VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. — With the regular legislative session now in the books, a bill that outlines how animal control and other authorities must handle dangerous dogs is awaiting Gov. Ron DeSantis’ signature.

What You Need To Know

  • Florida lawmakers passed a law that will outline how animal control and other authorities must handle dangerous dogs
  • The bill also includes a definition of a dangerous dog
  • Owners will also be required to obtain liability insurance if they keep a dog that is considered dangerous

For Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood, he’s been in favor of this legislation.

Back in January, 8-year-old Michael Millett was killed after a pair of loose dogs attacked him while he was riding his bicycle with a friend.

Volusia County Animal Services later euthanized the dogs, with one being a pit bull and the other a mixed-breed dog.

Chitwood says what happened to Millett sticks with him.

“The injuries to the 8 year old were so horrific and then you couple that with the 911 call, where Michael’s mother runs outside, drives the dogs away from the attack, scoops him up in her arms and you hear her screaming to somebody get help, ‘My son’s not breathing.’ Man, if that doesn’t shake you to your soul, we can never have another mother go through that,” Chitwood said. 

For people across Central Florida, they want to see this bill signed.

For Nancy Cerniglia, her life is slowly getting back to normal.

In November 2022, Cerniglia lived the darkest day of her life, as she described in a Spectrum News 13 interview last January.

She was going for a walk with her dog Loosey when two aggressive dogs attacked them.

Loosey died from her injuries and Cerniglia was hospitalized.

“I remember laying on Loosey and they’re going after me, and knowing that I knew there was nothing I could do. I’ve never seen anything like it. I’m at the point in my life where I want to remember all the good of her. Even though her life was short, she had a great life,” Cerniglia said. 

Since that moment, Cerniglia moved out of that neighborhood to find peace of mind.

With her new furry friend Stella by her side, she’s able to live life again.

But the wound of losing Loosey will never go away.

That's why she's in favor of the legislation.

“The bill said everything and more. It was way more than I anticipated,” Cerniglia said. 

The bill requires any animal must be impounded during the course of an investigation when a person has been killed or been bitten in a way that scores a 5 or higher on the Dunbar Bite Scale.

There are also additional requirements for owners of dogs that are classified as dangerous.

According to the bill analysis, a dangerous dog is a dog that has aggressively bitten, attacked, endangered, or inflicted severe injury on a human being on public or private property.

“I guess I couldn’t understand why this happened and how unfortunately I had to be a witness to watching her being massacred,” Cerniglia said. “I never put my guard down, I’m very aware of my surroundings.”

The path to healing isn’t an easy one, as Cerniglia knows that.

That’s why she’s taking one day at a time.

“I know every dog that lives around here. I basically didn’t know anything about those other dogs," Cerniglia said.

The bill also mentions how owners must also obtain liability insurance of at least $100,000 and implant a microchip into their dog.

Additionally, owners who have knowledge of a dogs’ dangerous tendencies are required to securely confine their dog to a locked, fenced yard that is suitable to prevent young children from entering.

Volusia County officials tell Spectrum News 13 that the county supports any effort to strengthen public safety both locally and throughout Florida.

If signed by the governor, the law would go into effect July first.