(1) The purpose of this section is to allow voluntary participation in best management practices relating to minimum standards of care, facility operations, and breeding practices for individuals or entities engaged in the breeding of dogs in order to protect animal welfare, promote responsible breeding, and ensure the health and safety of animals and consumers.
(2) This section may not be construed to prohibit a local jurisdiction from implementing requirements for individuals or entities engaged in the breeding of dogs.
(3) The Department of Business and Professional Regulation shall develop a list of best management practices that individuals or entities engaged in the breeding of dogs may voluntarily adopt and implement. Such best management practices must include minimum standards of care, facility operations, and breeding practices for individuals or entities engaged in the breeding of dogs, including, but not limited to, standards relating to all of the following:(a) Breeding.
(b) Feeding.
(c) Housing.
(d) Health.
(e) Enrichment.
(f) Selling and transferring, in accordance with s. 828.29. (g) Recordkeeping, in accordance with s. 828.29. (4) The Department of Business and Professional Regulation shall post on its website guidance for the public about how to identify the breeders that are following best management practices and provide a checklist to use when purchasing an animal.
(5) The Department of Business and Professional Regulation shall post on its website information regarding animal cruelty, including a description of conduct constituting animal cruelty under ss. 828.12 and 828.13, the penalties for such conduct, and instructions for reporting suspected animal cruelty or abuse to the appropriate local authorities, including the contact information for at least one appropriate authority for each county in the state. 