Florida Urged to Reconsider Bill That Will Kill Aggressive Dogs

A leading animal policy expert urged lawmakers in Florida to reconsider a bill that could result in aggressive dogs being killed and their owners punished.

The Pam Rock Act—named after Putnam County mail carrier Pamela Rock, who was killed aged 61 after being attacked by five dogs in August 2022—was introduced on December 13, 2023, and is sponsored by Republican representatives Bobby Payne and Mike Beltran.

The act outlines that any dangerous dog who attacks or bites a person or domestic animal without being provoked can be destroyed and their owner found legally liable for its misbehavior. If passed, the bill would also require the creation of a state-wide dangerous dog registry, and owners of dangerous dogs would need to register their pets with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (DACS).

The bill reads: "The Legislature finds that dangerous dogs are an increasingly serious and widespread threat to the safety and welfare of the people of this state because of unprovoked attacks which cause injury to persons and domestic animals."

Professor Delcianna J. Winders, director of the Animal Law and Policy Institute at Vermont Law and Graduate School, told Newsweek that the bill is at risk of creating an "illusion of control" and holding "animals accountable for legal duties."

"Given that dogs deemed responsible for "severe injuries" under this law pay the ultimate cost — their lives — I urge the legislature to revisit its definition of "severe injury," she said. Under the current proposal, a dog is considered a danger if it has aggressively bitten, attacked, endangered or has inflicted severe injury on a person on public or private property.

The bill outlines "severe injury" as "physical injury that results in broken bones, multiple bites, or disfiguring lacerations requiring sutures or reconstructive surgery."

Professor Winders advocated that registration fees for owners should be "reasonable" and that legal matters occurring after a dog attack can entail "significant costs" for owners. The bill outlines that civil penalties can be placed on the owner if the dog attacks someone after not being properly contained.

"Dangerous dog registries are seen as a breed-neutral alternative to laws that discriminate against certain breeds, such as pit bulls," Professor Winders continued. "I'm not aware of any empirical analyses of the effectiveness of these registries specifically, but scholars have noted that registries used in other contexts have proven ineffective and merely provide an illusion of control."

"That said, I do see value in being aware of where dangerous animals — whether they are canines or tigers — are located. Requiring insurance and sterilization of dangerous dogs also makes sense, given that most attacks involve intact dogs." Under the bill, the owners of dogs classified as dangerous would need to obtain liability insurance.

Beltran told Newsweek that he does not "understand the basis for any objection" put forward by Professor Winders. "The bill requires that owners of dogs who are known to be dangerous secure them and obtain adequate insurance to cover any injuries they may inflict. This is common sense personal responsibility," he told Newsweek.

"HB 873 is a bill that is very close to myself and my community," Payne told Newsweek. "Pam Rock is just one of the tragic stories relating to dangerous dogs, and it is my honor to work on this legislation to be named in her honor."

"It is important to help prevent similar situations from happening to more Florida families, especially something as easily preventable through awareness of dangers nearby. That is why I am working on HB 873."

He outlined that the registry would be made available to the public, highlighting that it allows everyone "to be aware of certain dogs' malicious histories."

A Florida-based animal welfare organization said it is reviewing the bill. Sherry Silk, president of the Florida Association of Animal Welfare Organizations (FAAWO), told Newsweek that it is "conferring with other State and national animal welfare organizations to properly review HB 837 / SB 1156 before taking a position."

In the instance of the deadly attack that killed Pamela Rock, who died while delivering mail in her local area, the owner of the animals did not face any charges after it was found they had made considerable attempts to contain the animals, including fortifying a fence and attempting to surrender them.

News4Jax reported in 2023 that the Florida State Attorney's Office did not file charges against the dog owner after they attempted to surrender the animals twice, including once instance just 10 days before the deadly attack took place.

The Pam Rock Act now has to go through a Judiciary Committee before moving to the House floor for a final vote.