Toddler Mauled by Rottweiler in Florida Home

Unfortunately, dog attacks are common in Florida. Young children are often victims of these incidents.

In August, a 2-year-old girl was allegedly mauled by a dog in Fort Lauderdale. Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue responded to 911 calls regarding a dog bite at a home near 1700 SW 24th Street.

The young girl suffered numerous injuries from the dog, a Rottweiler. She was taken to the trauma center at Broward Health Medical Center. Her condition was unknown.

However, her injuries were so severe that the animal shelter required that the dog be confiscated. This typically means the owner must give up total ownership of the dog and the dog will likely be euthanized. The owner turned over the Rottweiler for investigation but did not want to surrender the dog. However, the dog may need to be euthanized under the Pam Rock Act.

What is the Pam Rock Act?

The Pam Rock Act was enacted July 1, 2025. It is legislation named after Pam Rock, a postal worker who was tragically killed in 2022 after being attacked by a pack of dogs while delivering mail. The incident drew national attention and highlighted the lack of accountability for dangerous dog owners.

Before the Pam Rock incident, Florida and other states treated dangerous dog reports as low-priority unless a serious injury already occurred. The act aims to shift the law from reactive to preventive, so authorities can intervene before a tragedy happens.

The goal of the legislation is to:

• Protect delivery workers, pedestrians, and the public from known dangerous dogs.
• Increase penalties for owners who fail to restrain aggressive animals.
• Allow animal control or law enforcement to intervene sooner when there is a known risk.
• Mandate stricter reporting and response procedures after dog bite complaints.

The law is breed-neutral, which means it does not single out particular breeds. Instead, it looks at behavior and severity of attacks.

In Florida, if a dog has killed or seriously injured a person, the dog must be immediately confiscated, quarantined if needed, and impounded. Animal control authorities must notify an owner via registered mail or certified hand delivery of the final order classifying the dog as dangerous. Owners of dogs declared dangerous must maintain at least $100,000 in liability insurance. Owners must have dangerous dogs spayed or neutered and securely confined in an enclosure meeting statutory requirements.

Violations of these provisions can lead to misdemeanors or more serious charges. For example, resisting or obstructing animal control in enforcing the section is a first-degree misdemeanor. Also, failure to comply might carry fines (up to $1,000 per violation) or other penalties.

Contact Us Today

Dogs can attack anyone, and young children are often victims. Many are seriously injured or even killed by dog bites.

Florida often leads the country in dog attacks. A Bradenton dog bite lawyer from Cahall Law Firm can help you understand the laws involved so you get full and fair compensation for all your damages. To schedule a consultation with our office, call (941) 281-2019 or fill out the online form.

Source:

orlandosentinel.com/2025/08/24/girl-2-mauled-by-rottweiler-in-fort-lauderdale-officials/