HomeFetch

Gov. Ron DeSantis signed two major animal bills into law Tuesday at Big Dog Ranch Rescue in South Florida.

One focuses on animal cruelty cases, including new penalties for adults accused of involving minors in aggravated animal cruelty or animal fighting. It also expands Florida’s animal abuse offender database and gives local governments more enforcement authority.

The other focuses on pet sales, adding new requirements for financing disclosures, veterinary records and consumer protections when an animal is later found sick or unfit for purchase.

Together, the laws could affect cruelty cases, breeders, pet dealers and families buying dogs (and cats) in Florida.

🔗 Read more below.

UPDATE: HomeFetch has confirmed the dog connected to the Clay County case that circulated widely on social media is currently in the county’s custody.

The investigation remains active. Authorities have not released additional details at this time.

The Clay County Sheriff’s Office previously said it received a large number of calls regarding the incident and asked for patience while investigators reviewed the available information.

St. Johns County continues to grow — and now, new veterinary services appear to be growing with it.

Three new animal hospitals tied to Livewell Animal Hospital and Priority Pet Care are moving forward in the St. Augustine area, according to county permit records and the company’s website.

One of the projects carries a reported $1.2 million permit valuation, records show.

The planned locations would put new veterinary options across the St. Augustine area.

🔗 Read more below.

Hurricane season begins June 1, and Northeast Florida dog owners are being urged to prepare now instead of waiting until a storm is already approaching Florida.

Emergency officials say evacuation planning should include dogs long before watches or warnings are issued, especially since not all shelters and hotels accept pets during emergencies.

Dog owners may also need crates, vaccination records, medications, leashes, food and water if they have to leave home quickly during a storm or wildfire.

Recent wildfire activity in Clay County was a reminder that evacuations and emergency conditions are not limited to hurricanes.

🔗 Read more below.

There were treats, vendors and plenty of playful pups in Clay County on Saturday.

The Hot Diggity Dog Festival, hosted by Clay County Animal Services and Clay County Parks and Recreation, brought rescue groups, dog owners and families to Ronnie Van Zant Memorial Park in Green Cove Springs for an afternoon centered on local dogs and the people who love them.

A few moments from the festival:

The Clay County Sheriff’s Office says it is actively investigating a video circulating on social media involving a dog and its owner.

The agency said it has received a large number of calls about the incident and is asking for patience while investigators review the available information.

HomeFetch has reached out to the Sheriff’s Office for additional details and will update if more information becomes available.

A nationwide dog food recall has been issued after routine testing found potential Salmonella contamination in a raw dog food product, according to the FDA.

Albright’s Raw Pet Food is recalling one lot of its Chicken Recipe for Dogs Complete and Balanced sold in 1-pound frozen bricks with lot code C001730 and a best-by date of April 28, 2027.

The product was distributed nationwide through online sales and select retail stores in several states, federal regulators said.

While no illnesses had been reported as of the recall announcement, the FDA warned the contamination could sicken both dogs and people who handle the food. Symptoms in pets can include diarrhea, vomiting, fever, lethargy and decreased appetite.

Consumers are being told not to feed the product and to thoroughly sanitize bowls, containers and surfaces that may have come into contact with it.

🔗 Read more below.

The Florida man convicted in the animal cruelty case that inspired Dexter’s Law has been sent back to jail, according to Pinellas County court records.

Domingo Rodriguez had been released while appealing his conviction in the high-profile case involving Dexter, a shelter dog whose death helped push Florida lawmakers to pass tougher animal cruelty penalties.

Court records now show Rodriguez was remanded Wednesday and ordered to serve his previous sentence.

🔗 Read more below.

HOAs control (a lot) more than people think — including how dogs live in a neighborhood.

Some have rules on size. Some on breed. Some on how many dogs are “allowed.” Others go as far as fining for barking, requiring leashes inside fenced yards, or banning dogs from common areas entirely.

But sadly, these rules are rarely mentioned during showings.

Buyers fall in love with a house, go under contract, and only then discover the HOA fine print, sometimes after a violation notice shows up in their mailbox.

This video breaks down exactly what to look for in the documents, how to spot red flags in advance, and what questions actually matter when searching in HOA-regulated communities.

My latest HomeFetch video breaks down how HOA rules impact dogs, what to look for before buying, and how to avoid communities that make dog ownership unnecessarily difficult.

Because the right homes don’t just welcome people. It welcomes the ones with paws, too.

Can HOA Rules Actually Affect Your Dog? Yes. Here's What You NEED to Know Love this? Subscribe for more tips on finding dog-friendly homes! 🐶🏡https://www.youtube.com/?sub_confirmation=1In this video, I’m unleashing the ...