Miami-Dade County has a law prohibiting stray dogs. If you see a dog roaming free, carefully try to determine if the animal is a stray. A well-groomed dog or friendly cat may have wandered away from its owner. If you can approach the animal safely check for an ID tag.
The department will attempt to pick up the stray dog within 48 hours. If the dog is on any expressway, please call FHP at *347.
If the dog is in the immediate area of a school, or within a fenced school area, call Miami-Dade School Police at 305-995-2677.
Animal Services does not respond to complaints of stray or feral cats and there is no law prohibiting stray cats. Unlike dogs, cats are not confined and can move freely among multiple homes, communities and caretakers. Feral cats are frightened of people, exhibit wild behavior and usually cannot be acclimated to indoor life as a pet and adopted.
The most effective way to control the population of un-owned neighborhood cats is through Animal Services free Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Return or (TNVR) program.
Related FAQs
When the shelter is near or at capacity, the County ask residents to help the pet find their way home by keeping it in the neighborhood where it is found. Think of the pet as lost not stray.
Residents can request a trap from Animal Services through the Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Return (TNVR) program. Cat traps are available free of charge but require a $50.00 refundable deposit and may picked up and returned to the Pet Adoption and Protection Center. Cat traps must be returned within ten days and are available on a first-come-first-served basis.
Miami-Dade County has a law prohibiting stray dogs, but there is no law prohibiting stray cats. Unlike dogs, cats are not confined and can move freely among multiple homes, communities and caretakers. Feral cats are frightened of people, exhibit wild behavior and usually cannot be acclimated to indoor life as a pet and adopted.
Some people resort to poisoning, drowning, relocating or abandoning an animal is cruelty and a misdemeanor of the first degree. Anyone convicted of animal cruelty is subject to fines of up to $5,000 and up to 5 years in prison.
The most effective way to control the population of un-owned neighborhood cats is through Animal Services free Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Return or (TNVR) program.
Through the TNVR program, community cats are humanely trapped and brought to Animal Services to be spayed or neutered, vaccinated, ear-tipped (the universal sign that a cat is part of a TNVR program), and then returned to their outdoor homes.
The most effective way to control the population of un-owned neighborhood cats is through our free Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Return (TNVR) program. TNVR stops mating behaviors and ensures no new kittens are born.
Through the TNVR program, community cats are humanely trapped and brought to Animal Services to be spayed or neutered, vaccinated, ear-tipped (the universal sign that a cat is part of a TNR program), and then returned to their outdoor homes.
You can pick up a humane animal trap at Animal Services Pet Adoption Center for free.
Cat traps can be collected and must be returned within 10 days. Extensions may be granted on a case by case basis. Send an email to [email protected] to request an extension.
You will need to provide a valid driver's license and sign one release form per cat.
Cats may be presented at:
Pets Thrive in 305 Community Cat Center located at 10700 SW 211th Street, Cutler Bay, 33189
Saturday drop-offs at the Community Cat Center have limited availability and are on a first-come, first-served basis and must be picked up the same day.
No appointment is required.
Animal Services Pet Adoption and Protection Center located at 3599 NW 79th Avenue, Doral, 33122
Monday - Tuesday: 7 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Wednesday - Friday: Closed
Saturday and Sunday: 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
No appointment is required.
Cats must be at least 2 months and weigh 2 pounds.
Cats need to be brought in in a separate carrier.
You will be provided a time to pick the cat up after surgery. If you cannot pick up the cat or cats, they will be delivered back to the community they came from.
There is no limit to the number of community cats per person.
You can also take the cats for TNVR to our partnering veterinary offices.
Poisoning, drowning, relocating or abandoning an animal is cruelty and a misdemeanor of the first degree. Anyone convicted of animal cruelty is subject to fines of up to $5,000 and up to 5 years in prison.
First Steps
Prepare for bottle-feeding and proper care before you take the kittens off the street.
