Animals Roaming At-Large
- All domestic animals, including cats, not confined to an owners property
must be leashed or restrained.
Vaccination Against Rabies
- 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.
Licensing
- 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 animals collar and worn at all times (including indoor animals).
Click here for more
information about licensing.
Female Dogs and Cats In Season
- 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.
Lost/Stray/Homeless Animals
- 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!
Spaying and Neutering Benefits
- 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. Dont 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 females 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 pets 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!.