Animal Protection & Control

Animal Neglect- It is unlawful for a person who impounds or confines an animal, excluding livestock, to fail to supply the animal during confinement with a sufficient quantity of food, water or necessary substances.  Animal cruelty, including mutilation, beating or killing of an animal by any means that causes unjustified pain, distress or suffering is unlawful. 

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Livestock - It is unlawful for a person to keep livestock within the City limits. Livestock includes animals belonging to the bovine, caprine, equine, ovine or procine species, or poultry.

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At Large Prohibited - It is unlawful for any owner to allow an animal to run at large within the city limits.

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Damage or Interference - It is unlawful for the owner of an animal to allow or permit such animal to pass upon the premises of another thereby causing damage to, or interference with, the premises.

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Annoyance or Disturbance - It is unlawful for the owner of a dog to allow or permit such dog to cause serious annoyance or disturbance to any person by frequent and habitual howling, yelping, barking or otherwise; or by running after or chasing persons, bicycles, automobiles or other vehicles.

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Owners Duties - Every owner of a dog shall obtain a rabies vaccination for such animal.  It is unlawful for any person to own or have a dog that is six months of age or over, which has not been vaccinated against rabies.  It is the duty of an owner of any dog, cat or other animal which has bitten or attacked a person or any person having knowledge of such bite or attack to report this act to a local health or law enforcement official.  

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Vicious Animals - Any animal that, without provocation, bites or attacks a human or any other animal, or in a  vicious or terrifying manner approaches any person or other animal is considered a vicious animal.  It shall be unlawful for any person to harbor or keep vicious animals within the city. Any vicious animal which is found in the city may be seized by the sheriff or deputy and in agreement from the magistrate court in Osceola County the animal will be deposed of accordingly.

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The following animals shall be deemed to be vicious per se:  cats, including lions, tigers, jaguars, leopards, cougars, lynx, bobcats and ocelots. Wolves, coyotes and foxes, gorillas, orangutans, baboons, monkeys, chimpanzees, bats, alligators and crocodiles, venomous spiders, scorpions, all snakes and reptiles that are venomous, constrictors, or any non-venomous snake over ten feet in length, Gila monsters, raccoons, black bears, polar bears, grizzly bears and skunks.

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