Trained service animals are permitted in all Library and County buildings in compliance with ADA Accessibility laws.

Pets of any kind are prohibited in Library buildings. From time to time, exceptions for the presence of animals in Library buildings are made for library-related programs.

Please see Animals in the Library policy.

Yes, all pet stores and breeders in Manatee County must obtain a license from Manatee County Animal Welfare to operate. The license must be renewed annually, but there is no fee for the license. 

Pet stores and breeders will be inspected at least twice annually. Additional inspections may be conducted based on complaints or at the discretion of Manatee County Animal Welfare. Inspections will assess compliance with all standards set forth in the ordinance, and inspectors have the authority to enter and inspect any area where animals are housed or cared for. 

The standard pet adoption fees are: Dogs/Puppies: $50 Cats: $25 Kittens: $50 The Seniors for Seniors Program pairs adopters aged 55 or older with a 7 year-old or older pet for a reduced $10 adoption fee. Military, Veterans and First Responders will have adoption fees waived with ID. Adoption fees are waived for animals residing at the shelter for longer than 60 days. Every Tuesday is Half Price Tuesday, where all adoption fees are 50% off. Manatee County residents are required to license their new pet for an additional $20, regardless of the price of adoption.

The adoption fees that we collect help us provide food, shelter, important medical care and inoculations for the animals.Each adoption fee includes the following for your new pet (retail value is approximately $400):Cost of spaying and neuteringInitial vaccinesMicrochip implant (all animals)FeLV/FIV Combo Test (cats only)Heartworm Test (dogs only)Parvovirus testing on puppies (if needed)Rabies vaccineFlea and Tick PreventionMonthly Parasite PreventionThe adoption fee does not include the cost to license your new pet (required for  County residents). You can buy the license at the shelter when you adopt.

If a license is suspended or revoked, the Division may enforce the penalty through Florida Statute 162.30, which allows for civil actions to enforce county ordinances. The county may also seek additional penalties or damages as provided under the Manatee County Land Development Code. 

If a Stop Work Order is issued, all work related to the violation must immediately cease. The order will be given in writing to the property owner, agent, or person doing the work, outlining the conditions for resuming the work. Continuing work after the order is issued is considered an irreparable violation and may result in legal penalties. However, the Stop Work Order can be appealed. 

Applicants must provide proof of compliance with local, state, and federal regulations. The application must also include a detailed description of the facility, including housing, feeding, and medical care arrangements. Additionally, the facility will be inspected by the Division of Animal Services and must meet the Standards of Care outlined in the Ordinance before a license is issued. 

While the deadline to obtain the permit has not yet been determined, Manatee County Animal Welfare staff is working patiently and diligently with both breeders and pet stores to help them meet compliance requirements voluntarily. 

Here is the process for adopting a pet: Step 1: Prepare for your new pet Just like any of life's big events, the first step involved with adopting a pet is to properly prepare for your new furry friend. One way to begin this step is to make a list of everything and everyone that your new pet will come in contact with, be affected by and/or have an effect on. We suggest you: Contact your landlord or homeowners association regarding any pet policy or restrictions. Prepare your home by setting up its bed, food & water bowls, etc... ahead of time. Bring in all family members and/or roommates that will come in contact with your new pet. If adopting a dog, bring in any current resident dogs for an initial meet and greet. (Visiting pets must be up-to-date with their vaccinations.) Be prepared to spend at least one hour with a counselor to process the adoption. Step 2: Finding your new pet All of our adoptable pets can be seen online by clicking on the type of pet you would like to adopt. When you are ready make your way down to one of our locations and come inside our adoption center. The next step is to begin looking for your perfect match. An adoption counselor will help guide you through our facility and introduce you to our available pets. Step 3: Get to know each other Once you find a pet that you are considering to adopt, you will be asked to complete a brief adopter profile. Your counselor will meet with you to discuss your adopter profile, the pet’s history and background (if known), tell you a little about its personality and then give you a chance to spend time with the animal. Step 4: Making it official Once you are confident that you have found the right pet, the counselor will assist you by processing the adoption paperwork and updating the pet's microchip registration records. You will receive a packet of important documents containing a welcome sheet, training tips, records of the pet's history and vaccinations, coupons, and other helpful paperwork. Once you get home, remember to set an appointment with a veterinarian for your pet’s next round of vaccinations (as needed) and a general wellness exam. If you have any questions, issues or concerns about your pet once you get home, please don’t hesitate to email us. Our Adoption Support Team is here to help. Email us at [email protected].

