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Domestic Animal Services
Mission Statement:
“To ensure compliance with local and State animal-related laws; to return strays to their owners and promote the adoption of homeless animals to new families; and to work toward ending the community problem of pet overpopulation.”
NEW ANIMAL CONTROL ORDINANCE ADOPTED
LEARN MORE HERE
The ordinance as adopted by the Board of County Commissioners on Tuesday, Jan. 26 will implement significant changes for pets and their owners. Dogs may no longer be tethered and left alone - it is now required that dogs be tethered with a person outdoors with the animal and in line of sight to oversee the animal's welfare. You cannot leave a dog tethered/chained alone.
Additionally, ordinance changes for tethering require that tethers weigh no more than 1/8 of the dog's weight and that the dog be 6 months or older and healthy. The dog must always have access to shade, water and dry land and the tether must have swivels on both ends to eliminate the danger of strangulation and other unsafe conditions.
Other ordinance changes are improving the welfare of feral cats by permitting a TNR program (Trap-Neuter-Return) for feral cats under a memorandum of understanding with the Collier Community Cat Coalition. This will allow for ferals to be vaccinated and spayed or neutered with the goal of reducing the number of feral cats in Collier County.
The full revised ordinance is posted under the Laws section on the left side of this web site - view it and other laws by clicking here. If you have questions you may call DAS at (239) 252-PETS (7387).
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Prevent Pets from Becoming Homeless
As a pet owner, you have the power to educate yourself to prevent your own pet from becoming lost and ending up at Domestic Animal Services. DAS is asking that all pet owners do the following:
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Leash your animals - yes this includes cats (keeps them out of trouble and within grip)
- Fence property in - if you plan on having your dog outdoors without a leash on your property
- Micro chip your animals so if it becomes lost a local shelter may scan the pet and contact you immediately!
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License all dogs and cats - why? If you license them, we can take them right home if we find them rather than impound them at our shelter.
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Shelter Animal Adoptions
We encourage you to give an animal a second chance by adopting a shelter pet.
Adopted cats and dogs are spayed/neutered, micro-chipped and vaccinated against rabies before you take them home, which saves you hundreds of dollars.
Adoption fees are $60 for cats and kittens and $85 for dogs and puppies. Other pets such as gerbils, ferrets, and birds are available at or below market rates.
All pet adoptions are first-come, first-served.
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Animal Sheltering
If your animal is lost, it may be picked up as a stray by an Animal Control Officer or dropped off at the shelter by a Good Samaritan.
Florida law requires that we hold your animal for five days to give you the opportunity to reclaim it. Lost pets reclaimed by the second day that have a current County license are returned home with no impound or board charges!
If you can no longer care for your animal and cannot find it a new home, we will accept it at the shelter for a small fee. Surrendered pets and strays not reclaimed within five days become the property of Collier County.
We screen animals for good health and temperament and place qualified pets up for adoption. We also partner with local animal rescue groups. |
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Enforcement
The Collier County Animal Control Ordinance requires that all dogs and cats have a current County license and rabies vaccination and to be leashed when off their owners’ property.
Our Animal Control Officers respond to complaints and ensure compliance with these and other animal-related laws. Officers also investigate animal cruelty and abandonment cases, and process dangerous dog declarations.
Animal Control Officers assist with insuring the health of the human residents and visitors of the County, with the secondary purpose of insuring the health of animals in the County. |