Animal Control Citations

Information about Animal Control Citations 92.27(a) and 92.99

Animal Control Officers may issue citations to citizens who violate City Animal Control ordinances.  The citations are issued for civil, not criminal, infractions.  Currently, the citation amounts are as follows: 

First Offense	$   50
Second Offense	$ 100
Third Offense	$ 200
Fourth and Subsequent Offenses	Mandatory Court Appearance

 

 

 

 

Private Property

Animal Control Officers are empowered to enter onto private property and demand animal(s) and or tag(s) be exhibited (this empowerment does not include entry into a dwelling or structure).  The officer may enter into a fenced enclosure for the purposes of, but not limited to, apprehending a rabid animal, assisting an animal at large, an animal in need of medical attention, cruelty investigations, or vicious animals not properly controlled.  In these situations, the officers are granted immunity from prosecution for a reasonable good faith trespass on private property.  Refusal by any property owner to allow the officer to enter shall constitute a violation.

VIOLATIONS AND INFORMATION

ANIMALS AT LARGE 92.03 (A)(1)
The City of Port St. Lucie does have a leash law that extends to dogs, cats, and miniature Vietnamese Potbellied Pigs within the City limits.  Animals captured running loose are transported to the Animal Control holding facility for the owner to pick up.  An impound fee of $25 is charged for each animal picked up, and $10 for each night the animal remains unclaimed.  If the owner fails to pick up the animal, it is transported to the St. Lucie County Humane Society (772) 461-0687 or the Humane Society of the Treasure Coast at (772) 223-8822.

LIVESTOCK NOT PERMITTED - 92.03(B)


It is unlawful to keep or permit to run at large horses, donkeys, cattle, swine, sheep, chickens, ducks, geese, roosters, goats, bees or other animals considered to be a farm animal within the corporate limits of the City.

EXOTIC ANIMALS - 92.04
The permanent housing of Class II exotic animals, with the appropriate permitting from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, in the City of Port St. Lucie is allowed.  Some examples of Class II animals are as follows:  Howler Monkey, Lynx, Panther, Bobcat, Cheetah, Leopard, Wolves, Wolf Hybrids, Badger, Hyena, Dwarf Crocodiles, Alligator, and Ostrich.

 

FEMALE PET(S) IN HEAT - 92.07
It is unlawful to permit female domestic pets to be unrestrained or in any public place while they are in heat.  They must be securely confined in a building or enclosure so they are inaccessible to males of a like species.

 

INTERFERENCE WITH AN ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER 92.28
It is unlawful to forcibly interfere with, hinder or molest an Animal Control Officer in the performance of their duties, or to unlawfully seek to release any animal in the Custody of an officer.  Violations of this ordinance are punishable by issuance of a citation.  

ANNOYING DOMESTIC ANIMALS - 92.09
It shall be unlawful for any person to keep, harbor, own, or maintain any domestic pet which causes a noise disturbance by barking, yelping, howling, screeching, squawking, chirping, cawing, crowing or whistling between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.  Additionally, the animal may not bark, yelp, howl, screech, squawk, chirp, caw, crow, or whistle for continuous periods of five minutes or more at any other time of the day.

ANIMAL NEGLECT 92.14

Animal neglect cases are typically when on of the following occurs:

• No water or food is provided for the animal

• No shelter is provided for the animal

• The owner of the animal does not provide necessary veterinary care

• The animal is kept in unsanitary or inhumane conditions

• There is insufficient air ventilation or circulation provided

• Any animals maintained on a tether must be free of entanglements.  All tethers must be a minimum of 6 feet in length, or appropriate for the breed.  No choke or prong type collars may be used unless the animal is under the handler's direct control.  No animals may be tethered outside between the hours of  10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.  

 

ANIMALS IMPROPERLY LEFT INSIDE VEHICLES 92.14(3), 92.03

Many of our residents especially out of state visitors, do not realize how quickly heat can build up inside their vehicle, even with the windows partially open.  For that reason, a citation may be issued to violators who leave their animals inside a vehicle without proper ventilation and water.
 

UNRESTRAINED DOGS/TRUCK BEDS - 92.03 (A)(2)
A citation may be issued to an owner who does not properly restrain their dog in the unenclosed area of a motor vehicle (truck bed).  A restraint limits the animal from reaching the outside perimeter of the vehicle and prevents the animal from being thrown out of the bed of a pick-up.

REMOVAL OF ANIMAL DEFECATION - 92.16 
It is unlawful for any person to allow an animal to defecate upon private property not owned by the person or upon public property, including but not limited to sidewalks and swales, without removing the defecation.  This shall not apply to physically challenged persons accompanied by service dogs or if the owner has the consent of the property owner in question.

TEASING OF AN ANIMAL - 92.17
In the City of Port St. Lucie it is unlawful for any person to tease any domestic or wild animal.  Should an investigation conclude a minor child was the violator, their parent or legal guardian may be held accountable for their actions.

