Animal License Reminder Notices

Pinellas County Animal Services issues reminder notices to customers about licenses that are about to
expire or are past due. We send three kinds of notices before an officer is dispatched for noncompliance.

• Friendly Reminder: Friendly reminders are sent 45‐60 days prior to the expiration of your pet’s license. These indicate that your license is due for renewal. Simply get your updated Rabies Vaccination and license as instructed on the card and you will be compliant. If you purchase your license from a license reseller (i.e., veterinarian) they will send us a copy of your license and we will add it to our system.
• Second Notice: Second notices are sent 30‐45 days after expiration of your pet’s license when there is no renewal of the tag‐for‐life license number in our system. You can take you pet to your participating veterinarian to get a Rabies Vaccination and License. Your vet should send us your updated records and we will enter that into our system.
• Third & Final Notice: 3rd & Final notices are sent 60‐90 days after expiration of your pet’s license. This notice indicates that you are out of compliance with Pinellas County Ordinances. You still have time to comply with ordinance requirements or resolve record issues before an officer is dispatched to your home. Once you receive a 3rd & Final Notice you should act immediately to resolve the issue.
• Officer Visit & Citations: Officers are dispatched to non‐compliant households 100‐120 days after pet license expiration. The goal for officers is to enforce pet license compliance. If you are not compliant, an officer may issue you a citation.

Frequently Asked Questions about Animal License Notices

• My animal is current. Why am I receiving this notice?
  • You are receiving the notice because either you renewed the wrong tag‐for‐life pet license number or your vet has not sent in your documentation.
    
  • Animal associated with Tag‐for‐Life: license numbers are associated with one particular animal for its entire life. Re‐using a tag or license number for another pet is not valid. Check your pet’s license number and the number on the card to see if it changed.
    
  • You should call Animal Services to assist you with resolving issues with your records.
    
• The animal on my notice is deceased. What do I do?
  
  • You can mail Animal Services the information and we will update your pet’s records or you can call Animal Services and we can process the information over the phone.
    
• My animal has 2 license numbers, what should I do?
  
  • You should call Animal Services to assist you with resolving your issue with your records.
    
• Do I need to respond to this notice?
  
  • Yes. If you are receiving a friendly reminder or a 2nd Notice, your vet will send us the information in time for your file to be updated. If this is a third notice or an officer has been to your home, you need to send compliance information to Animal Services, preferably by fax, but you can also mail it to us.
    
• Are you going to take away my pet?
  
  • No. Animal Services does not seize animals for licensing non‐compliance. However, you may receive a citation if you do not comply.
• How do I comply with a citation?
  • You must get a current Rabies vaccination and purchase a license. If you get a Rabies Vaccination at a vet that does not sell licenses, you must purchase a license directly from Pinellas County Animal Services. You need to send us a copy of your valid, current License and Rabies Vaccination Certificate to prove compliance. You can fax, mail or email.
    
• What is a valid License & Rabies Vaccination Certificate?
  License and Rabies certificates must have certain information included to be valid:
  • License Forms: Certain forms are required to be used.
    
    • Pinellas County provides License and Rabies Certificates free of charge to License Resellers. The form is approved by the Board of County Commissioners and is the only form valid for license certificates.
      
  • Florida State statute 828.30 (3) indicates that the following information must always be included for Rabies‐Only Certificates:
    • Owner’s name, address and phone
    • Animal’s species, age, sex, weight, breed, color and name
    • Rabies vaccination manufacturer, serial number (lot), vaccination date, revaccination date and vaccine duration ( 1yr or 3yr)
    • Veterinarian’s name, license number and signature or signature stamp
      
  • Tag‐for‐Life: pet license numbers are associated with one particular animal and cannot be re‐used for another pet and should not be replaced with a different tag number for the same animal.
    
• Contact Information for Animal Services:
  • Phone – 727‐582‐2600
    
  • Fax – 727‐582‐2637
    
  • Email –animallicensing@pinellascounty.org

Return to top