§ 4-8. Licensure, exemptions, requirements.

(a)

Except as otherwise provided, every owner of a dog or cat over the age of four (4) months residing within the county shall obtain and pay Marion County for an annual or multi-year license in the amounts established from time to time by resolution of the board. Licenses shall be obtained from the Marion County Animal Center or authorized licensed veterinarians. A licensed veterinarian administering a vaccine or other shall offer a county animal license tag to the owner of such vaccinated dog or cat, and upon issuance shall collect on behalf of the county, fees established by the board. Licensed veterinarians are authorized to charge owners of vaccinated dogs and cats an additional processing surcharge of not more than one dollar ($1.00) per county animal license tag issued, and shall remit the license fee and full account of tags issued, unused, voided or missing to the county within fifteen (15) calendar days following the end of the month in which payment was received. Veterinarians shall indicate upon the rabies certificate when an owner refuses to purchase a Marion County animal license tag.

(b)

The following classes of animals described in this subsection are required to obtain Marion County animal license tags, but are exempt from licensing fees. The owners of any exempt animal must declare, upon registration and vaccination through a licensed veterinarian in the county, the purpose and intent of maintenance under the following sub-classifications:

(1)

Animals maintained or in training as alert status animals for visually handicapped owners, hearing-impaired owners or other physically disabled owners who own or possess specially trained aid animals.

(2)

Dogs maintained by law enforcement officials or fire officials for law enforcement work or fire department work respectively.

(c)

Persons not issued a Marion County animal license at the time of rabies vaccination shall apply to the Marion County Animal Center for such license within ten (10) calendar days after vaccination against rabies. Evidence of a current rabies vaccination shall be by standard vaccination certificate or by confirmation from the administering veterinarian. The length of time that such license shall remain valid will be based on the date of vaccination against rabies, the duration of effectiveness of the vaccine used, and the fee paid for said license as established by resolution adopted by the board.

(d)

The licensing requirements of this chapter shall not apply to visiting dogs and cats that remain in the county for a period of not more than ninety (90) calendar days and for which the owner can provide proof of domicile outside of the county, a current rabies vaccination and any applicable registration required in the jurisdiction of alternate domicile.

(e)

The owner of a newly acquired dog or cat shall have ten (10) calendar days to obtain a license for an unregistered animal or notify the Marion County Animal Center of the change in ownership if currently licensed.

(f)

All animals required to be licensed shall wear a Marion County animal license tag at all times, unless said animal is implanted with an electronic animal identification device (microchip) provided the microchip identification code is recorded with the Marion County Animal Center. This section shall not apply to dogs who, at the time, are engaged in hunting, training, performing in field trials, or participating in dog shows or other organized events.

(g)

No person other than a licensed veterinarian shall remove or cause to be removed from any animal, not owned by such person, an animal license tag without the expressed permission of the animal's owner for the purposes of and duration of activities involving hygiene, grooming, bathing and medical examination or veterinary procedure.

(h)

It shall be unlawful for the owner of an animal to:

(1)

Refuse or fail to obtain a Marion County animal license for a dog or cat as required in this chapter;

(2)

Fail to attach and display the required tag to the animal's collar or harness as provided in this chapter;

(3)

For a person to remove a license tag from an animal not their own as provided in this chapter.

(i)

Except for fees or charges for licensing, microchipping, or dangerous dog registration, the director or his/her designee may grant a waiver of a required fee or charge, anytime the owner's animal has been impounded as a direct result of a crime committed against the animal owner and the animal has been referred to the animal center by the Ocala Police Department, the Marion County Sheriff's Department, or any other law enforcement department or victim services program.

(j)

Except for fees or charges for licensing and microchipping, the director or his/her designee may grant a waiver of a required fee or charge, once during the animal owner's lifetime for animal owners meeting the Florida Income Eligibility guideline requirements (includes Medicaid, AFDC, food stamps, Social Security Disability, WIC, AIDS Foundation, major disability/VA, pay stub with income verification, etc.) as long as the impounded animal is not the subject of an animal cruelty or dangerous dog investigation under F.S. § 828.073 or F.S. Ch. 767 and this chapter.

(k)

Community cats are exempt from licensing and microchipping.

(Ord. No. 11-55, § 1, 10-18-11; Ord. No. 16-34, § 1, 10-4-2016; Ord. No. 18-21, § 1, 8-7-2018)