Leon County Animal Control Division

Winter is over and Spring is here!! (Time to clean out the house, both yours and your pet's.)

It feels good when one can open the house to air out. The same thing goes for your pet’s house.

Cats: If your cat stays indoor, clean out the cat house and the area around the litter pan. It is advisable to wash all items that the cat uses, if it is washable. You might even try relocating these items to give the previous area extra time to air. If your cat is allowed to go in and out of the house, you should still check the area the cat likes to sleep. We do not want any unwanted critters or pest in the house.

Dogs: The same suggestions for the cat can be applied to the dog. Check the area the dog likes to sleep for critters and pests and clean any bedding or material the dog likes to use. If your dog is an outdoor pet, do a little spring cleaning to the dog house. Empty out the house of old pine straw or hay, clean the house with soap and water, and replace with fresh straw. Your dog will smell better and appreciate it more, and so will you.

Now with spring cleaning coming around the corner in full swing, pet owners still need to be cautious of what is around the house and what your pet can get into. Already this year there has been several reported cases of pets, both dog and cat, getting into spilled anti-freeze. Avoid your pet getting sick by checking your yard for poison and hazards. And to prevent your pet from getting into your neighbor’s things, keep you pet under control in your yard. Safety begins at home!

Safety also pertains to the weather. Protect your pet from the elements. County ordinance Section 4-37,Humane Care, requires that you provide protection from the weather at all times. Do this for your peace of mind and the animal’s safety.

Leon County Animal Control has seen an increase in animal bites this past year with less than 50% of the suspect animals vaccinated against rabies. Unvaccinated pets not only places the animal at risk, but also the bite victim and pet owner. Many pets have contact with area wildlife such as raccoons, foxes, beavers, skunks, and bats. “An increase in animal to animal contact can be attributed to the unusually warm season, limited food sources and dry weather” said Leon County Animal Control Director Richard Ziegler.

Rabies is a virus that is transmittable from animal to human, usually transferred by a bite from an infected animal. Rabies is preventable to people and pets, it just requires owners to get their animals to their veterinarian for their immunizations shot. Leon County Animal Control advises people to leave the five common rabies carriers alone. If you see a sick animal, contact the following agencies:

Un-incorporated areas of Leon County -Leon County Animal Control at (850) 606-5400
City of Tallahassee –Tallahassee Animal Service Center at (850) 891-2950.
After hours, call the Leon County Sheriff Office at (850) 922-3300.

Residents are advised to follow these suggestions:
Keep children away from wildlife
Keep pets away from wildlife
Keep pets inside, if possible
Do not feed wildlife
Do not leave food or food sources outside and accessible to wildlife
Vaccinate pets: dogs, cats, and ferrets

Due to staffing limitations caused by the hiring freeze, Leon County Animal Control will be adjusting the hours of field operations beginning Saturday, July 14, 2007. Our new operational hours for in the field will be Monday thru Friday 8:00 a.m. till 6:00 pm. Please contact our On-Call Officer via the Leon County Sheriff Office (922-3300) before and after these hours for emergency calls.

Additionally, there will no longer be an officer on the road Saturday and Sunday for routine calls. It will be Emergency Call Outs Only via the Sheriff Office. Note that Emergency Calls are: Animal Bite investigation, Dangerous or Aggressive Animal, sick or injured domestic animal, animal cruelty, and rabies suspected wildlife. All other calls will be handled during regular field hours. Office hours will remain the same: Monday – Friday 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.

On May 8, 2007, the Leon County Board of County Commissioners approved the increase in fees for animals impounded in violation of County Ordinance and the boarding of these animals at the Tallahassee-Leon Community Animal Service Center. There has not been a boarding fee increase since 1996. The new regular boarding rate increased from $9.00 to $15.00 per day. The boarding rate for animals held in quarantine under rabies observation increased from $9.64 to $16.00 per day. The impound fees changed from a flat $30.00 per violation to an escalating fee system. As of June 1, 2007, the new fees are:

Impound Fees:
First Impound     = $25.00
Second Impound = $50.00
Third Impound    = $75.00
Forth Impound    = $100.00
Firth Impound     = $125.00
Sixth and Subsequent Impound = $250.00

Boarding Fees:
Regular Board = $15.00 per day
Bite Quarantine Board = $16.00 per day

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Doris Maloy, Leon County Tax Collector is happy to announce the availability of the newly issued Animal Friend License Plate. Pet lovers interested in reducing pet overpopulation in the state of Florida are invited to purchase this tag. Approved in the 2004 legislative session, proceeds from the new “Animal Friend” specialty license plate will be used to fund spay/neuter initiatives in the state.

Now, Leon County car owners will have the option of purchasing the “Animal Friend” license plate for an additional $25 fee when they buy their annual vehicle licenses. Proceeds from the first 2,400 plates sold will go to reimburse the state for the $60,000 required for development of the plate. After that, proceeds will be put into a fund distributed by the Florida Animal Friend Coalition through grants to spay/neuter programs statewide. The goal is to raise enough money to prevent unwanted births of puppies and kittens and thereby reduce the number of animals abandoned on the streets and the number euthanized in shelters.

The Animal Friend Coalition worked to make the “Animal Friend” plate a reality. The coalition is comprised of animal care groups including: the Florida Animal Control Association, the Florida Veterinary Medical Association, and the Humane Society of the United States, as well as several individuals.

The license plate is available for purchase at all Leon County Tax Collector’s Offices. For a list of offices in Leon County, go to www.Leontaxcollector.net or phone 488-4735. Order yours today!

Rabies is a deadly virus that is contagious to humans as well as pets, but is preventable. Animal Control encourages all pet owners to have their animals (dogs, cats, ferrets), 4 months or older, vaccinated by a veterinarian. If you are unable to have your pet vaccinated by a local veterinarian, you may contact one of the following pet stores that provide weekend rabies vaccination clinics.

State law mandates that rabies vaccinations may only be administered by a State Licensed Veterinarian.

For weather updates, contact the National Weather Service by clicking the picture below.