Pet Registration
Which pets are required to wear a Pet Registration Tag?
Broward County’s animal ordinance requires all dogs and cats to wear an official Broward County Pet Registration Tag. Ferrets are not required to wear a county tag. Guard dogs and dogs declared dangerous dogs are required to wear a special Pet Registration Tag.
How is Pet Registration information used?
First and foremost, it is used to help Broward County Animal Care reunite lost pets with their owners. Animal and owner information is entered into our Registratoin database. If a dog or cat with a Pet Registration Tag enters our shelter or we receive a phone call from a resident who has found a pet with a registration, the tag helps us access the owner’s information, so that we can contact them to claim their pet.
Anyone who finds a pet with a Pet Registration Tag or tattoo, with complete or even partial information, can also access the Pet Registration Information Database to find owner information. This search feature is available seven days a week, 24 hours a day, so even when Animal Care offices are closed, you can help reunite a lost pet with its owner.
Your purchase of a Pet Registration Tag for your animal helps other shelter pets, too. Funds received from the sale of Pet Registration Tags go to provide food, care and important medical treatments for shelter pets, and $2.00 from every Pet Registration sold funds Broward County SPOT (Stop Pet Overpopulation Together) spay/neuter program.
My pet has a microchip (and/or a tattoo). Does he still need a Pet Registration Tag?
Yes. Broward County animal ordinances require that pets be registered by the age of four months, and renewed annually, even if the animal is already identified by a microchip and/or tattoo. A Registration Tag on a lost animal is a visible sign that the pet is owned. A microchip can only be detected through a special scanning device, and tattoos can fade over time and become hard to decipher, particularly on dark-coated dogs and cats. If your pet is micro-chipped and/or tattooed, be sure to keep animal and owner information updated with the facility that applied the identification. Remember that animal name tags are also helpful as a secondary means of identification.
Does my indoor pet need a Pet Registration Tag?
Yes!! “Indoor” pets are not exempt from Broward County’s Pet Registration requirement. And while you may think that your indoor pet will never get out, Broward County Animal Care receives pets at the shelter every day that are lost or injured. Some have been killed by vehicles because the pet escaped through an open door, or a weak or torn fence or screen.
How do I check my pet’s registration information and update it, if necessary?
Go to the Pet Registration Database and search the database by the tag number. To update your pet record, click RECORD UPDATE. You can also call Animal Care at 954-359-1313 to update your record over the phone.
Tags/Shots - Rabies Vaccination
Are dogs and cats the only carriers of rabies?
No. In South Florida, raccoons can carry the deadly rabies virus. For several years, Broward County Animal Care has distributed thousands of oral rabies vaccinations throughout the County in an effort to control the spread of rabies throughout raccoon populations. Because of this effort there has been no report of rabies in Broward County for more than five years.
If my pet or child is bitten by another dog or cat, how do I know whether that animal has been vaccinated against rabies?
When a bite occurs, Broward County automatically checks its records to see if the bite animal has been vaccinated against rabies. If we do not find a record of a current rabies vaccination, we will require the animal to be quarantined. In addition, we will recommend that the person who was bitten seek treatment for the bite.
What do I do if a bite occurs?
If you, a family member or your pet are bitten by a dog or cat, you should immediately seek medical attention. After consulting with a medical professional, please contact Broward County Animal care to report the bite by calling 954-359-1313. We will take your information and send one of our Animal Care Specialists out to investigate the incident.