain 35 certain records for a specified timeframe; specifying 36 requirements for retail stores that offer animals for 37 sale; requiring retail stores to ensure that dog 38 breeders and dog breeding facilities from which the 39 store acquires dogs meet certain best management 40 practices; providing that violations constitute an 41 unfair method of competition or an unfair or deceptive 42 act or practice in violation of specified provisions 43 and are subject to penalties; providing a private 44 cause of action; providing construction; creating s. 45 828.291, F.S.; defining terms; requiring dog breeders 46 to apply to the Department of Business and 47 Professional Regulation for a certificate of 48 registration and to renew the certificate at specified 49 intervals; authorizing the department to investigate 50 certain claims; authorizing the department to 51 establish a whistleblower program for a specified 52 purpose; specifying requirements for such program; 53 providing penalties for specified practices and 54 conditions; requiring certain individuals, dog 55 breeders, and dog breeding facilities to be placed on 56 a public animal abuser database; requiring the 57 department to provide certain information to law 58
Florida Senate - 2026 SB 1356 36-01238A-26 20261356__ Page 3 of 13 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. enforcement for the purpose of pursuing criminal 59 charges; providing an effective date. 60 61 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 62 63
Section
Section 585.701, Florida Statutes, is created to 64 read: 65 585.701 Dog breeders; best management practices.— 66
(1) The Legislature finds that the safe and ethical 67 breeding of dogs in this state is a matter of great public 68 importance, and that breeding dogs for profit without regard for 69 the condition in which the dogs live or how they are cared for 70 is
an act of animal cruelty. Therefore, the Legislature intends 71 to ensure that dog breeding is done in an ethical manner by 72 establishing best management practices to ensure the humane 73 treatment of animals. 74
(2) As used in this section, the term: 75 (a) “Board” means the Board of Veterinary Medicine. 76 (b) “Breeding female dog” means a dog that has not been 77 spayed and is more than 6 months old and capable of 78 reproduction. 79 (c) “Department” means the Department of Agriculture and 80 Consumer Services. 81 (d) “Dog breeder” means a person who owns or possesses 82 breeding female dogs and offers for sale more than two litters 83 of dogs per calendar year. 84 (e) “Dog breeding facility” means a location that is the 85 site of a dog breeder which houses five or more breeding female 86 dogs. 87
Florida Senate - 2026 SB 1356 36-01238A-26 20261356__ Page 4 of 13 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. (f) “Litter” means the collection of dogs birthed, whether 88 naturally or from cesarean section, from a breeding female dog 89 from the same pregnancy. 90
(3) The department shall: 91 (
a) Develop and adopt rules, best management practices, and 92 other measures necessary to improve the practices of dog 93 breeders and dog breeding facilities in a way that protects this 94 state’s domestic animal resources and preserves a viable and 95 ethical dog breeding industry. In developing the rules, the 96 department shall consider, at a minimum, the spacing of and 97 sanitation guidelines for cages and pens, requiring adequate 98 access to clean water, limiting the number of times a breeding 99 female dog may be bred per year, and providing breeding female 100 dogs and their litters with appropriate shelter. 101 (
b) Before adopting any rules, best management practices, 102 and other measures required by paragraph (a), submit the 103 proposed rules to the board. The board shall verify that the 104 proposed rules, best management practices, and other measures 105 developed by the department will be reasonably effective in 106 achieving the goals of this section. The board shall notify the 107 department of its initial verification. 108
(4) This
section may not be construed to prohibit a local 109 jurisdiction from implementing requirements for dog breeders or 110 dog breeding facilities which are stricter than those in this 111
section or any rule adopted by the department. 112
Section
Section 828.265, Florida Statutes, is created to 113 read: 114 828.265 Regulation of animal shelters.— 115
(1) The Legislature finds that a lack of resources, 116
Florida Senate - 2026 SB 1356 36-01238A-26 20261356__ Page 5 of 13 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. training, and consistent enforcement of rules at the local level 117 has resulted in an undermining of the public trust of, and a 118 failure to protect vulnerable animals housed in, local animal 119 shelters. Therefore, the Legislature intends to provide 120 statewide oversight of local animal shelters to ensure 121 consistent implementation and enforcement of rules governing 122 local animal shelters. 123
