Florida’s new Dexter’s Law transforms a single animal’s suffering into a permanent safeguard. By ordering a public registry of convicted abusers, the state closes the loopholes that once let offenders drift from county to county, adopting, buying, or “rescuing” new victims with a spotless-looking record. Shelters, breeders, and ordinary families can now check one list before ever placing an animal in trusting hands.

But beneath the sense of justice is a quieter unease. A registry is not just data; it is a sentence that lingers long after prison or probation ends. Supporters say that when violence targets the voiceless, lasting consequences are the only real deterrent. Critics warn that branding people forever may harden them, not heal them. Florida has chosen a side, betting that some doors must stay closed so others—kennels, shelters, living rooms—can finally feel safe.