§ 2-4-11. Dogs and cats at large; direct control; exceptions.

(a)

No dog or cat shall be "at large," as defined by this ordinance, upon any public property, street, or sidewalk, or on private property of another, without the consent of the property owner.

(b)

Any dog or cat that is on private property without the consent of the property owner or resident may be captured in a humane trap or otherwise humanely confined. Persons capturing "at large" dogs and cats will be responsible for the humane care of the animal until the captured animal is turned over to the division, other humane organization, or licensed wildlife trapper.

(c)

No person shall tie, chain, or tether any dog or cat in such a manner that it is or could be injurious to its health, or that it has access to public property or the property of another without the consent of that property owner.

(d)

The owner or custodian of a dog or cat must have direct control of such animal at all times.

(e)

Any cat that is outdoors while not under direct control must be sterilized in order to be exempt from the requirements of section 2-4-11(d) of this ordinance.

(f)

This section shall not apply to police dogs, as defined in Section 843.19, Florida Statutes (2005), when such dog is engaged by a law enforcement agency in an official capacity, or to any dog which is being trained for the sport of hunting, or is actually engaged in hunting, during a legal hunting season within authorized areas and supervised by a competent person, or to any dog working livestock in areas of the county designated as green belt areas.

(Ord. No. 12-10, § 1, 5-8-12)