Brevard County Animal Services Cruelty Law

Sec. 14-53. Cruel and inhumane treatment of animals prohibited.

(a) The provisions of F.S. § 828.12 and 828.13, as they may be amended from time to time,
are hereby adopted by reference in this article, and shall be enforced as if fully set forth
herein. A copy of F.S. § 828, is attached to the ordinance enacting this article, and is
available for inspection in the office of the Clerk to the Board of County Commissioners.

(b) It is a violation of this article for any person to commit an act or omission, or cause an
act to be committed, in violation of F.S. § 828.12 or 828.13.

(c) Inhumane treatment of animals is prohibited. It is a violation of this article, by any
person, to inhumanely treat any animal as set forth herein. For the purpose of this
section, the term "inhumane" means acts which:

(1) Are physically cruel; or

(2) Expose an animal to unusual, unnecessary and otherwise avoidable
physical harm.

(d) Inhumane treatment includes, but is not limited to, any of the following acts or omissions
by an animal’s owner or caregiver:

(1) An animal is allowed to become overheated, or is not supplied with
adequate food, water, shade or protection from elements;

(2) An animal which is improperly or inhumanely contained or denied proper
exercise or rest, for the purposes of this section, United States Department
of Agriculture and Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission
regulations pertaining to containment, exercise and rest shall be the
standard for proper containment, exercise and rest, as revised from time to
time;

(3) In the case of a stunt or entertainment act:

(a) No allowance is made for an animal’s reasonable limits of
endurance;

(b) The owner or operator has failed to determine whether equipment
operated in conjunction with the working animal is in safe
operating condition;

(c) An animal is killed or injured during the stunt or act;

(d) An equine animal, including a horse, mule or donkey, is allowed
to fall or drop into water from a platform or structure more than
ten (10) feet above the water; or

(e) An equine animal is not properly trained for such a fall or drop.