The following definitions are related to this section of the ordinance to assist with understanding specific meanings:

AT LARGE shall mean any dog or cat on the owner’s premises, not in the control of the owner or custodian; or any dog or cat off the premises of the owner or custodian and not under the physical control of the owner or custodian. 
 
DIRECT CONTROL shall mean immediate and continuous control of an animal at all times by means such as a fence, animal carrier or cage, leash, tether, cord, or chain of sufficient strength to restrain the animal or the animal shall be within the unobstructed sight, attended, and supervised by a competent person, by use of hand or voice control, when on the property of the owner or custodian, or property which the owner or custodian of the animal has the right to use.

FENCE shall mean an effective and reliable pet containment system constructed of chain link, wood, or similar material with the ability to confine the animal to the property. This shall also include containment systems wherein a constructed fence is not visible and the animal is wearing an electronic collar manufactured for the system, provided such system is in working order.  

PHYSICAL CONTROL shall mean the immediate and continuous control of an animal at all times by means such as an animal carrier or cage, leash, cord, or chain of sufficient strength to restrain the animal when off the property of the owner or custodian or on public property. The leash, cord, or chain shall not exceed eight (8) feet in length.

TETHER shall mean to restrain an animal by tying the animal to any object or structure, including without limitation, chain, rope, cord, leash, running line, or other binding material. Tethering shall not include using a leash to walk an animal.

The following is directly from Animal Ordinance 12-10

Sec. 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 sec. 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.

Dogs and Cats running loose in Spanish

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