Santa Rosa County Florida has no current policy, procedure or ordinance protecting the horses within the county. Florida statutes protect all animals by the definition of any living dumb creature. Santa Rosa County does not enforce this statute but rather focuses on either canine or feline.  

“Animal” by definition per the Santa Rosa County Ordinance No. 2019-22, Sec. 4-27 is defined as any male, female, or altered member of the canine or feline species, except those classified by the Florida Fish and Game Commission as wildlife.

There is no definition or ordinance that defines the term adequate “shelter”. Shelter is defined by our neighboring counties as an artificial structure with three sides and roof that allows for the animal, any living dumb creature, to lay down and turn around safely. Animal should be defined as any living dumb creature because of domestication. If an animal require human intervention and human care to survive, then they are reliant upon our care and safety standards which includes adequate shelter and a fitting animal definition. 

The ordinance mentions animal neglect and what constitutes that, but remember “animal” is a canine “or” feline.

Let’s join together for the sake of all the horses and other animals who have been forgotten within our county. Horses are starving, being abandoned in properties, beaten, and turned a blind eye to because there are no protections for any other animals besides cats and dogs.

We need change, and we need it now! 

If you find it in your hearts to sign and share this petition, please feel free to do so. The more signatures the better the case.

Let’s do this for Iris, and for the many other horses we have saved, and to those nobody knows about.

Iris was humanely euthanatized 24 hours after her intake on August 26, 2022 due to the severity of her neglect. 

Let’s be the voice for ALL animals of Santa Rosa County, Florida!