Ordinance 004-1973
ORDINANCE NO.
4-1973
AN ORDINANCE RELATING TO MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA;
CONTAINING DEFINITIONS; PROHIBITING ANIMALS IN PUBLIC
PARKS AND BEACHES, MAKING IT UNLAWFUL FOR OWNERS
OR PERSONS HAVING CUSTODY OF ANIMALS TO PERMIT ANI-
MALS TO COMMIT ANY NUISANCE OR RUNNING AT LARGE;
REQUIRING V ACCINA TION AGAINST RABIES AND LICENSE
TAGS; PROVIDING FOR DURATION AND COSTS OF LICENSE
TAGS; PROVIDING FOR IMPOUNDING WITHOUT LICENSE, RE-
DEEMING BY OWNER AND DISPOSITION OF UNREDEEMED
ANIMALS; PROVIDING FOR IMPOUNDING OF DOGS AND OTHER
ANIMALS SUSPECTED OF HAVING RABIES AND THE REPORT-
ING OF ANIMAL BITES; EXEMPTING RACING GREYHOUNDS
AND OTHER ANIMALS FROM VACCINATION AND LICENSING
PROVISION OF THIS ORDINANCE; AUTHORIZING ENFORCE-
MENT OF THIS ORDINANCE; LIMITING NUMBER OF DOGS AND
CA TS ON ONE PREMISE, EXCEPT IN DULY LICENSED KEN-
NELs; PROVIDING FOR PROSECUTION OF VIOLATIONS OF THIS
ORDINANCE; REPEALING ALL SPECIAL LAWS, ORDINANCES,
RESOLUTIONS, RULES AND REGULATIONS IN CONFLICT HERE-
WITH TO THE EXTENT OF SAID CONFLICT; AND PROVIDING
WHEN THIS ORDINANCE TAKES EFFECT.
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF
MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA:
Section 1. Definitions. As used in this article, unless the context
otherwise indicates:
(1) Animals shall be defined to include male and female domestic
animals and any domesticated wild animals.
(2) Owner shall be defined to include any person, persons, firms,
corporations or associations owning, harboring, keeping or
controlling a dog or dogs within the county, dome stic animals
and domesticated wild animals.
(3) Dog, domestic animal and domesticated wild animal shall
include both male and female.
(4) At large shall be defined to mean off the premises of the owner,
and not under the control, custody, charge or possession of
the owner, or other responsible person, either by leash, cord,
or chain.
Section 2. Prohibited in parks and on beaches. No person owning or
having charge, care, custody or control of any animal shall cause, permit or
allow the animal into or upon any public park or beach in the county; pro-
vided, however, this provision shall not apply to parkways, wayside parks,
or other park areas in which animals are specifically authorized.
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Section 3. Permitting animals to commit nuisance. It shall be unlawful
for the owner or person having custody of any animal to permit, either willfully
or through failure to exercise due care or control, any such animal to commit
any nuisance upon the sidewalk of any public street; or upon the floor of any
common hall in any apartment house, tenement house, hotel or other multiple
dwelling; or upon any entranceway, stairway or wall immediately abutting on
a public sidewalk, or upon the floor of any theatre, shop, store, office build-
ing or other building used in common by the public.
Section 4. Running at large. No person owning or having possession,
charge, custody, or control of any animal shall cause or permit or allow the
animal to stray, run, be, go or in any other manner to be at large in or upon
any public street, sidewalk or park or on private property of others without
the express or implied consent of the owner of such private property.
Section 5. Vaccination against rabies. Every person who owns and
harbors any dog over the age of four months in the county shall have such dog
vaccinated against rabies by a licensed veterinarian of his choice. Evidence
of vaccination shall consist of a certificate signed by the licensed veterinarian
administering the vaccine. The certificate in triplicate shall show the date
and type of vaccination, the name and address of the owner, the year and
serial number of the dog tag, the breed, age, color and sex and other pertinent
data for proper identification of the dog. One copy of the certificate shall be
given to the owner, one filed with the County Tax Collector and one retained
by the veterinarian administering the vaccine. However, no dog need be vac-
cinated for rabies where:
( 1) A licensed veterinarian has examined the dog and certified
that at such time vaccination would endanger the dog's health
because of its age, infirmity, debility, or other physiological
consideration; and
(2) Such certificate is presented to the enforcing agency within
five days of such examination; such certificate shall not be
valid for more than twelve months from date of issuance.
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Section 6. License tags required for all dogs; conditions for issuance
of tags. Every person owning, keeping or harboring any dogs within Monroe
County, Florida, or bringing any dog into this county shall, within thirty days,
obtain a license tag from the County Tax Collector which shall be worn by the
dog at all times. The County Tax Collector shall require, as a prerequisite
to the issuance of a license tag of any dog, satisfactory proof that such dog
has been inoculated against rabies within three months immediately prior to
the application. The certificate of a veterinarian, licensed to practice veter-
inary medicine and surgery in the United States, shall be accepted as con-
clusive evidence as to the fact and time of such inoculation, or a certificate
of a qualified veterinarian certifying that inoculation for rabies would en-
danger the health of the particular dog, as provided by Section 5 of this Or-
dinance may be accepted.
