§ 4-14. Cruelty to animals is prohibited.

(a)

It is a violation of this chapter for any owner, either willfully or negligently, to deprive any animal of food, water, shelter, or protection, or otherwise ill-use an animal.

(b)

It is a violation of F.S. § 828.13 and this chapter for an owner to abandon any animal:

(1)

To die, that is maimed, sick, infirm, or diseased;

(2)

To suffer injury, malnutrition or dehydration.

(c)

Pursuant to F.S. § 828.12, no person shall:

(1)

Unnecessarily overload, overdrive, torment, deprive of necessary sustenance or shelter, or unnecessarily mutilate, or kill any animal, or cause the same to be done, or carry in or upon any vehicle, or otherwise, any animal in a cruel or inhumane manner.

(2)

Intentionally commit an act to any animal which results in the cruel death, or excessive or repeated infliction of unnecessary pain or suffering, or cause the same to be done.

(d)

It is unlawful for any person to entice or lure any animal out of an enclosure or off the property of the owner or seize, molest or tease any animal while the animal is on the property of the owner.

(e)

Pursuant to F.S. § 828.08, it shall be unlawful for any person to leave or deposit any poison, in any common street, alley, lane or thoroughfare of any kind or in any yard or enclosure other than the yard or enclosure occupied or owned by such person.

(f)

No vehicle owner, passenger or operator shall place or confine an animal or allow it to be placed or confined or to remain in an unattended vehicle without sufficient ventilation or under conditions or for such a period of time as may reasonably be expected to endanger the health or well-being of such animal due to heat, lack of water or such other circumstances as may be expected to cause suffering, disability or death.

(1)

Any law or animal control officer who finds an animal in a vehicle in violation of this chapter may enter the vehicle using the amount of force which is reasonably necessary to remove the animal. The officer is authorized to impound and transport such animal to a veterinarian for medical care in the manner provided for in this chapter. The owner is then liable for all veterinary fees.

(2)

Nothing in this section shall be deemed to prohibit the transportation of horses, cattle, sheep, poultry or other agricultural livestock in trailers or other vehicles designed and constructed for such purposes.

(g)

Cruelty to animals shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

(1)

Producing, rearing, breeding, keeping, or releasing animals including pigeons, to be shot at either for amusement or a test of skill in marksmanship;

(2)

Shooting at an animal, including a pigeon, produced, reared, bred, kept, or released as described in subsection 4-14(g)(1)); or

(3)

Knowingly allowing land or premises under one's ownership or control to be used for either of the purposes described in subsection 4-14(g)(1) and (2).

This section shall not be construed to prohibit the taking of game in accordance with the regulations set forth in F.S. ch. 372, and title 39, Florida Administrative Code.

(h)

Pursuant to F.S. § 828.12, a veterinarian licensed to practice in the state shall be held harmless from either criminal or civil liability for any decisions made or services rendered under the provisions of this section. Such a veterinarian is, therefore, under this subsection, immune from a lawsuit for his part in an investigation of cruelty to animals.

(Ord. No. 2006-10, § 15, 3-28-06; Ord. No. 2010-02, § 9, 1-26-10)