Microchipping

A microchip is a very important safeguard to ensure that your pet is reunited with you if separated. This is especially important in case of a natural disaster. Though a license worn on your pet’s collar is important, a microchip provides a means of permanent identification and cannot be lost. Shelters and most

veterinary offices are equipped with microchip scanners and can
immediately identify an animal’s owner (provided the owner has kept his phone number and address current). You can obtain a microchip for your pet from any local veterinarian or by visiting Pinellas County Animal Services.

Vaccines

In the State of Florida it is required by law that each dog, cat and ferret over the age of 4 months receive a rabies vaccination. In Pinellas County it is also required that you obtain a license for your pet. You can obtain a license from most local veterinarians or at Pinellas County Animal Services. All dogs and cats that are adopted from Animal Services are provided with their initial vaccines, spayed or neutered, de-wormed, checked for certain diseases, and given a rabies vaccine and a county license. In order to ensure that they remain healthy, you should establish your pet with a local veterinarian as soon as possible after adoption.

Help in an Economic Downturn

Many local animal shelters can direct you to resources that may be of assistance should you have difficulty providing for your pet. Animal food and other necessities are often available as well. In the worst case, animals may be surrendered to shelter for low cost to give them an opportunity for adoption (should they be healthy and of good temperament).

Citation Fine / Ordinance Violation

Pay fines at the County Court House, 315 Court St., Clearwater, FL. The Probate office is located on the first floor near the information desk. If you have the case number or date of birth of the person who recieved the citation, you can pay on-line.

Animal Traps

Our front service counter personnel will no longer loan traps to citizens for trapping raccoons. We will refer the citizens to licensed trappers for this service. Customers who are loaned traps for cats are also being informed that we will not pick up traps with raccoons or opossums in them. Their options are to release the animal, call a licensed trapper to pick it up or to call PCAS for an officer who will release it on their property. 

We loan traps to residents, but we do not deliver them. There is a $50 refundable deposit required on the trap, which you can pay by cash or credit card. The deposit is held and returned to you when you return the trap to us. The traps are rented out for 4 working days to start and then after that if the trap is active we will extend the time limit to 7 days to allow for you to continue to trap. If the trap is not active, then it has to be returned by the agreed date or $5 per day will be deducted from your deposit.

The only animal that you can return to us in the trap is a cat. Simply call us at (727) 582-2600 and we will send an officer out to remove them or bring the cat inside the trap back to Animal Services. There is a charge for servicing the trap.

Licensed Trappers

Look on the web for licensed trappers in Pinellas County.

Dead Animal Pickup

To report a dead animal on the road:

• On a state road, call the Dept. of Transportation at (727) 570-5101.
• On a county road or right of way, call the Highway Department at (727) 464-8900. 
• On a city road, call the city (see White Pages phone book, blue tab sections for “Government Pages – City Offices – Public Works Dept.)

For disposal information, see dead animals.

Rescue Groups

Pinellas County Animal Services has worked under a partnership “Pinellas Animal Partners” (PAP) for approximately 20 years. This organization includes Pinellas County Animal Services, SPCA , Humane Society of Pinellas , Pet Pal Animal Shelter , Pinellas Animal Foundation , Pinellas County Veterinary Medical Society, and the St. Petersburg Junior College Veterinary Technician Program.

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