Protecting Animal and Human Victims of Domestic Violence (Florida)
H.B. 277/S.B. 682
The Domestic Emergency and Batterers Reform and Accountability Act (H.B. 277/S.B. 682) would add animal abuse to the definition of domestic violence under Florida law, and add the threat of harm to a victim’s companion animal to the list of actions that can be considered “coercive control” when determining whether to grant a protective order.
Status
The Animal Legal Defense Fund supports this bill.
Sponsors: State Rep. Debra Tendrich (D-89); State Sen. Alexis Calatayud (R-38)
Introduction Date: October 28, 2025
The Domestic Emergency and Batterers Reform and Accountability Act (H.B. 277/S.B. 682) is a bill that addresses a variety of issues related to violent criminal offenses, including provisions addressing the well-established link between domestic violence and animal abuse.
H.B. 277/S.B. 682 would add animal cruelty to Florida’s definition of domestic violence, allowing a person to be charged with domestic violence for harming the companion animal of their intended target. Additionally, the bill would expand the circumstances under which companion animals can be protected under Florida’s Petition for Injunction for Protection Against Domestic Violence. Currently, a victim of domestic violence may seek a protective order, also known as a restraining order, if the respondent has intentionally injured or killed a family companion animal. This legislation offers further, more preemptive protection by including the use of a companion animal as a means of coercive control as additional grounds for relief. Because abusers frequently use threats of harm to companion animals as a means of controlling human victims of domestic violence, this change would go a long way toward ensuring that domestic violence survivors and their companion animals can escape dangerous situations and get to safety.
Learn more about laws enabling animals to be included in protection orders.
Why is this legislation important?
There is a known link between animal cruelty and domestic violence. When domestic violence occurs in a home, it is likely that animal abuse is occurring as well; research shows that these two types of abusive behavior are deeply interconnected. For example, one study showed that women in domestic violence shelters were 11 times more likely to report that their partner had hurt or killed a companion animal, as compared to women who have not suffered domestic abuse. And a striking 89% of women who had companion animals while experiencing domestic violence reported that their abuser had threatened, injured, or killed their animal(s).
Under current Florida law, courts evaluate the intentional injury or killing of a family companion animal when granting domestic violence protection orders. The addition of the “coercive control” language to this existing law would offer additional protection to human and animal victims of abuse by allowing protection orders to be granted before there is an actual injury or death of a family companion animal — because offenders often use animals as tools in their abuse, exploiting the close bond that victims share with their animals. This simple reform can prevent threats of animal abuse from becoming actualized physical violence.
Learn more about the link between cruelty to animals and violence toward humans.
For more information about animal protection legislation in Florida and opportunities to take action for animals, visit our Florida state page.
