Hillsborough County, Florida

Sec. 6-22. – Dog, cat, and ferret registration and license tags; requirements; fees; exemptions; changes in ownership.

(b) Fees.

(1) The fee for registration certificates and tags shall be established by BOCC policy. There shall be a differential between the fee assessed for registration certificates and tags of intact dogs or cats versus sterilized animals, with intact animals to be charged at a higher rate.

Sec. 6-42. – Dog and cat spay and neuter “rebate” program.

(a) To encourage sterilization, the BOCC shall, by resolution, establish rebates from fees generated pursuant to this article for those persons who have their dogs or cats sterilized.

(b) To be eligible for a rebate:

(1) The owner must reside in the County at the time application for the rebate is submitted to the Department;

(2) Have purchased one or more tags for the animal at the intact rate;

(3) Have a current registration certificate and tag for the sterilized animal; and

(4) Submit the County Spay and Neuter Certificate signed by a veterinarian, to the Department within 90 days of the sterilization. Failure to submit the required documentation within the specified time will result in a waiver of any claim to the rebate. No rebate shall be paid for animals sterilized by the Department.

(c) Funds for this program shall be appropriated from the tag fee differential amounts collected for intact animals as compared to sterilized animals, along with any other funds appropriated by the BOCC. A percentage of the fee differential amount as indicated by resolution shall be appropriated to the Spay and Neuter Fund and public education efforts related to animal sterilization.

(d) This program will, for the specified time period, cease upon the complete depletion of the appropriated funds. The Director shall provide prompt written notice to all participating veterinarians in the event the funds for a particular time frame have been or are about to be exhausted. Any sterilization performed prior to the veterinarian receiving such notice will receive first consideration when additional funds are appropriated. Any other dog or cat sterilized during the affected time period is ineligible as a basis for a rebate.

Sec. 6-48. – Adoption.

(e) All dogs and cats adopted out by the Department shall be sterilized prior to release or their new owner must make a deposit pursuant to F.S. § 823.15, as may be amended, guaranteeing timely sterilization, and the adoption agreement must provide for these requirements. To be eligible for the return of the deposit, the following requirements must be satisfied:

(1) Sterilization procedure must be performed by a veterinarian within 30 days of the date of adoption or transfer, or at the time of sexual maturity, unless a medical exemption applies; and

(2) Written evidence by the veterinarian performing the sterilization must be presented to the Department within 90 days of the procedure.

Failure to comply with these requirements within the time specified shall result in a forfeiture of the deposit and shall constitute a breach of the adoption agreement.