Padi dog bite bill, named after Bradenton dog, unanimously passes Florida Senate

TALLAHASSEE -- The Senate unanimously passed a bill Thursday giving more leeway to hearing officers in determining the fate of dogs that cause severe injuries.

The bill unanimously passed the House of Representatives with an 118-0 vote Jan. 27.

State Rep. Greg Steube, R-Sarasota, filed the bill after the highly controversial case of Padi, a Manatee County male Labrador mix who bit off part of a child's ear this summer.

Padi, free after a judge ruled the death penalty for the dog was unconstitutional, had faced automatic euthanasia because the bite was considered a severe injury under state law.

The new language would allow hearing officers to consider defense for severe bites such as if the dog was acting in self-defense, in defense of its owner or against a trespasser.

Steube said the bill exemplifies how government is supposed to work for its constituents.

"This is a great example of how fast government can work to correct a fallacy in the law," Steube said. "It took about six months to draft this bill and get it passed by both chambers of the Legislature."

Veterinarian Paul Gartenberg, Padi's owner, said it is "awesome" the bill passed the Legislature.

"This is going to help a lot of animals. It wasn't just the micro issue of getting Padi back, but this macro issue of this being about all animals," Gartenberg said. "It's amazing this law stood for 25 years."

He added he never would have been able to inspire this legislation or protect Padi without help.

"I have so much gratitude for everyone who posted on

social media and wrote Rep. Steube's office and went to commission meetings," Gartenberg said. "I can't thank everyone individually ... but we made it happen."

The bill now goes to Gov. Rick Scott for his signature to make it law in Florida.

Manatee County Commissioner Carol Whitmore said she wrote a letter to Scott two weeks ago about the bill.

"I asked him to sign it before the session is over since it didn't have any opposition," Whitmore said. The bill was unanimously approved in every committee stop in the House and Senate in addition to unanimous votes on the House and Senate floor.

Whitmore called it a common-sense solution to an unclear issue in the state of Florida, and said she was "ecstatic" it had passed. She hoped Scott would schedule the signing so she and anyone else from Manatee could be in Tallahassee for it.

"We've been ahead of the curve in Manatee County, and this puts us on the map," Whitmore said. "This shows we really care about our animals."

Kate Irby, Herald online/political reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7055. You can follow her on Twitter @KateIrby

This story was originally published February 11, 2016 at 11:11 PM with the headline "Padi dog bite bill, named after Bradenton dog, unanimously passes Florida Senate ."