§ 4-11. Registration of dogs and cats.

(a)

Any owner who owns or keeps, in Broward County, a dog or cat four (4) months of age or older shall have such dog or cat registered by and in Broward County and shall obtain and keep a current rabies registration tag. The Division shall provide suitable dog and cat rabies registration tags for sale through veterinarians providing services in Broward County, authorized representatives, or the Division. Each owner of a dog or cat shall obtain a Broward County rabies registration tag within thirty (30) days after the dog or cat has been vaccinated against rabies. A separate rabies registration tag shall be issued for each dog or cat, and a rabies registration tag issued for one (1) dog or one (1) cat is not valid for any other dog or cat. Failure to obtain the rabies registration tag within the timeframe provided herein shall be a violation of this section, and the owner of the dog or cat may be issued a citation and subject to a civil penalty in an amount set by resolution of the Commission.

A rabies registration tag for a dog or cat shall consist of a tag for the animal's collar or harness. The Director shall design an appropriate rabies registration tag, and shall issue the tag to authorized representatives.

(b)

Any nonresident who brings a dog or cat four (4) months of age or older into Broward County with the intent to reside within the County permanently, or temporarily for a period of at least three (3) months, shall have such dog or cat registered by and in Broward County within thirty (30) days after arrival.

(c)

The rabies registration tag required by this section shall be renewed annually by the owner of the dog or cat, by paying the applicable fee, and by providing documentation that said dog or cat has a current rabies vaccination or is exempt from such vaccination under the terms of this chapter.

(d)

The Commission shall establish by resolution the fees to be charged for rabies registration tags. This may include discount fees for sterilized dogs or cats. Any such discount shall be allowed only upon presentation of a certificate of sterilization signed by a veterinarian licensed in any state or other documentation of the dog's or cat's inability to reproduce, or upon presentation of proof of prior issuance of a rabies registration tag for the dog or cat at a similarly discounted fee. Dogs and cats that are sterilized and vaccinated in connection with County programs to encourage sterilization may also be eligible for a discount rabies registration tag fee. The Division shall provide free rabies registration tags to all individuals with disabilities for animals that the Division has recognized as official service animals. The Director shall establish the guidelines for approving and denying free or discounted rabies registration tags. The fees collected for rabies registration tag sales, over the baseline of one hundred thousand (100,000) tags per year, shall be deposited in the Animal Care Sterilization Trust Fund to be used for sterilization programs, as determined by the Director.

(e)

In the event a rabies registration tag distributed under the provisions of this section is lost, stolen, or destroyed, a replacement tag shall be distributed by the Director or designee upon presentation of the corresponding rabies registration license and payment of the appropriate fee.

(f)

The Broward County rabies registration tag required by this section shall be worn by the dog or cat at all times, subject to the exceptions in this subsection. It shall be a violation of this chapter for any person to remove the tag of any registered dog or cat within Broward County except:

(1)

When the dog or cat is participating in an organized exhibition, field trial, or competition, or is in training for these events, or is engaged in a legal sport under supervision of its owner, or is undergoing grooming; or

(2)

When the dog or cat is confined in a licensed kennel, grooming facility, or a veterinary hospital, in which case the rabies registration tag number shall be recorded and readily identifiable with the dog or cat to which it belongs. If the animal is not registered, the facility shall clearly indicate such on its records; or

(3)

When a licensed veterinarian orders in writing that the rabies registration tag, collar, or harness be removed for the dog's or cat's health, in which case the dog or cat shall be confined in a building, kennel, or secure enclosure until the veterinarian permits the collar, harness, or registration tag to be placed on the dog or cat.

(g)

It shall be a violation of this chapter for any person to use or possess a stolen, counterfeit, or forged rabies registration tag, rabies vaccination certificate, or any other documentation required by or issued pursuant to this section.

(h)

It shall be a violation of this chapter for owners to fail to register an implanted microchip with the manufacturer of the microchip. The owner shall have thirty (30) days to cure and register the microchip without penalty after notice by the Division.

(Ord. No. 87-21, § 1, 5-12-87; Ord. No. 95-42, § 8, 10-24-95; Ord. No. 1998-41, § 5, 11-10-98; Ord. No. 2001-56, § 2, 11-13-01; Ord. No. 2006-04, § 2, 2-28-06; Ord. No. 2013-10, § 1, 2-12-13; Ord. No. 2013-34, § 3, 10-8-13; Ord. No. 2015-37 , § 1, 9-10-15; Ord. No. 2017-34 , § 2, 12-5-17)