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Lee County Animal Service Offers License Amnesty Day
Aug 16, 2006 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Lee County Animal Services Offers License Amnesty Day Fort Myers, Florida, 8/16/06-Lee County Animal Services is offering owners an opportunity to purchase Lee County licenses for their pets with expired tags without penalty. On Tuesday, September 12, 2006, Animal Services will sell licenses without issuing citations from 10 am to 7 pm. There will also be a veterinarian available to administer rabies vaccinations. Lee County Ordinance requires all dogs, cats and ferrets to be vaccinated for rabies and purchase a Lee County license by four months of age. Fines range from $75 to $100 per pet per violation. Anyone whose pet is up-to-date on its rabies vaccination just needs to show proof in order to purchase the county license. Licenses may be purchased at Animal Services shelter or any veterinary clinic that sells licenses. The cost of a Lee County license is $25 for unsterilized pets or $10 if the pet has been spayed or neutered. The license must be purchased within ten days of the rabies vaccination date. After 30 days a $25 late fee will be assessed in addition to the license fee. All license fees collected in Lee County go toward spay and neuter programs to reduce pet overpopulation and, therefore, the number of animals entering Lee County Animal Services' shelter each year (15,000+). Spaying and neutering pets saves lives and taxpayer dollars! Licensing pets allows Animal Control agencies to return lost pets to their owners and ensure that pets have current rabies vaccinations. While there are many diseases that pets can contract that are serious or even fatal, these diseases are not a serious threat to humans. Rabies, however, is transmissible to humans and is fatal once contracted. For public safety and health reasons, it is imperative that pets are vaccinated against this deadly disease. County officials urge pet owners to take advantage of this penalty-free opportunity on September 12th. Fines for failure to license and vaccinate are mandatory and will be strictly enforced. For more information regarding pet licensing and fees call (239) 432-2083 or visit Lee County Animal Services' website at www.LeeLostPets.com. Lee County Animal Services provides animal control services throughout Lee County and operates an animal shelter to house stray and abandoned domestic animals. It also administers low-cost spay and neuter programs, educational initiatives, rabies and bite case control programs, and humane euthanasia when appropriate. It employs 37 and has an annual operating budget of $4.1 million.
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