§ 14-33. County Rabies/License certificate; tags, vaccination required.

1.

Any owner of a dog or cat shall obtain a County rabies/license tag for each such animal when the animal is four months old or older.

A.

In the case of a newly acquired dog or cat, the Owner shall obtain a County rabies/license tag within fifteen (15) days of acquisition.

B.

In the case of a new resident to the County, the Owner shall obtain a County rabies/license tag within fifteen (15) days of establishing residency.

C.

No County rabies/license tag for dogs or cats shall be issued or renewed by a veterinarian or authorized agent until evidence of vaccination for rabies by a licensed veterinarian has been presented. Upon vaccinating a dog or cat against rabies, authorized veterinarians/clinics may have available for purchase by the dog or cat owner, a County rabies/license tag. The County rabies/license tag will be valid for a period of one (1) or three (3) years from the date of vaccination, depending on the expiration date of the rabies vaccination the animal receives, and is required to be renewed annually or triennially thereafter and must remain current at all times.

No County rabies/license tag shall be valid after the expiration of the rabies vaccination, regardless of the date of issuance. Failure to secure and purchase a new County rabies/license tag within thirty (30) calendar days after the previous tag expires will result in a late penalty established and revised by resolutions adopted by the Board of County Commissioners.

D.

The record corresponding to the County rabies/license tag shall contain the name of the owner, address, breed, sex and color of each animal, or other descriptive data.

E.

A tag designating the license number shall be issued.

F.

All dogs shall be required to wear a valid County rabies/license tag. The tag shall be affixed to the dog's neck by a collar, harness, or other substantial device at all times, except when the animal is confined in a secure enclosure, as long as the tag is securely fastened to a collar/harness and that device is attached to the enclosure, except when a dog is securely confined in the residence. Dogs participating in a registered match, confirmation show, field trial, or obedience trial are not required to wear such tags during the time of the event.

G.

All cats, other than community cats, shall be required to wear a valid County rabies/license tag. The tag shall be securely fastened around the cat's neck by a collar, harness or other substantial device so as to be clearly visible at all times. Cats, other than community cats, may be exempt from wearing the required license tag while kept in a secure enclosure as long as the tag is securely attached to the enclosure or while within the owner's residence as long as the tag is provided to an officer upon request.

H.

The County rabies/license tag issued under this section shall not be transferable from animal to animal or from owner to owner.

I.

Each County rabies/license tag must be obtained from persons designated by the Director. License forms provided by the Director for the registration and licensing of dogs and cats shall be completed and be submitted to the Director.

J.

A replacement tag must be purchased and in place within fifteen (15) calendar days if the original tag is lost, misplaced, or stolen at a reduced amount as established by resolution of the Board of County Commissioners.

K.

Veterinarians and authorized agents are authorized to sell dog County rabies/licenses and cat County rabies/licenses and cannot charge more for the tag than is established and revised by resolutions adopted by the Board of County Commissioners. The veterinarian and authorized agents must submit payment to Animal Services for each tag sold during the previous 30 days. Veterinarians and authorized agents are authorized to charge a surcharge for this service. The amount of the authorized surcharge is established and revised by resolutions adopted by the Board of County Commissioners. County rabies/license tags will be furnished by the County to the veterinarian and authorized agents.

L.

Veterinarians and authorized agents must keep complete and accurate records of tags sold and on hand as inventory. All theft or loss must be reported immediately to the proper authority and a copy of the official law enforcement report must be provided to Domestic Animal Services. Unexplained shortages/losses of tags, or sale(s) of tags at the incorrect price(s), are the responsibility of the Veterinarians and authorized agents.

M.

License fees are not required for Police Working Dogs; but such animals must be licensed and must have received their rabies vaccination. In order to receive these license tags at no charge, the owner must have the animal licensed through animal services. Police working dogs vaccinated anywhere else will be liable to pay the surcharge imposed by the veterinarian only.

2.

Any owner of a dog, cat, or ferret shall have such animal vaccinated annually for rabies when the animal is four months old or older. The owner of every dog, cat, and ferret shall have the animal revaccinated 12 months after the initial vaccination. Thereafter, the interval between vaccinations shall conform to the vaccine manufacturer's directions. Every owner shall provide proof of vaccination upon demand of the health officer or his designee or any other person authorized to enforce this Ordinance. Animal services may deny issuance of a County rabies/license tag to any animal without a current rabies vaccination. No vaccination is required if a licensed veterinarian certifies in writing that the vaccination would endanger the animal's health.

3.

Upon vaccination against rabies, the licensed veterinarian shall provide the animal's owner and the animal control authority with a rabies vaccination certificate as defined in F.S. § 828.30. Veterinarians shall provide rabies vaccination certificates to Domestic Animal Services within thirty (30) days of vaccination or immediately upon request of Domestic Animal Services in conjunction with an investigation or other enforcement purposes.

4.

Animal-related organizations in good standing with animal services and Pet Placement Partners, with a valid tax exemption under Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3), approved to adopt animals from animal services that are housing cats and dogs in foster or sanctuary type settings as an alternative to humane euthanasia may acquire a blanket license for all cats and dogs housed.

5.

License fees are established and revised by resolutions of the Board of County Commissioners. A portion of each non-neutered/non-spayed animal license fee will be deposited in the County Animal Care Sterilization trust fund for the purpose of funding the County's neuter/spay program. The amount to be deposited is established and revised by resolutions adopted by the Board of County Commissioners.

6.

Owners of animals who visit Collier County or reside in Collier County for less than thirty (30) days per year are exempt from the County rabies/license tag requirement provided that they have proof of a valid current rabies vaccination from another jurisdiction.

(Ord. No. 2018-33, § 1)