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About Us
Introduction
The Broward County Animal Care and Regulation Division (ACaRD) is a county agency under the Broward County Board of County Commissioners. Animal Care is supported by tax dollars and revenue generated through fees. ACaRD is one of seven Divisions within the Community Services Department. Animal Care is not part of nor related to the Humane Society of Broward County. This is a private, nonprofit organization solely supported by individual donations.
Mission Statement
The mission of the Broward County Animal Care and Regulation Division is to promote responsible pet ownership, Animal Care, community safety, increase adoptions, and reduce pet overpopulation. The Division treats the symptoms of irresponsible pet ownership while seeking to eliminate the causes by compassionately using education and enforcement.
Adoptions
We offer dogs and cats for adoption at two animal shelters and cats/kittens at Pet Supermarket stores. Most of the animals for adoption are stray animals not reclaimed by their owners.
Below are four ways to find out what animals are available to adopt and become new members of your family.
- Adoptions provides details on the adoption process, fees, and testing of the animals.
- Adoptable Pets provides a list of the adoptable cats and dogs along with a brief description and photo.
You can also adopt a new lifelong friend by visiting the adoptable dogs and cats at our two animal shelters. Addresses and Maps for shelter locations, directions to the shelters, and Adoption Hours.
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Adopt A Stray
You can be first in line to adopt a stray cat or dog by completing the Adoption Application and leaving a $5 nonrefundable deposit. If the animal is not reclaimed by its original owner by the end of the holding period, you can adopt the animal you selected. Animal Care holds stray animals with identification for a minimum of five days and three days for stray animals without identification. If the animal is returned to its owner, we can apply the deposit to another stray animal of your choosing. Click Steps to Adopt A Stray for detailed instructions.
Animal Law Enforcement
Animal Care Officers strictly enforce the Animal laws. They patrol the county in radio dispatched trucks and issue citations to pet owners who violate the Animal laws. They also respond to calls to pick up lost, stray, and injured cats and dogs. The officers rescue Animals in distress and investigate cruelty and abuse cases. Several officers devote all their time walking to every residence in the county checking on the rabies vaccination and licensing of cats and dogs. Click Animal Ordinance to view the entire law written in legal terms. Click Animal Laws to view the most asked about Animal laws written in understandable English.
Education
Speakers are available for civic groups, homeowner associations, and other organizations. Tours of the Fort Lauderdale facility are also available to groups. To schedule a tour or speech, call (954) 359-1010.
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Licensing and Health
The Division protects the health of dogs, cats, and humans by coordinating the rabies vaccinations and licensing of cats and dogs. A pet owner can only purchase a license tag after their pet received a rabies vaccination through a veterinarian. Rabies vaccinations of pets is the first line of defense against human infection of rabies. We provide the Animal license tags to veterinarians who sell the license tags. The information for owners, licenses, and pets is maintained in our database. To update your record, click on Record Update.
S.P.O.T. Program (StopPet Overpopulation Together)
The Program offers $10 sterilization (spaying/neutering/fixing) of cats and dogs for Broward County pet owners who earn low to moderate incomes. Eligibility is based on the number of people in the household and yearly income compared to the Broward County median income. For excample, a household of four with a yearly income of $60,200 would qualify for the program.
Pet License Information Database
If you find a lost pet with a county license tag or tattoo, you can find the owner by using the Pet License Information Database. The database contains over 500,000 records of cats and dogs registered in Broward County since 1997.
To find the owner information, you enter the Broward County license tag number or tattoo number. The database will display the owner's name, address, and phone number. It will also display the Animal's type (cat or dog), breed, and license tag expiration date.
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Receiving
The Division accepts unwanted cats and dogs from their owners. A pet owner who wants to surrender a pet must bring the Animal to either Animal shelter and provide proof of ownership such as a veterinarian bill or an Animal license tag receipt. Click Addresses and Maps for shelter locations and times.
Rescue Organization Minimum Requirements
- Copy of 501 (c)(3) Nonprofit - the purpose in the articles of incorporation must include pet rescue
- Request on company letterhead including names of those authorized to get animals on behalf of your corporation
- Corporation Address/Fax/Phone/Email/Website
- Corporation Papers - Articles must indicate organization’s purpose is to rescue dogs and/or cats.
- Current List of Officers and phone numbers
- Name and address of person authorized to enter into an Agreement with Broward County on behalf of the Corporation (Agreements will be sent to this address for signatures)
- Incorporated Organization must have at least three (3) years experience as a dog and/or cat rescue
- Principles must have at least three (3) years experience working with dogs and/or cats in an incorporated rescue group, veterinary clinic, or shelter environment
- Name, Address, Phone, Email of Veterinarian(s) and Foster Homes (if no shelter) used on a regular basis by the organization
- Name, address, and phone of individuals that will be authorized to pull animals from the shelter.
- List of References - The references must include organizations and/or shelters organization and principles have worked and rescued animals; veterinarians used by the organization for the care of rescued animals; and any others as may be applicable.
If an organization meets the above basic minimum requirements, then the rescue application will be submitted for the evaluation and background screening phase.
This phase of the review process will include verification of the minimum requirements; a field investigation of the rescue organizations shelter and/or foster homes; criminal background check on principals of the organization and individuals authorized to pull for the organization; check of references, and any other component the county determines is necessary to verify the credentials of the organization and principles.
Approval of the application of an organization to serve as a rescue group for Broward County is at the sole discretion of the county as determined by the application and evaluation process and ultimately in the perceived best interest of the animals.
FAX
954-359-1349
MAIL
Animal Care & Regulation Division
1870 SW 39th Street
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33315
Drop off required paperwork at Front Desk
(Fort Lauderdale Shelter)
ATTN: Peggy Carlson
Return Lost Pets
Animal Care shelters lost and stray cats and dogs at our two shelters and returns as many as possible to their owners. The Animal Care Officers from the field and citizens bring these lost Animals to our shelters. Staff calls owners if the Animals have identification.
If you find a pet and want to locate the owner, call (954) 359-1313 ext. 2474 and we will trace the license tag. You can access the web-based Pet License Information Database to find the owner. If you lost a pet, we strongly recommend that you visit one of our shelters. For more information click Lost and Found.
Volunteer Program
The Division's Volunteer Program offer many volunteer opportunities to work with the Animals or in the administrative area. Volunteers may work at either the Fort Lauderdale or Pompano Beach Animal shelter. Volunteers must be a least 14 years old. Click Volunteers for job descriptions, hours, and other details.
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