Section 7. Duration and cost of license tags for dogs.
(1) The license tags for dogs required herein shall be issued for
each year beginning June 1, 1973, and ending May 31, upon
payment of the proper fee. Licenses may be issued for one
year or two years upon payment of the proper fee as shown in
Subsection (2) and receipt of a certificate from a qualified
veterinarian that the dog has been inoculated against rabies
for the period elapsing from the date of vaccination to the
expiration date of the license. Each tag shall have a number
and shall show the expiration date.
(2) The license tags for dogs herein required shall be issued
after payment of $2. 00 for a one year license or $3. 00 for a
two year license. However, the license fee for an unspayed
female dog shall be $3. 00 for a one year license or $4. 00 for
a two year license. If the license is not secured within 60
days after the dog first becomes subject to the licensing pro-
visions of this Ordinance or within 60 days after the expira-
tion date of the prior licensing period, a penalty fee of $1. 00
shall be added to the cost of the license. The fee for any
license issued to the owner of a dog or dogs first becoming
subject to the licensing provisions of this Ordinance after
November 30, of any year shall be one-half the full fee for
the year, and the fee for the subsequent year shall be the full
one-year fee if a two year license is secured. If a tag is lost
or damaged, the owner may secure a duplicate by presenting
a copy of the certificate of vaccination to the County Tax
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Collector and payment of a fee of $1. 00. Effective June 1,
1973, the licensing fee for a sterilized dog may be waived
for two years only provided the owner presents a certifica-
tion of spaying or sterilization for the dog.
Section 8.
Responsibility of owner for vaccination and tags.
Failure
to secure rabies vaccination and tags as required shall be a violation by the
owner of the dog.
Section 9.
Impounding; redeeming by owner; disposition of unredeemed
dogs. Any dog found without a current tag, or any animal found in violation
of Sections 2, 3, and 4 may be caught by an authorized County employee or
an authorized employee of the Humane Society authorized by the County or
anyone acting under its direction, and imprisoned and impounded at a place
maintained or designated for that purpose. After a period of confinement
of five days, those animals not claimed may be disposed of through approved
humane agencies, or otherwise in a humane manner. Animals shall be re-
leased to owners on presentation of proof of ownership and after proper inocu-
lation, licensing, and payment of impounding fees.
Section 10.
Dogs or other animals suspected of having rabies.
Any
dog or other animal suspected of having rabies or any dog or other animal
having bitten any person shall be impounded at the owner1s expense at a place
designated by the Monroe County Health Officer for that purpose, or placed in
custody of a licensed veterinarian for ten days. Any licensed and vaccinated
dog or other animal having bitten any person may, at the discretion of the
County Health Officer or his representative, be impounded and quarantined
at the owner's home for ten days.
Section 11. Report of animal bites. It shall be the duty of every attend-
ing practitioner, licensed to practice medicine, osteopathic medicine, veter-
inary medicine or any other person knowing of or in attendance on a case to
promptly report to the Monroe County Health Department every instance in
which a person is bitten by a dog or other animal. Any dog or other animal
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reported to have bitten a person shall be captured alive, if possible, and
shall be quarantined, at a place designated for that purpose, under observa-
tion for a period of ten days. If the dog or other animal is killed or if it
die s during the quarantine period, the head must be detached without mutila-
tion and submitted to the local state Board of Health laboratory without delay.
Section 12. Racing greyhounds, and others, exempt.
The vaccination
and licensing provisions of this article shall not apply to greyhounds kept,
maintained or brought into the county for the purpose of racing at licensed
greyhound tracks, or to dogs used as part of entertainment acts when properly
controlled, or when dogs remain in the county for a period of less than thirty
da y s.
Section 13. Enforcement. Employees of the County and any Humane
Society employees shall have the right to enter upon any public or private
property in Monroe County, except a building designated for and used for
residential purposes, for the purpose of examining or capturing any dog
thereon or therein.
Section 14. No person, firm, partnership, corporation, or other entity
may keep more than four (4) dogs or four (4) cats on any premises without
operating a duly licensed kennel or pet shop.
Section 15. Any person, partnership, firm, corporation, and/or other
entity violating any of the provisions of this Ordinance, shall be prosecuted in
accordance with the provisions of Chapter 125.69, Florida Statutes, 1971,
or any re-enactment thereof.
Section 16. This Ordinance shall take effect, only in the unincorporated
areas of Monroe County, Florida, and in any park or beach owned by Monroe
County located in any municipality located in said County, upon receipt of the
official acknowledgment from the Department of State acknowledging receipt
of certified copy of this Ordinance and that said Ordinance has been filed in
said office.
