Pasco County, Florida

Sec. 14-96. – License tags required.

(a) Requirements.

(1) Every person possessing, harboring, keeping, or having control or custody of a dog and/or cat over the age of four months shall secure a county license from a veterinarian or from the department and, as a condition of obtaining the license, shall show proof of a current rabies vaccination which shall have been administered by a licensed veterinarian.

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(b) Fees.

(1) The fee for obtaining license tags shall be established by the board of county commissioners. There shall be a higher fee charged for license tags for intact dogs or cats than for tags for sterilized animals.

Sec. 14-99. – Sterilization upon adoption.

(a) All dogs and cats adopted from the department shall either be sterilized prior to removal from the department or, at the discretion of the department, the owner may leave a deposit in an amount set forth by resolution, paid to the department guaranteeing that the adopted animal will be sterilized by a Florida licensed veterinarian within 30 days of the date of adoption or in the case of a puppy or kitten within 180 days from the date of adoption. Failure to comply with the provisions of this section shall result in the forfeiture of the deposit to the department and shall constitute a violation of this chapter subject to additional civil penalty.

(b) Custody of any dog or cat offered for adoption may be transferred without deposit to a licensed veterinarian, the S.P.C.A. or other humane organization upon agreement to surgically sterilize such animal in accordance with F.S. § 823.15.

Sec. 14-113. – Animal services sterilization fund.

(a) There is hereby created an animal services sterilization fund for the purpose of accepting and disbursing funds received by the county from the following sources:

(1) A percentage of the unaltered dog license tag revenue specified by resolution of the BOCC will go toward the sterilization programs.

(2) Cat licensing revenue shall be deposited into the animal care sterilization fund.

(3) Fees from municipal animal services contracts designated for TNR funding.

(4) Sterilization grants, gifts, awards of money, and other revenue intended to fund sterilization programs.

(b) Funds received hereunder shall be deposited in a designated account established and maintained by Pasco County specifically to provide for the sterilization of dogs and cats.

(c) The animal services sterilization fund account shall be self-perpetuating year to year, unless specifically terminated by the BOCC.

(d) Disbursement of funds pursuant to this section shall be determined by the department and approved by the BOCC during the fiscal year budget cycle.

(e) This program will cease upon the complete depletion of the appropriated or gifted 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 for reimbursement.