Animals Roaming At-Large

• All domestic animals, including cats, not confined to an owner’s property must be leashed or restrained.

• All dogs, cats, and ferrets four months of age or older are required by Florida State law to be vaccinated against rabies.  Rabies vaccines are given in either a one-year or three-year doses depending on the age  and vaccination history of the pet.

• All dogs, cats, and ferrets four months of age or older are required by Lee County Ordinance 6-12 to be licensed in Lee County. A rabies certificate showing that the animal has been vaccinated against rabies is required to purchase a license. The license tag must be attached to the animal’s collar and worn at all times (including indoor animals).  Click here for more information about licensing.

• All owners of female dogs and cats must confine their pets in a building or secure enclosure when in season to prevent contact with another dog or cat except for intentional breeding purposes. Confinement by leash or restraint, or within a fence, open kennel, etc. does not meet the requirements of Lee County Ordinance 6-12.

Animals in Motor Vehicles

• It is unlawful to leave an animal unattended in a motor vehicle without sufficient ventilation or under conditions which may endanger the health or well-being of the animal due to heat, lack of water or any other circumstances which may cause suffering, disability or death.
• It is unlawful to transport an animal in a motor vehicle of open design (e.g., trucks), unless the animal is safely and humanely restrained.

• In Lee County during 2006, more than 16,000 animals were taken in by Animal Services. Of these, more than10,000 were strays and approximately 5,500 were pets relinquished by their owners.  Only about 1,300 animals  were claimed by their owners. Even fewer were wearing any form of identification. Of the stray animals that were not claimed, only about 3,400 were adopted or taken by a rescue organization that had space.  Click here for more info on lost pets. One of the main goals for Lee County Animal Services in is to improve these statistics. Much still needs to be accomplished to ensure all pet owners license their pets and provide proper identification so they can be returned when lost.  Just as critical is the need for all pet owners to spay or neuter their pets to prevent so many unwanted births.  These animals must be euthanized because there simply are not enough homes in Lee County (as is the case in the rest of the United States) to place them all.  Their only other alternative would be to die of starvation or disease, be hit by cars, or killed by other animals.  They would also pose a great public health and safety crisis.  Please do your part to end this needless suffering and death.  Every litter counts!

• A spayed or neutered (sterilized) animal is better behaved. Neutered male cats and dogs focus their attention on their human families. Unsterilized, unsupervised males roam in search of a mate, risking injury in traffic and in fights with other males. They mark territory by spraying strong-smelling urine on surfaces. Indoors, male dogs may embarrass you by mounting furniture and human legs when stimulated. Don’t confuse aggressiveness with protectiveness; a neutered dog protects his home and family just as well as an unneutered dog, and many aggression problems can be avoided by early neutering.

• While their cycles vary greatly, most female cats exhibit the following signs when in heat.  For four or five days, every three weeks, they yowl and urinate more frequently – sometimes all over the house – advertising for mates.  Often, they attract unneutered males who spray urine around the female’s home.  Female dogs also attract males from great distances.  Female dogs generally have a bloody discharge for about a week, and can conceive for another week or so.

• Neutering a male cat or dog by six months of age prevents testicular cancer, prostate disease and hernias. Spaying a female cat or dog helps prevent pyometra (a pus-filled uterus) and breast cancer; having this done before the first heat offers the best protection from these diseases.  These disease can be fatal in about 50 percent of female dogs and 90 percent of female cats.

• The earlier your dog or cat is spayed or neutered the better the health benefits will be.  As long as a kitten or puppy weighs at least two pounds and is two months old, he or she can be neutered or spayed.  Many veterinarians today are practicing perfectly safe early sterilization.

• Spaying and neutering help prevent the suffering and death of millions of animals.   One cat or dog who has babies and whose babies have babies can be responsible for the birth of 50 to 200 kittens or puppies in one year!  Many people love puppies and kittens, but lose interest when these animals grow up.  As a result, millions of cats and dogs of all ages and breeds are euthanized annually or suffer as strays. Rarely surviving for more than a few years on their own, strays die painfully by starvation, disease, or from being hit by cars.

• Spaying or neutering will not alter your pet’s personality.  Any slight changes will be positive. Neutering will reduce the need to breed, and that has a calming effect on many animals.

• Companion animals will not become fat and lazy if they are neutered.  Lack of exercise and overfeeding make pets fat and lazy.  Your pet will not gain weight if you provide exercise and monitor food intake.

• Spaying and neutering are the most common surgeries performed on animals.  With a minimal amount of home care, your pet will resume normal behavior in a couple of days.

Heartworm Disease

• Heartworm disease, contracted through the bite of a mosquito, affects dogs nationwide.  We now know that cats can contract heartworm disease too.  A simple blood test will determine if your pet has heartworms.  It can be prevented by monthly preventive medication.  See your veterinarian for this medication and save your pet's life!.