STRAY ANIMALS
The Town of Orange Park does not have its own full time animal shelter. If you capture a stray domestic animal, we recommend you post photos of the animal on any neighborhood social media groups you may be a part of in efforts to locate an owner. If you cannot care for the animal, we recommend you contact Clay County Animal Services directly to determine if they have any open kennels at their location.
Clay County Animal Services shelter often operates at full capacity and in many cases cannot accept new animals due to space limitations. In the past, our officers collected all stray animals and transported them to Clay Animal Services. However, due to the shelter’s frequent lack of available space, we can no longer continue this practice as we lack the means to care for the animals long-term before they can be taken to the shelter.
When you contact us about a loose animal, our officers will respond and assess whether the animal poses a public safety threat. If it does not, we will be unable to take custody of the animal. If we can identify the owner or determine where the animal belongs, we will make efforts to return the pet to its home.
We believe that Clay County Animal Control Services does an excellent job managing stray animals in the county, and we greatly value our partnership with them. However, their capacity is limited. If you are considering adding a new pet to your family, we highly recommend adopting from Clay County Animal Services. This will help open up space for other animals in need of care.
OUR CONTACT INFORMATION
Code Compliance/Animal Control Officer Ed Kaczkowski at 904-278-3020
Code Compliance/Animal Control Officer Sarah Draper at 904-264-5555 ext. 267
In an emergency, it is best to contact the Orange Park Police Department first so they can quickly dispatch an officer. The non-emergency number is 904-264-5555.
Animals outside of the Town limits please contact Clay County Animal Control at 904-269-6342.
ANIMAL ABANDONMENT FLORIDA STATE STATUTE828.13 Confinement of animals without sufficient food, water, or exercise; abandonment of animals.—
(1) As used in this section:
(a) “Abandon” means to forsake an animal entirely or to neglect or refuse to provide or perform the legal obligations for care and support of an animal by its owner.
(b) “Owner” includes any owner, custodian, or other person in charge of an animal.
(2) Whoever:
(a) Impounds or confines any animal in any place and fails to supply the animal during such confinement with a sufficient quantity of good and wholesome food and water,
(b) Keeps any animals in any enclosure without wholesome exercise and change of air, or
(c) Abandons to die any animal that is maimed, sick, infirm, or diseased,
is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or by a fine of not more than $5,000, or by both imprisonment and a fine.
(3) Any person who is the owner or possessor, or has charge or custody, of any animal who abandons such animal to suffer injury or malnutrition or abandons any animal in a street, road, or public place without providing for the care, sustenance, protection, and shelter of such animal is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or by a fine of not more than $5,000, or by both imprisonment and a fine.
Be Responsible – Spay & Neuter
Population numbers of outdoor community cats grow exponentially if reproduction is not altered. Trap-Neuter-Release (TNR) is an effective and humane reproduction control method. By removing the reproductive ability in the community and domestic cats the ever-growing numbers decline.
We encourage all pet owners and caregivers to have their pets spayed or neutered.
The Humane Society of Clay County provides free TNR surgery and rabies shots every Wednesday for up to 40 cats. Free spay and neuter for domestic cats is open by appointment only. The Humane Society is a low cost veterinary clinic and does not operate as a shelter facility. Please call (904) 276-7729 for more information or visit their website here.