Seminole County commissioners will be asked Tuesday whether to move ahead with a rewrite of the county's animal rules that would bar the declawing of cats and stop pet stores from selling rabbits.
The proposals are on the agenda for the Board of County Commissioners' Nov. 10 meeting as a work session, which means commissioners are being asked for direction rather than a final vote. Any ordinance would have to come back later for adoption.
What is on the list
The county's Animal Control Board voted unanimously in June to send the package to commissioners, according to the staff summary prepared by Emergency Management Director Alan Harris, whose department runs Animal Services. Among the changes:
- Declawing: Cats could not be declawed except when a veterinarian finds the procedure medically necessary.
- Rabbits: Pet stores could no longer sell rabbits. Sales for agricultural and livestock purposes would still be allowed.
- Care and restraint: Minimum standards of care for companion animals, with limits on fixed-point restraints, tethering and confinement that could leave animals hurt or neglected.
- Dogs: Tighter rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs, including a new category for dogs that show a "propensity to be dangerous," aimed at stepping in earlier.
- Enforcement: More tools to collect unpaid civil penalties, including orders to show cause and recording final judgments, plus stronger procedures for cruelty and neglect investigations.
- Custody: Commissioners would let the county manager seek custody of animals in cruelty or neglect cases.
The staff summary says several of the items, including the declawing and rabbit-sale bans, came from recommendations by animal welfare groups. The package would also bring county rules in line with recent changes to Florida law.