NUMBER OF DOMESTIC ANIMAL(S) ALLOWED - 92.18   
The number of domestic animals allowed per household within the City of Port St. Lucie is a total of five (5).  Domestic animals included under this restriction are dogs and cats with a maximum of two (2) Vietnamese Potbellied Pigs in the overall total number of animals residing at the residence.

ANIMAL LICENSING - 92.40
All domestic animals over the age of 6 months old must have a City of Port St. Lucie animal license displayed on their collar.  The cost for a license is $5 for an altered animal (spay or neutered), or $15 for an unaltered animal.  Proof of current rabies vaccination from a licensed veterinarian is required, and licenses may be obtained from most Port St Lucie veterinarians, and at the Animal Control Department 1133 SW Macedo Blvd, or by mail.

SICK OR INJURED ANIMALS
If a domestic animal is either sick or injured the owner is immediately contacted to obtain medical treatment.  If the owner is unknown, then the animal is taken to the St Lucie Human Society for treatment.  Sick or injured wildlife that is in need of immediate medical attention is transported to a local veterinarian for treatment. and then remanded to the care of a licensed Wildlife Rehabilitator until the animal can be released back into the wild.

BITE CASES AND QUARANTINE REQUIREMENTS - 92.08Per Florida Law, a domestic animal involved in a bite must be quarantined for a 10-day period and a bite report filed with the Animal Control Department.  If the animal's rabies shot is current then the animal may be quarantined at home.  However, if the animal is not current, it is impounded and quarantined at either the St. Lucie County Humane Society or the animal's veterinarian at the owner's expense.

DANGEROUS/VICIOUS ANIMAL REGULATIONS 92.02
Per Florida State Statute 767.14, it is not permitted for a governmental entity to discriminate based upon the breed of any dog.  Therefore, the animal ordinances of the City of Port St. Lucie reflect that mandated law. 

There is a great misconception that an animal acting aggressively is automatically considered to be a dangerous animal.  Where the law is concerned, certain requirements outlined by both FSS 767.12 and City Ordinance 92.02 must be met before Animal Control may even consider declaring an animal dangerous.

Recently, the City of Port St. Lucie adopted more stringent guidelines, criteria, and penalties regarding both aggressive and declared dangerous dogs now known as Class I and Class II Dangerous Dogs.  Below is a sample of the criteria required for Animal Control to declare a dog dangerous:

      Class I Dangerous Dog criteria.     

• Has aggressively bitten, attacked, endangered or has inflicted severe injury on a human being on public or private property.

• Has severely injured or killed a domestic animal while off the owner's property.

• Has been used primarily or in part for the purpose of dog fighting, or is a dog trained for dog fighting.

• Has, when unprovoked, chased or approached a person upon the streets, sidewalks, or any public grounds in a menacing fashion or apparent attitude of attack; provided that such actions are attested to in a sworn statement by one (1) or more persons and dutifully investigated by Animal Control.

      Class II Dangerous Dog criteria.   

• Has, when unprovoked, been involved in a biting or attack that does not result in the severe injury or death of a person or animal(s) on public or private property.

Once these criteria are met and Animal Control formally declares a dog dangerous, the owner of that animal has to meet numerous mandated restrictions in order to keep the animal. 

All owners of declared dangerous dogs are required to purchase a dangerous dog tag and display it on the dog's collar.  The cost for a Class I tag is $125, a Class II is $75, and both must be annually renewed.

Florida State Statute Chapter 767 governs all guidelines and laws that pertain to dangerous dogs.  Our ordinances are formed utilizing these laws, allowing us to declare a dog dangerous based on the State's guidelines and giving local jurisdictions the ability to strengthen, but not weaken, their dangerous dog laws.  For any further information or questions on this subject please contact our office.

NUISANCE WILDLIFE
Our nuisance wildlife calls revolve around raccoons, opossum, snakes, alligators, skunks, and squirrels.  For some of these calls, a trap is required to remove the offending animal.  Traps are available from our office for a $75 deposit, which is held until the trap is returned.  A licensed trapper may also be contacted for nuisance wildlife.  Consult your local telephone directory for contact information.  Once an animal is caught inside the trap, the citizen is to call 9-1-1 and an Animal Control Officer will respond to pick up the animal and release it to another location in the City.
A trap will not be of assistance where an alligator or snake is concerned.  Our officers are allowed to capture alligators that are under 4' in length.  If the alligator is over 4' in length Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is contacted.  Our officers also catch and remove all venomous and non-venomous snakes that the State of Florida has to offer.

To contact Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission directly, please dial 1-888-404-3922 
Orphaned Wildlife - Do not touch or handle baby young wildlife!  The animal's mother is usually nearby feeding or caring for other young.  If you believe the animal has been abandoned, its mother killed or injured, contact a wildlife rehabilitator or request an Animal Control Officer.

Additional information on nuisance wildlife can be found on the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission website:
www.myfwc.com