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Marion County Animal ServicesFrequently asked Questions
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| How do I contact Marion County Animal Services? By telephone: Animal Center: 352-671-8700 Animal Control: 352-671-8727 By mail: 5701 SE 66th St. Ocala, FL 34480 (Located east of the Marion County landfill) Animal Center hours: Tuesday - Friday, 10 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Closed Sunday and Monday Closed holidays Attention: Kennels and cat rooms close 30 minutes prior to the close of business. Animal Control hours: Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. After hours and weekends, emergency-only response. What services does Marion County Animal Services provide?
How much does it cost to adopt a pet? Adoption fees are $40 per cat or dog. This fee includes the animal's sterilization surgery, current vaccinations, county license and microchip. If my pet is lost, how do I look for it? Lost your pet? Check the Animal Center first. Stray animals found without identification, such as a license tag or microchip, stay in the stray area for three full business days and animals with identification stay for 10 days. Staff members scan the animals for microchips and attempt to locate the owners. If the unclaimed strays are healthy and friendly, they can go up for adoption at the end of their wait time. Citizens can also post descriptions and photos of lost and found animals on the public bulletin board that both staff and citizens check regularly. We encourage you to visit the shelter regularly and look for your animal. Only you know what your pet looks like, and only you can positively identify it. Post signs around the vicinity where you lost your pet. Be sure to include when your animal was lost, your contact information, a photo of your animal and as many other details as possible (sex, weight, breed, color, special markings). Other helpful tactics include placing a lost ad in the classifieds and on popular websites, as well as searching the neighborhood where your animal was lost. Remember - all pets, including indoor pets, have a better chance of being returned to their homes when they wear a collar with identification and/or are implanted with a permanent form of identification. Make sure your animal wears or has identification at all times. Microchips are available at Animal Services for a cost of $15. How do I qualify for an adoption?
What animals are available through Animal Services? Animal Services primarily adopts out a wide variety of breeds of cats and dogs, although the department occasionally has rabbits, horses and other animals. Stray livestock impounded at Animal Services is auctioned off by the Marion County Sheriff's Office (if not claimed by owners). The Sheriff's Office will post all notices of auctions. For more information on auctions, please contact the Sheriff's Office. |
I already have a tag for my pet. Why do I have
to get one from the county? 1. It's the law. County law states that animal owners must register their cats and dogs that are four months of age or older with a county license (Marion County Code, chapter 4, section 8 - 9). 2. Pets don't talk. The county license acts as a secondary form of identification in case your pet becomes lost or injured. 3. It keeps your pet safe from disease. The county license is proof that your pet has been vaccinated against rabies, keeping your pets and others from safe from disease. How much does a Marion County pet license tag cost?  $5 per year for sterilized (spayed/neutered).$5 per year for juvenile (under six
months).$35 per year for unsterilized pet.$100 per year for a dog declared dangerous.Can I give my animal the rabies vaccination myself? No. A licensed veterinarian is the only one who can administer the rabies vaccination to pets. Is there a "leash law" in Marion County? Yes. Animals must be kept on a leash at all times when off of the owner's property. Please refer to Marion County Code, Chapter 4, Section 10 for information on exceptions. When you access the website, click Chapter 4 and then Sec. 4-10. How can my pet get a microchip? Bring your pet to Marion County Animal Services during business hours and tell staff at the front desk that you would like your pet microchipped. Microchipping costs $15 and takes only a few minutes, but provides a lifelong means of identification for your pet. What can I do about cats on my property? If the cat or dog has an owner, the best solution is to try to work out an agreement with them. If the problem is not resolved, or the animal is a stray, please call Animal Control for assistance at 352-671-8727. Please refer to Marion County Code, Chapter 4, Section 10 for information on exceptions. When you access the website, click Chapter 4 and then Sec. 4-10. What can I do about a dog that barks all of the time? Contact the owner and discuss the situation to see if you can resolve the problem. If the nuisance continues after trying to resolve the problem, please call Animal Control at 352-671-8727 with the owner's address. I have a raccoon in my yard. What do I do? Nuisance wildlife. This can be a raccoon that frequents your yard, or a fox that has made its home across the street. If the animal appears sick (could possibly have rabies) or injured, please call Animal Control at 352-671-8727. Animal Services is a public safety agency and not a nuisance trapping service. If the wildlife in your yard isn't posing a threat, please call a private nuisance wildlife trapper. Animal Services does not have a license to relocate wildlife, and will not pick up healthy wildlife. What can I do about an aggressive dog? If you encounter an aggressive dog, please call Animal Control at 352-671-8727. How much do fines cost? Refer to our fine schedule What hours is the Neuter Commuter appointment line available? Call the Neuter Commuter appointment line at 352-307-1351 from Tuesday - Friday, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Plan on scheduling an appointment about a month in advance. Please know that Animal Services receives more than 40,000 calls a year for this low-cost service, many more requests than available appointments. Please see a list of other low-cost alternatives here.
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