Leash Laws in Pinellas County, Florida

Cats and dogs should be put on a leash when owners take them outside an enclosure in Pinellas County, Florida.

Pinellas County is located on the Gulf Coast in Florida in the Tampa metropolitan area, and includes the city of St. Petersburg. The county has a number of leash laws that apply to both dogs and cats.

No At-Large Pets

Owners are not allowed to let a cat or dog roam anywhere it pleases in the county. Any person who either possesses or has custody of a dog or cat and allows the pet to do this is in violation of county law, even if the person did not intend to do so, according to county code.

Police and Hunting Dog Exemptions

Police dogs are exempted from the previous rule when the dogs are working in the official capacity of a law-enforcement agency. The law also does not apply to hunting dogs when they are engaged in or being trained for hunting during the legal hunting season, as long as they are within authorized areas and the owner is supervising the dog.

Cats "In Heat"

If a cat is in the midst of its estrous cycle, commonly referred to as "in heat," the owner must keep the cat confined in a secure enclosure, such as a kennel or a veterinary hospital, to prevent breeding. Owners who mutually agree to breed their animals are excepted. The county does not consider a fenced area to be a sufficient enclosure.

References

• Pinellas County, Florida: Animal Services - Animal Law/Codes