Fla. Stat. 585.19
Duty of practitioners of veterinary medicine and owners of animals to report dangerous transmissible diseases or pests; penalty

(1)

Any practitioner of veterinary medicine who knows or suspects that an animal is afflicted with or suffering from a disease or pest designated on the department’s dangerous transmissible disease list shall immediately report the same to the State Veterinarian in the manner which the department shall prescribe.

(2)

Any owner who knows or suspects that her or his animal is afflicted with or suffering from a disease or pest designated on the department’s dangerous transmissible disease list shall immediately report the same to the State Veterinarian in the manner which the department shall prescribe.

(3)

All reports related to a disease or pest designated on the department’s dangerous transmissible disease list shall be made in the manner which the department shall by rule prescribe.

(4)

Any veterinarian or owner of an animal who is convicted of willfully failing to report an animal as required in subsection (1) or subsection (2) is guilty of a felony of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.

Source: Section 585.19 — Duty of practitioners of veterinary medicine and owners of animals to report dangerous transmissible diseases or pests; penalty, https://www.­flsenate.­gov/Laws/Statutes/2024/0585.­19 (accessed Aug. 7, 2025).

585.01
Definitions 585.08
General powers of the department 585.09
Procedure for condemnation of animals and property by department 585.11
Cooperation with United States authorities and United States Department of Agriculture accredited private veterinarians 585.14
Information concerning animal diseases 585.15
Dangerous transmissible disease or pest a public nuisance 585.16
Powers of division in connection with certain diseases 585.17
Care of animals with transmissible diseases and liability therefor 585.18
Duty to report diseased animals 585.19
Duty of practitioners of veterinary medicine and owners of animals to report dangerous transmissible diseases or pests 585.20
Injection of pathogenic organisms into animals 585.21
Sale of biological products 585.22
Public notice of general quarantines 585.23
Owners of animals and premises under quarantine to comply with rules 585.38
Injuring property used in the eradication of diseases of animals, etc 585.40
Violation of quarantine regulations 585.45
Right to declaratory judgment 585.48
Policy and purpose of ss 585.50
Garbage feeding prohibited unless sterilized 585.51
Permitting of feeders of garbage 585.52
Requirement regarding the collection, transportation, and distribution of garbage 585.53
Permit revocation 585.59
Penalties for violation 585.61
Animal disease diagnostic laboratory 585.68
Animals suspected of harboring biological or chemical residues 585.145
Control of animal diseases 585.147
Permit for transporting or hauling certain animals or animal products 585.611
Animal research identifying information 585.671
Control and eradication of equine infectious anemia and equine piroplasmosis

Current through Fall 2025

§ 585.19. Duty of practitioners of veterinary medicine & owners of animals to report dangerous transmissible diseases or pests; penalty's source at flsenate​.gov