§ 92.14. Animal care; manner of keeping.

It shall be unlawful for any person keeping an animal to fail to provide for and/or maintain that animal:

(1)

Clean, sanitary and humane conditions; kennels, runs and doghouses shall be kept clean of animal excrement; housing facilities must be structurally sound and in good repair and shall have no sharp points or edges.

(2)

Sufficient quantities of food and fresh water daily; food should be free from contamination. Clean fresh water must be available to the animal at all times and placed in a container that cannot be tipped over or spilled.

(3)

Proper air ventilation and circulation;

(4)

Sufficient shelter and protection from the elements and environment; the shelter must provide protection from inclement weather to ensure the animal's comfort and good health. Each animal kept outdoors must have shelter of an appropriate size for the breed;

(5)

Medical attention and/or necessary veterinary care when it is sick, diseased or injured;

(6)

Inoculations against the rabies virus in accordance with F.S. § 828.30.

(7)

Animals maintained on a tether with swivels attached must be in an area free of objects that may cause entanglements. If an animal is tethered within a fence, it must be chained or tethered far enough away from that fence as to avoid jumping and hanging over the fence. If no fence exists; the length must not allow the animal unauthorized access to adjoining properties. All tethers must be a minimum of six (6) feet in length or three (3) times the length of the animal (measured from nose to base of tail) whichever is longer. The tether must be longer if attached to anything that is above ground level which would lessen the moveable area for the animal. The tether must be an appropriate size for the breed and cannot weigh more than one-eighth ( 1/8 ) the weight of the animal. All collars, including chocke or prong type collars shall be used only while the animal is under the handler's direct control.

(8)

Animals kept outdoors must be brought into the residence if the outside heat index temperature reaches one hundred (100) degrees Fahrenheit or higher or wind chill factor reaches thirty-five (35) degrees Fahrenheit or lower; or during severe inclement weather such as: severe thunderstorm, tropical storm/hurricane warning, tropical storm/hurricane; tornado or flooding.

(9)

If prior case history of three (3) or more confirmed at large or manner of keeping violations exist, a resident eighteen (18) years of age or older must be home if the animal is tethered or kept outside the residence.

(Ord. 93-51, passed 12-6-93; Am. Ord. 99-40, § 1, passed 6-28-99; Am. Ord. 06-73, § 3, 7-24-06; Am. Ord. 09-77, § 1, passed 10-12-09)

Cross reference

Penalty, see section 92.99.