(2) As used in this section, the term: 124 (a) “Department” means the Department of Agriculture and 125 Consumer Services. 126 (b) “Local animal shelter” includes city and county animal 127 rescues and animal shelters. 128
(3) The regulatory and operational oversight of local 129 animal shelters is preempted to the department. 130
(4) The department shall adopt rules governing all of the 131 following: 132 (
a) Basic standards for the care of animals housed in local 133 animal shelters, including providing adequate food, water, 134 shelter, and medical treatment. 135 (
b) Mandatory reporting requirements for local animal 136 shelters to report intake, adoption, and euthanasia statistics 137 in a standardized format. 138 (
c) Guidelines for the safe and humane euthanasia of 139 animals. 140 (
d) Periodic inspections of local animal shelters. 141
(5) The department is encouraged to collaborate with 142 reputable nonprofit and private organizations to manage animal 143 shelters. 144
Section 3. Subsections (5) through (8), (10), (12), and 145
Florida Senate - 2026 SB 1356 36-01238A-26 20261356__ Page 6 of 13 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. (17) of
section 828.29, Florida Statutes, are amended, and 146 subsections (18) through (21) are added to that section, to 147 read: 148 828.29 Dogs and cats transported or offered for sale; 149 health requirements; consumer guarantee; disclosures.— 150
(5) If, within 14 days after following the sale by a pet 151 dealer of an animal subject to this section, a licensed 152 veterinarian of the consumer’s choosing certifies that, at the 153 time of the sale, the animal was unfit for purchase due to 154 illness or disease, the presence of symptoms of a contagious or 155 infectious disease, or the presence of internal or external 156 parasites, excluding fleas and ticks; or if, within 1 year after 157 following the sale of an animal subject to this section, a 158 licensed veterinarian of the consumer’s choosing certifies such 159 animal to be unfit for purchase due to a congenital or 160 hereditary disorder which adversely affects the health of the 161 animal; or if, within 1 year after following the sale of an 162 animal subject to this section, the breed, sex, or health of 163 such animal is found to have been misrepresented to the 164 consumer, the pet dealer shall afford the consumer the right to 165 choose one of the following options: 166 (
a) The right to return the animal and receive a refund of 167 the purchase price, including the sales tax, and reimbursement 168 for reasonable veterinary costs directly related to the 169 veterinarian’s examination and certification that the dog or cat 170 is unfit for purchase pursuant to this
section and directly 171 related to necessary emergency services and treatment undertaken 172 to relieve suffering. If the consumer financed the animal, the 173 pet dealer must ensure that the financing arrangement is 174
Florida Senate - 2026 SB 1356 36-01238A-26 20261356__ Page 7 of 13 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. terminated without penalty to the consumer; 175 (
b) The right to return the animal and receive an exchange 176 dog or cat of the consumer’s choice of equivalent value, and 177 reimbursement for reasonable veterinary costs directly related 178 to the veterinarian’s examination and certification that the dog 179 or cat is unfit for purchase pursuant to this
section and 180 directly related to necessary emergency services and treatment 181 undertaken to relieve suffering; or 182 (
c) The right to retain the animal and receive 183 reimbursement for reasonable veterinary costs for necessary 184 services and treatment related to the attempt to cure or curing 185 of the dog or cat. 186 187 Reimbursement for veterinary costs may not exceed the purchase 188 price of the animal. The cost of veterinary services is 189 reasonable if comparable to the cost of similar services 190 rendered by other licensed veterinarians in proximity to the 191 treating veterinarian and the services rendered are appropriate 192 for the certification by the veterinarian. 193
(6) All financing terms must be disclosed to the consumer 194 before the sale of the animal. A mandatory waiting period of at 195 least 3 calendar days must be imposed between the date of an 196 agreement to purchase an animal and the date on which the 197 consumer takes possession of the animal, if the consumer is 198 financing the animal. A financing agreement may not be signed by 199 the consumer until the conclusion of the 3-day waiting period A 200 consumer may sign a waiver relinquishing his or her right to 201 return the dog or cat for congenital or hereditary disorders. In 202 the case of such waiver, the consumer has 48 normal business 203
