§ 14-52. Rabies vaccination of dogs, cats, and ferrets; rabies vaccination certificates and animal license tags.
(a)
All dogs, cats, and ferrets four months of age or older must be vaccinated by a licensed veterinarian against rabies with a vaccine that is licensed by the United States Department of agriculture for use in those species. The owner of every dog, cat, and ferret shall have the animal revaccinated 12 months after the initial vaccination. If a veterinarian administers a vaccine licensed by the United States Department of Agriculture that is approved for a three-year duration of immunity, a dog or cat may be vaccinated at three to four months of age, with a booster at one year and every three years thereafter. Thereafter, the interval between vaccinations shall conform to the vaccine manufacturer's directions. The cost of vaccination must be borne by the animal's owner. Evidence of circulating rabies virus neutralizing antibodies shall not be used as a substitute for current vaccination in managing rabies exposure or determining the need for booster vaccinations.
(b)
Each ferret vaccinated according to this section must be quarantined, when necessary, according to rules of the department of health.
(c)
A dog, cat, or ferret is exempt from vaccination against rabies if a licensed veterinarian has examined the animal and has certified in writing that at the time vaccination would endanger the animal's health because of its age, infirmity, disability, illness, or other medical considerations. An exempt animal must be vaccinated against rabies as soon as its health permits. A veterinarian's letter of exemption from rabies vaccination does not alter an animal's status for quarantine purposes.
(d)
The owner of a dog, cat, or ferret in the county that is vaccinated against rabies shall obtain a rabies vaccination certificate. Upon vaccination against rabies, the licensed veterinarian shall provide the animal's owner and the animal control authority with a rabies vaccination certificate, in the form prescribed by the animal control authority, which must contain at least the following information:
(1)
The owner's name, address, telephone number.
(2)
The veterinarian's name, license number, address, and telephone number.
(3)
The animal's species, name, age, sex, whether the animal has been spayed/neutered, size, predominant breed, predominant colors/markings, microchip number (if applicable), rabies tag number, and county registration tag number.
(4)
Date of vaccination and the date of next vaccination.
(5)
The product name, manufacturer, serial/lot number, and expiration date (one-year/three-year/four-year).
(6)
The route of administration of the vaccine and the type (initial dose or booster dose).
(7)
The signature or signature stamp of the veterinarian.
(e)
The owner of a dog or cat shall obtain an animal registration tag within 28 days of establishing residency in the county. This tag shall be renewed annually. The animal control authority shall approve the form, content, and design of the animal registration tag. No other animal registration tag shall be valid in the county. Animal registration tags may be issued by the animal control authority, its designee, or any licensed veterinarian who administers a rabies vaccination. An animal registration tag shall be valid for a period of one year from the date of issuance. All veterinarians in the county shall display, in a conspicuous place that can be seen and easily read by all customers, a sign indicating that county registration tags are required and indicating where they can be purchased.
(f)
The registration tag shall be attached to the collar or harness of the dog or cat and shall be worn at all times, except when such animal is confined for treatment in a veterinary hospital or clinic operated by a licensed veterinarian; while competing in an organized animal show, trial, or training therefor; or by a police dog while being used by law enforcement officials for law enforcement work.
(g)
All veterinarians conducting business, whether permanently or temporarily, within the county shall provide the animal control authority with a copy of each and every rabies vaccination certificate issued. Copies of rabies certificates shall be submitted to the animal control authority within 30 days of the vaccination. Upon request, such certificate shall be made available to any animal enforcement officer, law enforcement officer or other representatives of the department.
(h)
Veterinary clinics may add a surcharge of up to $2.00 per registration sold to cover administrative costs as long as the surcharge is not added to the cost of the registration and is invoiced on a separate line.
(i)
Fees for rabies vaccination certificates and animal registration tags will be established and adjusted in accordance with section 14-78. There shall be a differential between the fees assessed for registration certificates and tags of intact dogs or cats versus sterilized animals, with intact animals to be charged at a higher rate. Any resident of the county who owns or keeps a service animal actively being used to assist a disabled person, as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act, may obtain an animal registration tag, when applicable, at no charge.
