Animal Welfare

At just several months old, Mr. Ginger was the youngest sloth to recently arrive at the Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens.

Sloth World's owners were legally permitted by the state to possess captive wildlife. But permit holders aren't required to report animal illness or death to the state. Lawmakers want to see that changed.

No law required Sloth World operators to report animal deaths to the state, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

On the day Bandit the sloth died, State Rep. Anna Eskamani sent a formal request, asking the Florida attorney general to open a criminal investigation

The zoo has decades of experience raising sloths and will give the animals "the best chance to survive," according to zoo leadership.

Gov. Ron DeSantis is proposing measures that he says would stamp out inhumane and abusive practices at puppy mills.

People who leave pets restrained outside and unattended during natural or manmade disasters would face up to a year in jail or a fine of up to $5,000,...

Ian Hallett served as director of Hillsborough County's Animal Services for only 18 months, but in that short time, he drew enough criticism that he's now…