Broward County Commission Regular Meeting

MOTION TO ADOPT Resolution No. 2017-512 directing the County Administrator to publish Notice of Public Hearing to be held on Tuesday, December 5, 2017, at 10:00 a.m., in Room 422 of the Governmental Center to consider enactment of a proposed Ordinance, the title of which is as follows:

AN ORDINANCE OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF BROWARD COUNTY, FLORIDA, PERTAINING TO RABIES REGISTRATION; AMENDING SECTIONS 4-10 AND 4-11 OF THE BROWARD COUNTY CODE OF ORDINANCES ("CODE"), ESTABLISHING TIMEFRAMES FOR LICENSED VETERINARIANS TO REMIT RABIES VACCINATION CERTIFICATES TO BROWARD COUNTY AND FOR PET OWNERS TO OBTAIN RABIES REGISTRATION TAGS; AND PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY, INCLUSION IN THE CODE, AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

(Sponsored by Commissioner Chip LaMarca)
 

(Commissioner LaMarca pulled this item.)

ACTION:  (T-2:05 PM)  Approved, as amended, with the Yellow-Sheeted Additional Material, dated Tuesday, November 7, 2017, submitted at the request of Commissioner LaMarca.  Vice Mayor Furr requested to be added as a co-sponsor to this item.  (Refer to minutes for full discussion.)  (See Yellow-Sheeted Additional Material, dated Tuesday, November 7, 2017, submitted at the request of the Environmental Protection and Growth Management Department.)
 
VOTE: 9-0.  Commissioners Geller and Holness voted in the affirmative telephonically.

The proposed Ordinance was prepared by the Office of the County Attorney at the direction of the Board of County Commissioners at its meeting of August 22, 2017.

Amends the Code to implement statutory requirements for the submission by veterinarians of rabies vaccination certificates to Broward County and provides a timeframe for dog and cat owners to obtain rabies registration tags after vaccination of their animal(s).

Section 828.30, Florida Statutes, requires licensed veterinarians to provide an animal's owner and the animal control authority with a rabies vaccination certificate after the veterinarian administers a rabies vaccination to a dog or cat. Section 4-11 of the Broward County Code of Ordinances ("Code") requires owners of dogs or cats to maintain current rabies registration tags for their animal(s). The proposed Ordinance establishes timeframes for the submission of rabies vaccination certificates to the Broward County Animal Care and Adoption Division ("Division") and for dog and cat owners to obtain a rabies registration tag after their animal has been vaccinated.

Under the proposed Ordinance, veterinarians may submit rabies vaccination certificate information to the Division on a monthly basis, with the physical certificates being submitted quarterly, or may submit the physical vaccination certificates to the Division on a monthly basis. Monthly submissions of the vaccination certificate information or of the physical vaccination certificates must be sent to the Division no later than the tenth day of the month for vaccinations administered during the previous month.

Section 4-11 of the Code currently requires owners and keepers of dogs and cats of four months of age or older to register their dog(s) and cat(s) with the Division and to obtain and maintain a current rabies registration tag for their animal(s). The proposed Ordinance would require the rabies registration tag to be obtained within 30 days after the animal has been vaccinated against rabies. Rabies registration tags may be purchased from veterinarians providing services in Broward County, authorized representatives, or the Division.

The proposed Ordinance will be presented to the Animal Care Advisory Committee at its meeting of November 3, 2017, and its comments or recommendations will be provided to the Board prior to consideration of this item on November 7, 2017.

Maite Azcoitia, Deputy County Attorney, (954) 357-7600