1998 Florida Code
TITLE XLVI CRIMES
Chapter 828 Animals: Cruelty; Sales; Animal Enterprise Protection  
828.30   Rabies vaccination of dogs, cats, and ferrets.

828.30  Rabies vaccination of dogs, cats, and ferrets.--

(1)  All dogs, cats, and ferrets 4 months of age or older must be vaccinated by a licensed veterinarian against rabies with a United States Government-approved vaccine. The cost of vaccination must be borne by the animal's owner.

(2)  A dog, cat, or ferret is exempt from vaccination against rabies if a licensed veterinarian has examined the animal and has certified in writing that at the time vaccination would endanger the animal's health because of its age, infirmity, disability, illness, or other medical considerations. An exempt animal must be vaccinated against rabies as soon as its health permits.

(3)  Upon vaccination against rabies, the licensed veterinarian shall provide the animal's owner and the animal control authority with a rabies vaccination certificate which must contain at least the following information:

(a)  The license number of the administering veterinarian.

(b)  The name, address, and phone number of the veterinarian and owner.

(c)  The date of vaccination.

(d)  The expiration date of the vaccination.

(e)  The species, age, sex, color, breed, weight, and name of the animal vaccinated.

(f)  The rabies vaccine manufacturer.

(g)  The vaccine lot number and expiration date.

(h)  The type and brand of vaccine used.

(i)  The route of administration of the vaccine.

(j)  The signature or signature stamp of the licensed veterinarian.

(4)  Beginning March 1, 1999, each ferret vaccinated according to this section must be quarantined, when necessary, according to rules of the Department of Health.

(5)  Any information contained in the rabies vaccination certificate provided to the animal control authority which identifies the owner of the animal vaccinated is confidential and exempt from s. 119.07(1) and s. 24(a), Art. I of the State Constitution. However, the physician of, or, any person who has been bitten, scratched, or otherwise exposed to a zoonotic disease and a veterinarian who is treating an animal that has been bitten, scratched, or otherwise exposed to a zoonotic disease or the owner of an animal that has been bitten, scratched, or otherwise exposed to a zoonotic disease, shall be provided with any information contained in a rabies vaccination certificate but only with respect to the particular animal biting, scratching, or otherwise causing exposure. Any person with an animal tag number may receive vaccination certificate information with regard to that animal. Federal, state, and local law enforcement and prosecutorial agencies; other animal control authorities; and emergency and medical response, disease control, or other governmental health agencies shall be provided information contained in the rabies vaccination certificate for the purpose of controlling the transmission of rabies; however, they must not release such information to the public. Any person, pursuant to a written request, may view or copy any individual rabies vaccination certificate, one record at a time. A copy of any existing database may be obtained provided that the owner's name, street address, and phone number, and the animal tag number, are not made available.


This exemption is subject to the Open Government Sunset Review Act of 1995 in accordance with s. 119.15, and shall stand repealed on October 2, 2003, unless reviewed and saved from repeal through reenactment by the Legislature.

(6)  Violation of this section is a civil infraction, punishable as provided in s. 828.27(2).

(7)  This section does not prohibit or limit municipalities or counties from enacting requirements similar to or more stringent than the provisions of this section for the implementation and enforcement of rabies-control ordinances.

History.--s. 7, ch. 94-339; s. 3, ch. 95-220; s. 1, ch. 98-178; s. 1, ch. 98-213.

Note.--Former s. 585.69.