Like many animal rescuers, Heidi Hardman waited for Florida to finally publish a state-wide list of convicted animal abusers that was supposed to help her ensure her dogs entered safe, loving families.<\/p>\n
The database was a significant part of \u201cDexter\u2019s Law,\u201d passed in 2025, which was named after a dog that was adopted and then killed.<\/p>\n
Hardman, the leader of Polka Dogz Pet Rescue, has re-homed 2,000 dogs over the past 10 years. It\u2019s an exhaustive process, she said, filled with home visits and background checks.<\/p>\n
As she peered over the database for the first time with WFTV, her reaction was disbelief as she viewed the 1,677 names \u2013 with no accompanying pictures, dates of birth or counties where the conviction happened.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s it?\u201d she asked. \u201cWe have no idea where they live in this state.\u201d<\/p>\n
Perhaps Hardman and others should have seen this coming. The bill passed by Florida lawmakers and signed by Gov. DeSantis only mandated that the FDLE post a searchable list of names on its website.<\/p>\n
Without additional information, there\u2019s no easy way to differentiate which of the hundreds of people named \u201cJohn Smith\u201d in Florida appears in the database. There\u2019s also no way to tell if the two \u201cJohn Smiths\u201d are the same people or different.<\/p>\n
The problem persists for other common names, like Juan Gonzalez, Timothy Brown, James Green, and Kimberly Hicks. Central Florida police officers share several names. Another matches a high-profile educator.<\/p>\n
Activist Debbie Darino, who was one of the major forces behind the law, said that wasn\u2019t what was discussed in the legislative committee meetings she attended.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think that when they said list, they did a list,\u201d Darino said.<\/p>\n
Darino pushed Volusia County to make its own list several years ago. The county\u2019s database, updated daily, features photos, charges, dates of birth, and conviction dates.<\/p>\n
That was the format lawmakers had in mind, she said, adding that she had already spoken to those who helped pass the law about approaching the FDLE.<\/p>\n
\u201cRepresentative Cheney, who is my house sponsor, is going to reach out to the FDLE about it on Monday,\u201d Darino explained. \u201cHope to clear some of this up and have it the way it\u2019s supposed to look.\u201d<\/p>\n
A spokeswoman for Sen. Tom Leek, who sponsored the law on the Senate side, did not respond to a question asking if this was the intent behind Leek\u2019s support for the effort.<\/p>\n
Until adjustments are made, Hardman and a leader of a second rescue group, who both already conduct extensive background checks, said that people with common names on the list will find it more challenging to adopt and could be asked to prove they\u2019re not the person on the list.<\/p>\n
\u201cDo we have the time to go through all of that without more information than a name?\u201d Hardman asked. \u201cThat\u2019s going to make more people suspicious and make it harder. It\u2019s going to be harder for John Smith, who is not convicted, if there\u2019s not more information.\u201d<\/p>\n
She said all her group would need from FDLE would be a picture and a date of birth. In the meantime, she said they\u2019ll check the list because it\u2019s there \u2013 but won\u2019t lean on it.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m glad to see something happening, but this is not really a valid document for us,\u201d she explained. \u201cIt\u2019s a start. It\u2019s not enough information.\u201d<\/p>\n
FDLE staff, who were out of the office for the New Year\u2019s holiday, did not respond to a request for comment asking if they planned to add more information to the database in the future.<\/p>\n
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