If you feel you must take the kittens in, wrap the carrier you will transport them in a towel for warmth, but make sure you leave air holes uncovered so the kittens won't suffocate.
Check to see if the kittens are warm. This is more important than feeding. Never feed a cold kitten! If the kittens are cold, you will need to warm them up slowly. You can tell a kitten is cold if the pads of his feet and ears feel cool or cold. Put your finger in the kitten's mouth. If it feels cold, then the kitten's temperature is too low. This is life-threatening and must be dealt with immediately. Warm up the kitten slowly over one to two hours by wrapping him in a polar fleece towel, holding him close to your body, and continually rubbing him with your warm hands.
Determine the age of the kittens by comparing them to the photos and descriptions on the Kitten Progression: Week-by-Week. Newborn kittens need to be fed and stimulated for elimination every three hours around-the-clock.
Feeding & Elimination
Neonatal kittens (under four weeks of age) cannot eat solid food (canned nor dry) and cannot urinate or defecate on their own, so you must bottle-feed them around-the-clock and stimulate their genitals after every feeding so they can eliminate. For example, if you have kittens less than one week old, they will need to be fed and stimulated every three hours. That means you will be caring for them eight times a day — for example, at midnight, 3 a.m., 6 a.m., etc. If the kittens are unusually small or sickly, they might need to be fed every two hours.
Skipping feedings or overfeeding can cause diarrhea, which results in dehydration, a condition that can be fatal for small kittens. Diarrhea requires a visit to the veterinarian. As the kittens age, the number of feedings they need per day goes down. You can start weaning at four weeks of age.
Milk Replacement Formula
Powdered kitten milk replacement formula is better for kittens than the canned liquid formula. We recommend that you use only powdered kitten milk replacement formula from the start, or as soon as possible, to prevent diarrhea. Two major brands of formula are available: PetAg KMR® Powder and Farnam Pet Products Just Born® Highly Digestible Milk Replacer for Kittens. Both brands are available in both canned and powdered formulas. We highly recommend the powdered type to prevent diarrhea. It can be purchased at pet food stores, veterinarians' offices, or online.
Make sure that the powdered formula you are using is fresh by opening the pop-top and smelling it. It should smell slightly sweet, like powdered milk. If it has a sharp smell like bad cooking oil, cheese, or chemicals, it is rancid, and dangerous to give to the kittens. Do not use any type of formula past the expiration date. Once opened, kitten milk replacement formula (canned or powdered) must be refrigerated promptly and stored in the refrigerator. You cannot keep opened kitten milk replacement formula out of the refrigerator for very long before it spoils. Think of it as fresh milk.
Tip: Using unflavored Pedialyte electrolyte solution instead of water when mixing the powdered formula for the first 24 hours of feeding helps prevents diarrhea and eases the transition from mom's milk to commercial kitten milk replacement formula.
Animal Services' Kitten Cuddler Program provides training on bottle feeding and the general care of newborn kittens. You'll also receive newborn kitten care kits that include heating pads, feeding bottles and kitten milk replacer. The kittens will be scheduled for veterinary visits to receive booster vaccines and general wellness care until they reach adoption age.
To become a kitten cuddler foster parent email [email protected] for more information and training schedule.
Kitten cuddlers will receive kitten care supplies and the joy that comes from saving a precious little animal's life.
If you find a dog or cat with no license tag or other identification, you are legally required to notify the County's Animal Services Department and have the animal scanned for a microchip within 72 hours to find out if the animal is registered to an owner. You can have the animal scanned at a private veterinarian or the Animal Services Pet Adoption and Protection Center.
Use this form to notify Animal Services about a found dog or cat
In the comments section of the form, let us know if you want to adopt and keep the animal if an owner is not found
If the microchip scan reveals that the dog is registered to an owner, you must contact the registered owner within 24 hours
You may hold the pet in your home while efforts are made to find a possible owner.
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