Why Change Is Needed
Accountability
Florida law does not require businesses or individuals to immediately accept financial responsibility when a companion animal is seriously injured under their care. Families are often left paying thousands of dollars before seeking reimbursement.
Financial Protection
Emergency surgeries, hospitalization, medications, specialist visits, and follow-up care can quickly become overwhelming. No family should have to choose between saving their pet and financial hardship because of someone else.
Recovery Support
Healing doesn't end after surgery. Many injured animals require months of rehabilitation, physical therapy, mobility equipment, medications, and continued veterinary care. Expenses that should not fall on the owner when they were not at fault.
Fair Compensation
When a companion animal is seriously injured while under the care of a business or another individual, families often face months of unexpected expenses. Griz's Law helps ensure pet owners are not left carrying the financial burden of travel, mileage, missed work, lodging, and other necessary costs throughout their pet's recovery.
Proposed Protections
1
Ensure Immediate Financial Responsibility by requiring businesses or individuals responsible for, or who acknowledge a serious injury occurred while a companion animal was in their care, to cover all reasonable treatment costs throughout recovery.
2
Protect Families from Financial Hardship by requiring ongoing payment for emergency care, surgeries, rehabilitation, medications, specialist visits, mobility equipment, and future treatment as expenses are incurred.
3
Require Transparency and Honest Communication by ensuring pet owners are immediately notified of injuries and receive complete incident reports and relevant information.
4
Preserve Critical Evidence and Increase Accountability by requiring the preservation of surveillance footage, photographs, records, witness statements, and other evidence while prohibiting its destruction or concealment.
5
Provide Fair Compensation for Recovery Costs by allowing pet owners to recover reasonable expenses related to the injury, including travel, mileage, lodging, missed work, medical supplies, and other necessary out-of-pocket costs.