FL S1576

Creates section 823.151 requiring animal shelters, humane organizations, and animal control agencies to adopt written policies ensuring lost or stray dogs and cats are quickly returned to owners, including screening for identification, public notice within 48 hours, and notification of identified owners within 48 hours.

Mandates shelters provide access to retrieve animals at least one weekend day per week and after 5:00 p.m. one weekday per week, post business hours online and on facility, and implement direct return-to-owner protocols for field officers.

Requires procedural safeguards to minimize euthanasia of owned animals, including record verification and universal microchip scanning immediately prior to euthanasia.

Authorizes courts to prohibit animal cruelty offenders from owning, possessing, keeping, harboring, or having custody or control over any animal for a court-determined period.

Relocates statute 828.12(2) (torturing animals with intent to inflict intense pain) from Level 3 to Level 5 on the Criminal Punishment Code offense severity ranking chart, effective October 1, 2018.