**For owners of pets vaccinated elsewhere and they can’t be confirmed with a certificate or their previous veterinarians office.
**For owners declining the renewal of vaccinations that are past due.
Definition of a bite: If a pet seizes something, or attempts to close or actually closes its jaws on something, and the teeth either enter, grip, or wound that thing, a BITE has occurred whether or not the skin is damaged.
The law: When the report of an animal biting a human is received, an investigating officer needs to be contacted. If the pet is up to date on its vaccinations it can be monitored at home for ten days. If it is not current with vaccinations, its ten day isolation and observation period shall be in a city or county animal shelter or at a licensed veterinary clinic at the owner’s expense and a rabies vaccine must be given at the termination at the observation period.
Note: If confinement of the animal is not possible or practical the animal can be euthanized and its head submitted for lab examination at the pet owner’s expense.
_________Please muzzle my pet for every ones safety.
_________Please vaccinate my pet.
_________I am not worried about my pet biting and I will be 100% responsible should my pet bite.
_________I have proof of vaccinations elsewhere and am 100% sure Rabies is up to date.
____________________________________ _______/______/______
Signature of owner Date
To review these laws please visit www.doh.state.fl.us/environment/medicine/rabies
The Florida department of Health Rabies Prevention and Control
