April 30, 2010

 

HURRICANE SEASON NOTICE: PET SHELTER REGISTRATION BEGINS MAY 1

 

Registration Begins May 1 ● Domestic Animal Services ● 7610 Davis Blvd., Naples, FL 34104

 

The 2010 Hurricane Season is approaching and it is time for pet owners to reregister their pets for the Collier County Emergency Pet Shelter.  Pets must be reregistered from last year in order to qualify for sheltering, and new pets are also welcome to register.

             Hurricane season officially begins June 1, however the emergency shelter could be activated for any disaster, not just hurricanes, and pets must be pre-registered.  Registration for the Emergency Pet Shelter begins May 1.  Pets must be registered every year; registrations are not automatically renewed.

Emergency Pet Shelter Information

            The Collier County Emergency Pet Shelter is located at North Collier Regional Park located at 15000 Livingston Rd. in cases of emergency.  The shelter is an adjacency shelter, which means pet owners and pets will be sheltered separately within the park and pets cannot be dropped off.

            The Bureau of Emergency Services (BES) determines if the shelter should be activated based on mandatory evacuations and storm surge vulnerability.  Pre-registered pet owners will be notified by an automated call system once the shelter opens if they are located in a mandatory evacuation zone or live in manufactured housing.  The shelter holds 75 pets, cats and dogs only.

            Owners are required to provide care for their pets prior to and post storm.  DAS staff and trained volunteers are, however, available to feed and care for the pets during the storm.  While DAS will have emergency supplies on hand, owners are reminded that it is their responsibility to provide crates, food, medications, supplies and water for their pets. 

            Registrations will be suspended if there is a Tropical Storm and/or Hurricane Watch issued for Collier County.

            Pets in the shelter MUST HAVE UP-TO-DATE vaccinations with a printed copy of the vaccinations available for inspection.  Hurricane season runs from June 1 to Nov 30 and if the public has questions they may call DAS at (239) 252-PETS (7387). 

Visit http://www.colliergov.net/Index.aspx?page=1877 to register your pet(s).

April 23, 2010

NEW TETHERING REGULATIONS GO INTO EFFECT MAY 1

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On May 1, the revised Collier County Animal Control Ordinance will become active and there are many regulation changes the public must learn. 

Changes adopted in the ordinance include allowing registered caregivers to trap-neuter-return feral cats to their colonies, establishing animal tethering restrictions along with a formula to calculate the proper amount of space for dog enclosures, and replacing the three-person Dangerous Dog panel with the Special Magistrate for appeals hearings.

DOG CHAINING RESTRICTIONS

Dogs may no longer be chained and left alone.  It is now required that only healthy dogs six months or older be tethered with a number of regulations that pet owners must meet.

These tethering regulations include a responsible party being outside at all times with the animal and with the animal in line of sight. 

“The reason for this change is to ensure dogs are cared for and not just left outside without food or water, and making sure they have human interaction can actually help the animal’s behavior improve,” said DAS Director Amanda Townsend.

Other safety precautions include using a tether with swivels on both ends that is at least five times the length of the dog’s body.  Tethers may not weigh no more than one-eighth of the dog’s weight.  Dogs must have access at all times to shade, ample fresh drinking water and dry ground. An animal may not be tethered during extreme weather conditions including extreme heat, cold or storms.

ENFORCEMENT OF THE NEW REGULATIONS

        Full enforcement of the new rules begin the first week of May coinciding with Be Kind to Animals Week.  The group Dogs Deserve Better is working closely with DAS to assist pet owners in successfully moving their chained animals left alone during the day to becoming indoor animals.  Many times pet owners chain animals for behavior issues such as housebreaking or jumping, and Dogs Deserve Better and DAS are working to educate pet owners.

The Board of County Commissioners adopted these new regulations on Tuesday, Jan. 26, and violations of the ordinance may be fined $107 for the first violation.  For more information, the public may call (239) 252-PETS (7387).

UNLEASHED April 15, 2010

UNLEASHED – A VARIETY SHOW BENEFIT FOR HOMELESS ANIMALS

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May 8, 2010, 1 p.m. ● Domestic Animal Services ● 7610 Davis Blvd., Naples, FL 34104

 

Become Unleashed at a dance show benefit for Collier County Domestic Animal Services (DAS) being hosted on May 8 by the Platinum Coast Dance Company at Golden Gate Community Center.  The variety show begins at 1 p.m.

Michele Ryan, the owner of the Platinum Coast Dance Company, is presenting a variety dance show called Unleashed, and is open to all willing participants.  The Golden Gate Community Center‘s Auditorium, located at 4701 Golden Gate Parkway offers a fantastic stage for such a fun dance show.

“This gives the community a unique stage from which to support homeless animals, and as a volunteer for Domestic Animal Services, I felt a real drive to help the DAS Trust Fund that pays for above and beyond medical needs of shelter animals,” said Ryan. 

Ryan’s own dance classes will be donating their time to perform at the show with exciting, upbeat dance routines. Guest performers include Jennifer Schooley, organizer/dancer Michele Ryan and The Calendar Girls, a non-profit dance team made up of dancers ages 50 and over.  Mac McCord will also be performing a Ballroom and Swing number.

Domestic Animal Services’ staff and volunteers will be performing a line dance to the song “Hound Dog.”

“We are really looking forward to this event and we are thankful for the caring community members who are volunteering their talents. We hope everyone will come out and enjoy the fun—especially knowing that they’ll be helping homeless animals in the process,” said DAS Director Amanda Townsend.

Unleashed will include raffle drawings for substantial gift certificates from local businesses and Kevin Smith from Florida Talent will provide the music and DJ.

Dance show participants have been chosen, and the public is invited to view the variety show for just a $5 donation per person or people may donate an item for use in the shelter including non-scented bleach, clay kitty litter, 6-foot leashes, dog collars or 13×9 aluminum litter pans. For more information, call Michele Ryan at (239) 262-1748.