(j)
If an animal registration tag is lost or destroyed, the animal owner shall obtain a replacement animal registration tag. A replacement animal registration tag may be issued to the owner upon presentation of the corresponding rabies vaccination certificate and payment of the applicable fee.
(k)
Organizations may be authorized by the animal control authority at its discretion, to sell registration tags to their customers or clients. To be authorized to sell registration tags, these other organizations shall enter into a contract with the county.
(l)
It is a violation of this article for the owner of a dog, cat, or ferret to fail or refuse to have the animal vaccinated against rabies as required by this section and/or state law.
(m)
It is a violation of this article for the owner of a dog, cat, or ferret to fail or refuse to obtain or renew a rabies vaccination certificate or animal registration tag when required by this section.
(n)
The owner commits a violation of this article if the owner's dog or cat is without a physically attached animal registration tag as required by this section.
(o)
The owner commits a violation of this article if the owner's dog or cat wears an animal registration tag which has expired.
(p)
A rabies vaccination certificate or animal registration tag is not valid for any animal other than the animal to which it was issued. The owner commits a violation of this article if the owner's dog or cat wears an animal registration tag which has not been issued for such animal, or if the owner presents a rabies vaccination certificate issued for another animal for the purpose of obtaining an animal registration tag or demonstrating compliance with this section.
(q)
Pursuant to F.S. § 828.30, an animal owner's name, street address, phone number, and animal registration tag number contained in a rabies vaccination certificate provided to the animal control authority is exempt from F.S. § 119.07(1) and section 24(a), article I of the State Constitution. However, any person who has been bitten, scratched, or otherwise exposed to a zoonotic disease or the physician of such person; a veterinarian who is treating an animal that has been bitten, scratched, or otherwise exposed to a zoonotic disease; or the owner of an animal that has been bitten, scratched, or otherwise exposed to a zoonotic disease shall be provided with any information contained in a rabies vaccination certificate but only with respect to the particular animal biting, scratching, or otherwise causing exposure. Any person with an animal tag registration number may receive vaccination certificate information with regard to that animal. Law enforcement and prosecutorial agencies; other animal control authorities; emergency and medical response and disease control agencies; or other governmental health agencies shall be provided information contained in the rabies vaccination certificate for the purpose of controlling the transmission of rabies; however, the receiving agencies and authorities must not release the exempt information.
(r)
A dog, cat, or ferret may be exempt from certain requirements of this section as follows:
(1)
A greyhound temporarily brought into the county for purposes of racing at licensed greyhound tracks is exempt from registration and licensing.
(2)
A dog, cat, or ferret temporarily brought into the county as a part of an entertainment act is exempt from registration and licensing.
(3)
A dog, cat, or ferret temporarily brought into the county for a period of less than 30 consecutive days is exempt from registration and licensing.
(4)
A dog, cat, or ferret is exempt from rabies vaccination if a veterinarian has examined the animal and has certified in writing that vaccinating the animal at that time would endanger the animal's health because of its age, infirmity, disability, illness or other medical considerations. An animal exempt under this provision must be vaccinated as soon as its health allows. A registration fee equal to the cost of a pet registration for a dog, cat, or ferret shall be paid even if the animal cannot currently be vaccinated for rabies. An exemption that extends beyond 12 months must be renewed annually through submission of a new exemption letter. No exemption letter shall be deemed valid after one year from the date it was written.
(5)
A veterinarian's letter of exemption from rabies vaccination does not alter an animal's status for quarantine purposes.
(s)
The animal control authority, or designee, shall be required to maintain and retain a registry of all registered animals within the county.
(t)
Violations of this section are subject to a fine of not less than the amount designated in chapter 14 of this Code.
(Ord. No. 93-05, § 1(4-14), 4-13-93; Ord. No. 93-11, § 1(4-14), 6-8-93; Ord. No. 94-24, § 1, 11-15-94; Ord. No. 98-01, § 10, 1-20-98; Ord. No. 2014-27, § 1, 9-16-14; Ord. No. 2018-02, § 1, 1-23-18)