Areas of Interest
Animal ShelterWelcome to the Wakulla County Animal Shelter web page. We rely heavily on private donations and dedicated volunteers. As an animal lover, you know that cats, dogs, horses, and other domesticated animals rely on humans to provide them food, shelter, and love. We work hard to improve the quality of life in Wakulla County by providing a haven for lost, sick, injured, abused, or unwanted pets. Please visit us at the Shelter and make one of our animals part of your family. 
An average of 120 dogs and cats can be housed at the shelter. Sadly, some of these animals have to be euthanized. Every animal admitted to the shelter receives medical care, a warm safe environment in which to heal and learn to trust, and much love to aid in preparation for becoming adoptable. The programs are made possible by the county and caring people who provide funding which keeps the doors open (Fund raising activities are on-going by Citizens for Humane Animal Treatment (CHAT) of Wakulla).
1 Oak Street
If you have found an animal, please drop it off at the shelter or call in a lost/found report. Its owners are probably anxious to find it! Drop cages for cats and dogs are available at the entrance of the Shelter for after-hours use. If you have lost an animal, please contact the Shelter immediately to fill out a lost/found report. To report a vicious, nuisance, or abused domestic animal please contact us at 926-0890. It's hurricane season and Wakulla county has seen many hurricanes come ashore in the past few years. Do you have a disaster plan for your pets? Visit the U.S. Humane Society's disaster site to see how prepared you are. There are some really beautiful, friendly kittens and puppies to choose from. P.S. We're always in need of kitten chow! Please consider making a donation. Adopt an Animal
So you're ready for a new addition to your household! The Wakulla Animal Shelter requests adoptive families to complete a questionnaire that includes:
Prospective owners must be at least 18 years old and they must understand the local leash law (Ordinance No. 95-29). Because shelter animals have unknown medical backgrounds, prospective owners must agree to provide their new pet a complete veterinary examination within 5 working days, and to provide necessary medical attention as long as they own it. Adoption fees are $75 and cover rabies shots and spay/neuter costs. Adopted animals must be at least 8 weeks old, be spayed or neutered, and receive a rabies vaccination. Did you know that 95% of dogs found who are not wearing tags NEVER make it home? And that 95% of dogs that are wearing tags DO make it home? Your dog's best ticket home is a collar with tags!
Donation Wish ListThe shelter thrives on donations which are tax deductible! While gifts of money are always welcome, there are many items on our wish list that would be just as appreciated. Items that are especially needed are marked with an "asterisk".
Animal ControlHow do animal "bites" get reported? Bites, exposures to potentially-rabid animals, and scratches from wildlife and cats, are reportable to Animal Control in Wakulla County. An Animal Control Officer will contact the owner and victim to complete a Bite Report and to quarantine the animal. Domestic pets are quarantined for 10 days from the date of the bite or exposure, including the day of the bite or exposure. Quarantines generally requires confinement at the owner's home to prevent the animal from wandering, or from coming into contact with people or pets which do not live in the same household. Home quarantines are permitted unless the owner is unwilling or unable to securely confine the animal during the quarantine period. If animals are not quarantined at home, they are confined at a veterinary hospital or the animal shelter. Officers determine quarantine sites based on the circumstances of each incident on a case-by-case basis. Quarantine costs are borne by the owner. Wildlife is generally not quarantined. Raccoons, foxes, bobcats, bats and skunks are always tested if they bite or otherwise expose humans or domestic pets to the potential transmission of rabies. Other wild or exotic animals are quarantined or tested on a case-by-case basis. When animals are tested for rabies, Wakulla County Animal Shelter will contact the affected parties with the test results upon completion of the testing. Victims of animals which are quarantined may contact our office after the 10-day quarantine for the results of the quarantine. If quarantined animals become sick or die during quarantine, victims will be notified immediately. If bite animals are unable to be located for quarantine or testing, we recommend contacting your physician for post-exposure treatment. Rabies shots are scheduled 6 times over a period of 28 days. Shots are given in the arm or hip. The public is familiar with the previous type of vaccinations which were given in the stomach. That type of treatment has not been given in the U.S. since 1981. There are few side effects with the current vaccination protocol, and most people report no side effects at all. There is no quarantine for domestic pets which bite other domestic pets. If a domestic animal is exposed by a suspected rabid wild animal the following protocol applies. If the domestic pet is currently vaccinated against rabies, a 45-day quarantine is conducted at the owner's home. The pet must be revaccinated immediately going into quarantine. Officers will check back periodically to ensure that the animal is properly quarantined and still appears healthy. If the quarantine is completed successfully, Animal Control staff will contact the owner at the end of the 90-day period to release the animal from quarantine. If the domestic pet is not currently vaccinated against rabies, a 180-day home quarantine is conducted. The animal is vaccinated immediately going into quarantine, and again one month before release. If the quarantine is completed successfully, Animal Control staff will contact the owner at the end of the 180-day period to release the animal from quarantine. In both cases, quarantines are strictly enforced. Home quarantines are not an owner's right, but a courtesy extended to responsible owners. Quarantines at locations other than the owner's home will be at the owner's expense. What vaccinations are required by law? Pursuant to law, only rabies vaccinations are required, and they are required of both cats and dogs beginning at four months of age. Vaccinations administered by an owner are not recognized as valid. By law, only licensed veterinarians may vaccinate an animal against rabies. In the unincorporated area, we recognize the vaccine for its duration, so if the vaccine is of a one-year duration we recognize it for one year. If the vaccine is of a three-year duration, we recognize it for the full three years. A new rabies tag must be obtained each year so that pets are wearing current rabies vaccination tags. Other vaccinations are important for your animal's health. Many preventative vaccinations are life-saving, such as those give to prevent distemper, parvo, and feline leukemia. Preventative heartworm treatment is imperative for dogs. Consult you veterinarian. When does an Animal Control Officer issue a Courtesy Notice vs a Citation? A Courtesy Notice is provided to complainants and owners to advise them of the nature of the complaint against an owner, the results of the Officer's visit, and corrective actions to be taken when necessary to resolve a problem. Warnings can take the form of verbal instructions to an owner or through written instructions to an owner by means of a Courtesy Notice. There is no fine involved when warnings are given. Citations are notices of a violation of law which result in fines or court appearances. Citizens receiving citations can contest the citation to the County Court or pay the fine. Citations are similar to traffic tickets issued by law enforcement officers. Failure to contest the charge(s) or pay the required fine will result in the Court entering a judgment against the owner and/or the Court issuing to the owner an Order to Show Cause why the owner has not responded to the Court's directive. Failure to obey a Court's directive can result in the Judge charging the owner with Contempt of Court. This charge may result in additional fines or arrest. Signing and accepting a citation issued by an Officer is mandated by state law. Failure to do so is a misdemeanor. Signing and accepting a citation is not an admission of guilt, but an acknowledgment of the charge(s) against the owner and a promise to answer to the charge, either by paying the fine or by contesting the charge in County Court, thereby requesting a hearing before a Judge.
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