Dangerous Dog Bill, with roots in Padi case in Manatee, passes Senate committee

TALLAHASSEE -- A bill that would determine the fate of dogs that cause severe injury to people passed its second Senate committee Monday afternoon.

The Senate Community Affairs Committee passed Senate Bill 334 during the committee meeting. The bill, which is sponsored by state Sen. Bill Montford, D-Tallahassee, specifies circumstances under which a dog that has caused severe injury to a human may be returned to its owner rather than destroyed.

Manatee County Commissioners Carol Whitmore, Betsy Benac, Vanessa Baugh and Charles Smith attended Monday's committee meeting.

The Senate bill now goes to the Rules Committee.

The House companion bill, HB 91, will be heard during the House Judiciary Committee meeting Wednesday afternoon. This is the third and final house committee necessary on the bill.

Rep. Greg Steube, R-Sarasota, filed the bill after the highly-controversial case of Padi, a Manatee County 4-year-old male Labrador mix bit who bit off part of a child's ear, this summer. Padi, who is now free after a judge's ruling, was facing euthanasia for the bite, because it was considered a severe injury under state law.

Claire Aronson, Manatee County reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7024. Follow her on Twitter@Claire_Aronson.

This story was originally published January 11, 2016 at 5:13 PM with the headline "Dangerous Dog Bill, with roots in Padi case in Manatee, passes Senate committee ."