According to Florida law:
"These Florida laws concern liens for the care and maintenance of animals. The first section declares that the liens mentioned in the chapter include the described personal property under the circumstances mentioned in each section. Section 713.65 then describes that a lien exists in favor of all persons for the "feeding or caring for the horse or other animal of another, including all keepers of livery, sale or feed or feed stables, for feeding or taking care of any horse or other animal put in their charge; upon such horse or other animal." Based on the broad language of "other animal," a lien exists for the care and feeding of all owned animals."
In short, because you have been taking care of the feed and housing of these animals for months, Florida law places a lien on those animals that must be paid. More specifically:
"In favor of any veterinarian who renders professional services to an animal at the request of the owner of the animal, the owner's agent, or a bailee, lessee, or custodian of the animal, for the unpaid portion of the fees for such professional services, upon the animal to which such services were rendered. Such lien shall remain valid and enforceable for a period of 1 year from the date the professional services were rendered, and such lien is to be enforced in the manner provided for the enforcement of other liens on personal property in this state."
The law gives you the ability to sue even if the law doesn't give you ownership of the animals outright. Animal abandonment laws are a little odd in Florida, but this law gives you an angle to get your money back. If they still play hardball, go to civil court.
Link:
https://www.animallaw.info/statute/f...enance-animals