Florida Senate - 2026 SB 1356 36-01238A-26 20261356__ Page 8 of 13 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hours, excluding weekends and holidays, in which to have the 204 animal examined by a licensed veterinarian of the consumer’s 205 choosing. If the veterinarian certifies that, at the time of 206 sale, the dog or cat was unfit for purchase due to a congenital 207 or hereditary disorder, the pet dealer must afford the consumer 208 the right to choose one of the following options: 209 (
a) The right to return the animal and receive a refund of 210 the purchase price, including sales tax, but excluding the 211 veterinary costs related to the certification that the dog or 212 cat is unfit; or 213 (
b) The right to return the animal and receive an exchange 214 dog or cat of the consumer’s choice of equivalent value, but not 215 a refund of the veterinary costs related to the certification 216 that the dog or cat is unfit. 217
(7) Before the sale of an animal, a pet dealer must provide 218 to the consumer copies of records of all medical examinations or 219 tests that were conducted on the animal or any medication given 220 before the purchase of the animal. A pet dealer may specifically 221 state at the time of sale, in writing to the consumer, the 222 presence of specific congenital or hereditary disorders, in 223 which case the consumer has no right to any refund or exchange 224 for those disorders. 225
(8) The refund or exchange required by subsection (5) must 226 or subsection (6) shall be made by the pet dealer not later than 227 10 business days after following receipt of a signed veterinary 228 certification as required in subsection (5) or subsection (6). 229 The consumer must notify the pet dealer within 2 business days 230 after the veterinarian’s determination that the animal is unfit. 231 The written certification of unfitness must be presented to the 232
Florida Senate - 2026 SB 1356 36-01238A-26 20261356__ Page 9 of 13 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. pet dealer not later than 3 business days after following 233 receipt thereof by the consumer. 234
(10) If a pet dealer wishes to contest a demand for 235 veterinary expenses, refund, or exchange made by a consumer 236 under this section, the dealer may require the consumer to 237 produce the animal for examination by a licensed veterinarian 238 designated by the dealer.
Upon such examination, if the consumer 239 and the dealer are unable to reach an agreement that constitutes 240 one of the options set forth in subsection (5) or subsection (6) 241 within 10 business days after following receipt of the animal 242 for such examination, the consumer may initiate an action in a 243 court of competent jurisdiction to recover or obtain 244 reimbursement of veterinary expenses, refund, or exchange. 245
(12) Every pet dealer who sells an animal to a consumer 246 shall must provide the consumer at the time of sale with a 247 printed, written notice. The pet dealer shall retain a copy of 248 the signed notice, and the consumer must be given a copy of the 249 signed notice. The notice, printed or typed, which is separate 250 from the contract, shall read reads as follows: 251 252 RIGHT TO CANCEL 253 Florida consumers have certain rights under s. 828.29, 254 Florida Statutes.
You have the right to return or 255 exchange a dog or cat purchased from a pet dealer and 256 receive reimbursement for certain veterinary expenses. 257 A copy of this law is attached to this notice. 258 259 ...(Signature of Owner, or Owner’s or Authorized 260 Agent)... 261
Florida Senate - 2026 SB 1356 36-01238A-26 20261356__ Page 10 of 13 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. 262 Sworn to (or affirmed) and subscribed before me this 263 .... day of ...., ...., by ...(name of person making 264 statement).... 265 266 It is the consumer’s right, pursuant to
section 267 828.29, Florida Statutes, to receive a certificate of 268 veterinary inspection with each dog or cat purchased 269 from a pet dealer. Such certificate shall list all 270 vaccines and deworming medications administered to the 271 animal and shall state that the animal has been 272 examined by a Florida-licensed veterinarian who 273 certifies that, to the best of the veterinarian’s 274 knowledge, the animal was found to have been healthy 275 at the time of the veterinary examination. In the 276 event that the consumer purchases the animal and finds 277 it to have been unfit for purchase as provided in 278
section 828.29(5), Florida Statutes, the consumer must 279 notify the pet dealer within 2 business days of the 280 veterinarian’s determination that the animal was 281 unfit. The consumer has the right to retain, return, 282 or exchange the animal and receive reimbursement for 283 certain related veterinary services rendered to the 284 animal, subject to the right of the dealer to have the 285 animal examined by another veterinarian. 286 287
(17) Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, a person 288 who violates any provision of this
