Millions of Americans share their homes with pets. The vast majority of interactions between people and pets are happy and benign. But for millions of Americans, the interactions are less positive; every year, an estimated 4.7 million people are bitten by dogs, ranging from minor nips to major attacks. Regardless of size or breed, all pets can bite.

The good news is that most bites are preventable when people behave safely around pets and pet owners act responsibly. Responsible pet ownership is key to reducing the likelihood of a bite and can enhance the owner/pet relationship.

The Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners at a Public Hearing on June 4th 2003, voted to enact revisions to the county's Animal Ordinance that would provide increased protection to citizens from dangerous and aggressive animals and help prevent animal bites and attacks on humans and other animals.

The bite prevention recommendations fall into three categories:

• public bite prevention education;
• courses of action for animals with dangerous propensities; and,
• increasing restrictions on ownership of 'declared' dangerous dogs.

Public Bite Prevention Education

The key to reducing dog and cat bites within our community is education. The topics related to reducing dog and cat bites fall into a category of public education meant for all family members on proper and responsible pet care. Educational speakers from Animal Services are available upon request to speak on this and many other animal related issues.

Animal Services has teamed up with SERVE of Hillsborough County to provide speakers on Dog Bite Prevention for Elementary students. Teachers if you would like to schedule a Dog Bite Prevention speaker for your classroom download a Request Form Here

• National Dog Bite Prevention Week ( PDF, 179KB )
• Understanding Feline Aggression © ( PDF, 191KB )

Companion Animals That Have Bitten Once (Effective Jan. 1, 2004)

These requirements apply only to animals that have bitten, chased or threatened people, companion animals, or livestock without provocation. An unprovoked incident shall be one where the victim, who has been conducting himself or herself peacefully and lawfully, has been bitten, chased in a menacing fashion, or attacked by a companion animal. Not every animal that has bitten, chased or threatened once would be placed here - if an attack is of sufficient magnitude some will be placed under investigation as a 'Dangerous Dog'.

Fines for an initial unprovoked vicious incident will increase to $450. The fine will be reduced to $25 if the owner provides proof of each of the following prior to the citation's hearing date:

• Obedience training, with a graduation certificate
• Current health examination from a veterinarian
• Proof of spay/neuter, either prior to or after the incident
• Microchip registered to the owner at their current address
• Receive responsible ownership training at Animal Services

A misdemeanor criminal complaint can be filed if the owner of the dog had prior knowledge of the dog's dangerous propensities, yet demonstrated a reckless disregard for such propensities under the circumstances.

New Restrictions Upon Owners of Dangerous Dogs (Effective Jan. 1, 2004)

Mandatory Educational Issues

• Obedience training by approved instructors
• Receive responsible ownership training at Animal Services.

Mandatory Health Issues

• Annual health examination
• Mandatory microchipping, with chip registered to current owner and address.

Mandatory Housing And Control Issues

• A minimum of two inspections of the animal and its living area by Animal Services' investigators each year are to be made to ensure continuing compliance.
• Standardized warning signs to be posted at specified intervals along the fencing in addition to all entrances to the property. Signs will include pictures to deter children and will be obtained from the department.
• When outside its proper enclosure, in addition to being muzzled, restrained by a substantial chain or leash, and under control of a competent person, the use of a physical control device such as a passive head restraint collar or harness is required.

Additional Public Information

• The department may provide notification to appropriate neighbors and the public advising them of the presence of a declared dangerous dog in their neighborhood.
• A website similar to and eventually linked to the State's sexual predator database is to be developed, enabling people to look up local Dangerous Dogs online, complete with a 'mug shot' of the dog.

Additional Fees And Penalties

• Dangerous dog registration fees are being increased to $500.
• Non-compliant, declared dangerous dogs may be confiscated for euthanasia for the failure of the owner to comply or any major violations of the regulatory mandates such as improper enclosure, etc.
• Second incidents of unprovoked attacking, threatening, or biting shall be considered a criminally punishable offense.

Additional Measures (Effective October 1, 2009)

Several changes to the Board of County Commissioner's Policy regarding Animal Services fees became effective on October 1, 2009. In particular, due to the more aggressive nature of unsterilized pets and their contribution to the overpopulation problem, the unsterilized dog and cat registration fee was increased to $40. This fee increase is intended to promote the sterilization of pets, and consequently helping to reduce pet overpopulation, to decrease the number of aggressive pets, and the tendency of intact pets to stray.