Florida Man Faces Criminal Charges After Pit Bulls Attack Neighbor

A Florida man faces criminal charges after his pit bulls attacked a neighbor, a case that The New York Times reported Feb. 20, 2024, as part of a broader pattern of prosecutions holding dog owners legally accountable for attacks by their animals ^[1]. The incident draws attention to the interplay between Florida's dangerous dog statutes and the state's strict-liability framework for dog bite injuries, a combination that can expose owners to both civil and criminal exposure ^[1].

Florida is a strict-liability state for dog bites, meaning an owner can be held liable for injuries even without prior knowledge of the animal's aggressive tendencies ^[2][3]. Florida's strict liability standard means an owner can be held liable for a dog bite even if they were not previously aware of the aggressive nature of the animal. On the criminal side, Florida Statutes Section 767.13 sets out a graduated penalty structure. Under that provision, a dog owner whose animal has been declared dangerous and attacks a person without provocation may be charged with a first-degree misdemeanor, punishable by up to one year in prison and a $1,000 fine; if the previously declared dangerous dog causes severe injury or death, the owner faces a third-degree felony, carrying up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine.

The case arrives as Florida continues to refine its statutory approach to dangerous animal ownership. A dangerous dog law that took effect in Florida on Oct. 1, 2023, bars local governments and public housing authorities from designating a dog as dangerous based solely on its breed, size, or weight. That shift means enforcement turns on documented behavior rather than breed designation, placing greater evidentiary weight on an animal's prior conduct and the owner's awareness of that conduct, both of which bear directly on criminal culpability in cases like this one.

The charging of the Florida man fits within a documented national trend. In Circleville, Ohio, for example, a son and mother were convicted in February 2025 on charges of involuntary manslaughter and owning a dangerous dog after their two pit bulls killed a neighbor in her flower bed. Prosecutors in multiple jurisdictions have similarly pursued felony charges against owners whose animals had known histories of aggression, using prior incidents as evidence of the owner's reckless disregard for public safety, according to The New York Times ^[1].

The Florida case, as reported by The New York Times, underscores the legal risk owners face when a dog with a history of aggressive behavior injures a third party ^[1]. It is possible for a dog owner to be held accountable for a dog attack both criminally and civilly, a dual exposure that defense attorneys and civil plaintiffs' lawyers are likely to scrutinize as the case moves forward. The outcome could inform how Florida prosecutors and animal control authorities apply the state's existing statutory framework to future incidents.

References

[1] The New York Times. (2024, February 20). Florida Man Charged After Pit Bulls Attack Neighbor. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/20/us/pit-bull-attack-florida-charges.html

[2] Gordon & Partners. (2025). Florida Dog Bite Laws | Owner Liability. https://www.fortheinjured.com/florida-dog-bite-laws/

[3] Pumphrey Law. (2021, October 7). The Dog Bite Law & Dangerous Dog Statute in Florida. https://www.pumphreylawfirm.com/blog/the-dog-bite-law-dangerous-dog-statute-in-florida/