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~ttr:ctal1! af ~tat:c
STATE OF FLORIDA
THE CAPITOL
TALLAHASSEE 3Z304
(Sl041 488-3918
RIClIARD (DICK) STONE
SECRETARY OF STATE
April 27, 1973
Honorable Earl R. Adams
Clerk, Board of County Commissioners
Monroe County Courthouse
Key West, Florida
Dear Mr. Adams:
Pursuant to the provIsIOns of Section 125.66, Florida
Statutes, this will acknowledge your letter of April 26 and
certified copies of Monroe County Ordinances Nos. 73-3 and
73-4, which were filed in this office on April 27, 1973.
,
Kindest regards.
-~----.
Cordially,
RICHARD (DICK) STONE
Secretary of State
By )Lt0v--'-J- ~L
(Mrs. ) Nancy {avanaugh
Chief, Bureau of Laws
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PROOF OF PUBLICATION
The lrj vi rat (tlttizen
Published Daily
Key West, Monroe County, Florida
NOTICE OF INTENTION STATE OF FLORIDA
CJ COUNTY ORDINANCE COUNTY OF MONROE Sss.
7-
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN TO WHOM William L. Gibb
MAY CONCERN that on Tuesday,April Before the undersiEned authority personally appeared ----_
A.D. 1973, at 2:00 p.m. in the Monroe
unty Courthouse, Key West, Florida,the Who on oath says that he is
yard of County Commissioners of Monroe
unty, Florida intends to consider the Adve rt is ing Manage r of The Key West Citizen,
option of the following County Ordinance:
ORDINANCE NO. -1973 a daily newspaper published at Key West in Monroe County, Florida; that the attached copy
J ORDINANCE RELATING TO MONROE of advertisement, being a Notice of Intent ion to consider
)LINTY, S;FLORIDA;OHIINGCONTAININGMLS adoption of County Ordinance
EFINITIONS; PROHIBITING ANIMALS
I PUBLIC PARKS AND' BEACHES,
AKING IT UNLAWFUL FOR OWNERS
R PERSONS HAVING CUSTODY OF An ordinance re lat to Monroe County,
NIMALS TO PERMIT ANIMALS TO in the matter of ing
DMMIT ANY NUISANCE OR RUNNING Florida
T LARGE; REQUIRING VACCINATION
GAINST RABIES AND LICENSE TAGS;
ROVIDING FOR DURATION AND COSTS
F LICENSE TAGS; PROVIDING FOR
EPOUNDING WITHOUT LICENSE,
EDEEMING BY OWNER AND
ilSPOSITION OF UNREDEEMED
,NIMALS; PROVIDING FOR IM-
'OUNDING OF DOGS AND OTHER
,NIMALS SUSPECTED OF HAVING
:ABIES AND THE REPORTING OF
,NIMAL BITES; EXEMPTING RACING
;REYHOUNDS AND OTHER ANIMALS
=ROM VACCINATION AND LICENSING
'ROVISION OF THIS ORDINANCE;
\UTHORIZING ENFORCEMENT OF THIS
)RDINANCE; LIMITING NUMBER OF
)OGS AND CATS ON ONE PREMISE,
=XCEPT IN DULY LICENSED KENNELS;
2ROVIDING FOR PROSECUTION OF
VIOLATIONS OF THIS ORDINANCE;
2EPEALING ALL SPECIAL LAWS, OR-
DINANCES,RESOLUTIONS,RULES ANU
REGULATIONS IN CONFLICT
HEREWITH TO THE EXTENT OF SAID
CONFLICT; AND PROVIDING WHEN
THIS ORDINANCE TAKES EFFECT.
LEGAL NOTICE z'e
DATED at Key west,Florida this 2nd day of was published in said newspaper in the issues of April 4t h s A.D. 1973
April, 1973.
EARL R.ADAMS
Clerk of the Circuit Court of Monroe County,
Florida and ex officio Clerk of the Board dr
County Commissioners Of Monroe County,
Florida.
Affiant further says that the said The Key West Citizen is a newspaper published at
(SEAL) • Key West, in said Monroe County, Florida, and that the said newspaper has heretofore
April°" 1973 been continuously published in said Monroe County, Florida,each day(execpt Saturdays)
and has been entered as second class mail matter at the post office in Key West, in said
Monroe County, Florida,for a period of one year next preceeding the first publication of
the attached copy of advertisement; and affiant further says that he has neither paid nor
promised any person,firm or corporation any discount, rebate,commission or refund for
the purpose of securing this advertisement for publication in the said newspaper.
drlee
(SEAL) •
Sworn to and subscribed bef a me this• __.-� 73
day of , 4. D. 19
• ,f C7X.
NOTARY PUBLIC STATE OF FLORIDA AT LARGE
MY COMMIS`�ION kXFutES S T. B, 1975
GENERAL INSURANCE UNDERWRITERS,INC.