animal abuse

Hallandale Beach Police announced Monday, August 25, 2025, a $5,000 reward through Crime Stoppers for information that leads to the arrest of the person who shot a well-known community cat with a blowgun dart earlier this month. Investigators say that on Aug. 12, a stray cat named "Hawkeye" was found with a dart lodged in its body in the 700 block of S.W. 6th Street, Hallandale Beach.

Crime Stoppers offers $5K reward for arrest of suspect who shot beloved cat in Hallandale Beach

WLRN News Staff

Investigators say that on Aug. 12, a stray cat named "Hawkeye" was found with a dart lodged in its body in the 700 block of S.W. 6th Street, Hallandale Beach.

An undated image courtesy of the Florida Highway Patrol of the bull terrier found tethered and abandoned along Interstate 75 near Tampa as people fled intensifying weather and flooding from approaching Hurricane Milton. Nearly a year later the dog, named Trooper for the state trooper who rescued him, has been thriving in his new home in suburban Parkland, Fla. (Courtesy of the Florida Highway Patrol via The New York Times) — NO SALES; EDITORIAL USE ONLY—

Law & Justice

No pets left behind: How a dog’s hurricane rescue changed Florida law

Johnny Diaz | The New York Times

Hurricane Milton was barreling toward Florida last October when the emergency call came in about a dog that was stuck in rising waters. Nearly a year later, the dog, a bull terrier who was named Trooper after his savior, has been thriving in his new home in suburban Parkland, Florida.

Florida lawmakers behind new federal law banning animal cruelty

There’s a new federal law that bans acts of animal cruelty, and subjects violators to prison.The Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture Act represents…

America's animals have new federal protections against abuse.

Trump Signs Law Making Cruelty To Animals A Federal Crime

Richard Gonzales

Congress, wrought by division on many fronts, united to pass a bill making animal cruelty a federal felony. President Trump signed it into law on Monday.

Congress has approved the first law making severe animal abuse a federal crime, in a move that Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Fla., calls "a milestone for pet owners and animal lovers across the country."

Animal Cruelty As A Federal Crime: Trump Is Expected To Sign Bill Passed By Congress

Bill Chappell

The PACT Act would be the first national law making severe animal cruelty and torture illegal. An earlier law only banned videos of such acts.

County Animal Shelter Filthy And Hot, Mayor Says After Surprise Inspection

That spiffy county pet shelter that opened three years ago isn’t so spiffy these days.That’s according to an out-of-state expert sent in to do a surprise…

Animal Rights Group's Tactics Raise Concerns Among Law Enforcement

Luis Hernandez

Miami prosecutors said they will not file any charges in a cockfighting investigation citing "serious ethical concerns" about the tactics used by the…

A view of the rotunda in Florida's Capitol Building in Tallahassee.

Fla. Laws On PTSD Benefits, Animal Abuse Take Effect Oct. 1

Tom Urban

Laws will take effect next week that will add benefits for first responders who suffer post-traumatic stress disorder and impose harsher penalties on...