Local ordinances in most Florida counties
allow animal control officers to
seize dangerous
dogs, but the laws carry only minimal punishments, said Don Westfall, manager of the Orange County Animal Control Department.
The court, however, as part of the sentencing, did not order the animals to be
seized — and Kathy Bauck was
allowed to continue breeding and selling
dogs.
Rather than
seizing the
dogs, something the Council could have done to save them, officials
allowed Davies to pass them to other breeders so their miserable lives of breeding would continue.
Some restrictions that various versions of BSL impose are: - muzzling and leashing in public - muzzling and leashing in cars - extra-short leash lengths - automatic dangerous or vicious
dog designation, without any bite history - banning from city parks and beaches where other breeds are
allowed - banning from leash - free parks where other breeds are
allowed - banning completely from jurisdiction (although sometimes existing
dogs are
allowed to stay)- special (i.e., more expensive) licensing and jurisdiction - wide registry - special tags identifying the
dog as a restricted
dog - mandatory microchipping and photograph - mandatory insurance (often one million dollars) for each individual
dog on the premises - mandatory signage indicating the presence of the
dog on the owner's property - mandatory secure enclosures (in some cases, mandatory chaining)- mandatory spay / neuter (to eventually eliminate the breed entirely)- higher fines and / or jail time if a restricted breed bites or menaces - fines and / or jail time for any infraction of any provision regarding restricted breeds - age limit for walking the
dog in public - persons with criminal records not
allowed to own a restricted breed - ability of law enforcement to stop owners on the street just to check the
dog's status - ability of law enforcement to
seize dogs without proof of wrongdoing - ability of law enforcement to enter an owner's home, with or without a warrant, to investigate and / or
seize a
dog