Occasionally a community cat cannot be returned to their colony. When this is the case, MCAW will sometimes designate these cats as “working cats.” Since they’re not ideal pets, we put them to work in local businesses doing what they do best. A working cat deters vermin, such as rodents. They are commonly employed where pest control is needed: in working farms, factories, warehouses, stores, churchyards, and private property. Cats that qualify for the Working Cat Program are: social, but too feisty interacting with people and thrive by having “work” to do; shy or fearful of people and prefer the company of other cats and animals; cats whose litterbox habits make them unsuitable to live indoors (and for whom medical issues have been ruled out). We do not adopt out cats as Working Cats if they are suitable to be household companions. Working Cats are a safe alternative to toxic pesticides; plus, they’re less expensive and more effective. We require that working cats be placed in teams of two. MCAW will assist with the selection of the cats. Contact us at [email protected]. if you are interested in the Working Cat Program. You are also welcome to come by the Palmetto Adoption Center during hours of operation. We will review the following guidelines with the adopter: process for integrating the community cat to the property; feeding and providing water to the cats; providing vet care when necessary. Working Cats are housed in a suitable crate or kennel for 2-3 weeks before being released onto the property where they will live. This ensures that the cats understand that the property is where they should stay and where reliable food can be found. Working Cats do not have an adoption fee. Microchips are registered to the adopter or to the name of the business associated with the adoption. If you have any questions or concerns about the Working Cat Program, please don’t hesitate to call us. Our Adoption Support Team is here to help. You can reach us at (941) 742-5933.

Trap, neuter, and return (TNR) is a humane method of managing feral and free roaming cat populations by trapping the cats, neutering or spaying them, and then returning them to their original location. This approach helps control the population and improves the cats' health and well-being. Resources in Manatee County: Gulf Shore Animal League: 941-747-2284 Humane Society of Manatee County: 941-747-8808 www.humanemanatee.org Humane Society at Lakewood Ranch: 941-361-1071 www.hslwr.org Nate’s Honor Animal Rescue: 941-302-0933 www.honoranimalrescue.org Resources in Sarasota County: Animal Rescue Coalition: 941-957-1955 ext. 4 www.animalrescuecoalition.org Cat Depot: 941-366-2404 www.catdepot.org Sarasota County Animal Services: 941-861-9500 www.sarasotasheriff.org Humane Society of Sarasota County: 941-955-4131 www.hssc.org

Violations of the ordinance can be addressed through warnings, fines, and/or the suspension or revocation of licenses. Fines for violations are set at $500.00, and licenses may be suspended or revoked for serious or repeated violations. 

As coyote numbers increase in South Florida, their influence on Florida's indigenous prey species, competing predators, livestock and food crops may become a concern. However, populations of coyotes in North and Central Florida have likely reached their natural limit with little evidence of widespread major ecological impact. Coyote impact on some native wildlife has already been seen in North Florida, where predation on endangered sea turtle eggs is a considerable problem.

To report animal cruelty, abuse or neglect for domestic animals, please speak to an officer at Manatee County Animal Welfare: 941-742-5933, option 1. For agricultural animals, please contact the Manatee County Sheriff’s Dept. Large Animal Complaints (Agricultural Deputy): 941-747-3011, ext. 1150.