safety
Flesh-eating screwworm prompts Florida to ban rescue dogs and cats from Texas, New Mexico
By CBS Miami Team at CBS4 Miami
· June 12, 2026
· 4 min read
To prevent the New World Screwworm from infesting Florida, the state is blocking rescue dogs and cats coming from Texas and New Mexico.The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) issued an emergency rule Wednesday prohibiting the importation of shelter and rescue dogs and cat
Key takeaway "We will respond based on facts, not fear," said Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson in a released statement.
Why this matters in The Miami
The ban on rescue dogs and cats from Texas and New Mexico due to the New World Screwworm outbreak has significant implications for Miami's animal rescue community. With Miami's strong connections to Latin American and Caribbean communities, the city's animal shelters often work with rescue groups from neighboring states to rehome animals. This moratorium may put a strain on local shelters, which could see an influx of animals from other parts of Florida or an increase in adoption requests that cannot be met due to the ban. Furthermore, Miami's unique geography, with its coastal location and subtropical climate, makes it particularly vulnerable to the screwworm infestation, which could have devastating effects on the city's livestock and wildlife if it were to spread. The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services' aggressive approach to protecting the state's agricultural economy and animal populations is crucial in preventing the screwworm from taking hold in Miami.
About this story
Original reporting by CBS4 Miami . The Miami surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit CBS4 Miami . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: safety ·
Published: June 12, 2026 ·
Source: CBS4 Miami ·
Reading time: 4 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? To prevent the New World Screwworm from infesting Florida, the state is blocking rescue dogs and cats coming from Texas and New Mexico.The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) issued an emergency rule Wednesday prohibiting the importation of shelter and rescue dogs and cat
When was this published? This article was first published on June 12, 2026 by CBS4 Miami and curated for The Miami readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by CBS Miami Team at CBS4 Miami. To learn more about how The Miami selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more safety coverage from The Miami, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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