section commits a misdemeanor 289 of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 290
Florida Senate - 2026 SB 1356 36-01238A-26 20261356__ Page 11 of 13 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. 775.083. 291
(18) A pet dealer shall retain any record provided to a 292 consumer pursuant to the sale of an animal under this
section 293 for at least 7 years after the sale. 294
(19) A retail store that offers animals for sale shall do 295 both of the following: 296 (
a) Provide the city or county animal rescue or animal 297 shelter the opportunity to inventory the animals the rescue or 298 shelter, respectively, has available for adoption before 299 offering retail space to a dog breeder or dog breeding facility. 300 (
b) Ensure the dog breeder or dog breeding facility from 301 which the store has acquired a dog meets the best management 302 practices adopted by the Department of Agriculture and Consumer 303 Services pursuant to s. 585.701. 304
(20) A pet dealer who violates this
section commits an 305 unfair method of competition or an unfair or deceptive act or 306 practice in violation of
part II of
chapter 501 and is subject 307 to the penalties and remedies provided for such violations. 308
(21) In addition to any other penalties or remedies 309 provided by law, a consumer injured by a violation of this 310
section may bring a civil action to recover damages or punitive 311 damages, including court costs, attorney fees, and related 312 expenses. This
section does not limit any right or remedy 313 provided under law. 314
Section
Section 828.291, Florida Statutes, is created to 315 read: 316 828.291 Dog breeder certificate of registration.— 317
(1) As used in this section, the term: 318 (a) “Breeding female dog” means a dog that has not been 319
Florida Senate - 2026 SB 1356 36-01238A-26 20261356__ Page 12 of 13 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. spayed and is more than 6 months old and capable of 320 reproduction. 321 (b) “Department” means the Department of Business and 322 Professional Regulation. 323 (c) “Dog breeder” means a person who owns or possesses 324 breeding female dogs and offers for sale more than two litters 325 of dogs per calendar year. 326 (d) “Dog breeding facility” means a location that is the 327 site of a dog breeder which houses five or more breeding female 328 dogs. 329 (e) “Litter” means the collection of dogs birthed, whether 330 naturally or from cesarean section, from a breeding female dog 331 from the same pregnancy. 332
(2) Each dog breeder in this state must apply to the 333 department, on forms supplied by the department, for a 334 certificate of registration. The certificate of registration 335 must be renewed every 2 years thereafter. To be eligible to 336 receive a certificate of registration, a dog breeder must submit 337 documentation to the department that the breeder meets the best 338 management practices adopted by the Department of Agriculture 339 and Consumer Services pursuant to s. 585.701. 340
(3) If the department is notified that a certified dog 341 breeder is not in compliance with the best management practices 342 adopted by the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services 343 pursuant to s. 585.701, the department may investigate such 344 claim. The department may establish a whistleblower program 345 through which any individual may alert the department or its 346 contracted authority about a violation of s. 585.701. The 347 department may contract with a private entity to administer the 348
Florida Senate - 2026 SB 1356 36-01238A-26 20261356__ Page 13 of 13 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. whistleblower program. If a private entity is contracted to 349 receive calls, the private entity must provide monthly reports 350 to the department detailing the number of calls received, the 351 number of calls referred to law enforcement, and the status of 352 each case referred to law enforcement. 353
(4) Any individual, dog breeder, or dog breeding facility 354 that is found to employ any of the following practices or 355 conditions is subject to penalties under s. 828.073 or s. 356 828.12; the individual, dog breeder, or dog breeding facility 357 must be placed on the Department of Law Enforcement’s website 358 pursuant to s. 828.12(7); and the department shall provide all 359 applicable information to law enforcement to pursue criminal 360 charges: 361 (
a) Overcrowding of dogs crammed into cages or pens with no 362 space to move. 363 (
b) Enclosures with significant build-up of feces, urine, 364 and waste. 365 (
c) Dogs exhibiting untreated infections or parasites due 366 to unsanitary conditions. 367 (
d) Limited or no access to clean water. 368 (
e) Breeding a female dog more than 2 times per year. 369 (
f) Exposing breeding females and their litters to extreme 370 temperatures without appropriate shelter. 371