Animal Services
Miami-Dade County Animal Services provides pet adoption, lost-and-found assistance, animal protection, vaccination and sterilization services, licensing support, shelter records, and several public-safety programs involving domestic animals. This article explains which services are available, how to prepare before visiting an Animal Services location, which official systems to use, and how to avoid delays when adopting a pet, reclaiming an animal, reporting a problem, or requesting veterinary services.
Department Services and Responsibilities
The Miami-Dade County Animal Services Department operates the county shelter system and enforces animal-related requirements under Chapter 5 of the Miami-Dade County Code and Florida Statute 828. Its responsibilities include caring for abandoned animals, reuniting lost pets with their owners, investigating animal cruelty, enforcing rabies vaccination and licensing requirements, protecting residents from stray or dangerous dogs, and providing public education.
The department also offers pet adoption, foster and volunteer programs, low-cost vaccinations, spay and neuter surgery, microchipping, license tag services, Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Return services for community cats, and access to records involving animals that have entered county care. The official Miami-Dade County Animal Services website provides the central entry point for these programs.
Most public services are associated with the Pet Adoption and Protection Center in Doral. The Medley Shelter provides limited weekend adoption hours, while some sterilization services have also been associated with the Homestead Community Spay/Neuter Clinic. Service hours are not identical across adoption, lost-and-found, wellness, licensing, surrender, and sterilization programs. Residents should review the applicable service page rather than assuming that general shelter hours apply to every transaction.
Pet Adoption Process
Animal Services makes dogs and cats available for adoption through the Pet Adoption and Protection Center, the Medley Shelter, community adoption events, mobile adoption activities, and designated satellite locations. The Doral facility includes an adoption mall where visitors can view animals and meet available pets.
The county’s pet adoption service page should be reviewed before visiting because it explains the current adoption requirements, fees, hours, and locations. The main adoption mall is generally open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is closed on County-observed holidays. The Medley Shelter offers adoption hours on Saturday and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and is also closed on County holidays.
Searching for Available Pets
Prospective adopters may begin by searching for dogs or cats according to animal type, gender, age, and size. Search results identify animals currently associated with Miami-Dade Animal Services that match the selected criteria. An online listing may also include recently found animals that are being held to give their owners an opportunity to locate them, so appearing in a search does not always mean that an animal is immediately available for adoption.
Animal identification numbers used by the department begin with a capital letter “A.” The county recommends writing down the Animal ID numbers for at least three animals of interest before visiting. Having several choices is useful because adoptions are completed on a first-come, first-served basis, and availability may change before an adopter arrives.
Online searches are only the first part of the process. Virtual adoptions and virtual adoption holds are no longer available. The adopter must visit an adoption location in person to complete the transaction.
Documents and Supplies
An adopter must be at least 18 years old. On the day of adoption, applicants should bring the documents and animal transport supplies required for the type of pet they plan to adopt.
A driver license or another valid state-issued picture identification
Proof of the adopter’s current address
A utility bill, lease agreement, or mortgage statement when used as address documentation
A collar and leash for a dog or puppy
An appropriate pet carrier for a cat
Animal Services may require a signed spay or neuter agreement and a refundable deposit when an animal cannot be sterilized at the time of adoption. This may apply to animals that are too young, weigh less than three pounds, or have a health condition that prevents immediate surgery. The department schedules sterilization for a later date, and the deposit is refunded after the required proof of sterilization is provided.
Adoption Fees and Vetting
Dogs older than four months have a stated adoption fee of $65. Dogs younger than four months have a stated fee of $85. Cats and kittens have a stated adoption fee of $35, and the county’s adoption information states that two cats may be adopted for the same $35 fee.
Accepted payment methods for adoption fees include cash, credit card, debit card, money order, and cashier’s check. Services included with an adoption vary according to the pet’s age and medical eligibility but may include vaccinations, deworming, sterilization, microchipping, heartworm testing for animals over six months old, and a rabies license tag for qualifying Miami-Dade County residents.
An adoption is a permanent household commitment. If the animal is later returned, the return is treated as a pet surrender and ordinarily does not qualify for a refund. The county identifies limited circumstances in which a full refund may be issued within 30 days, including an undisclosed medical condition confirmed in writing by a certified veterinarian or the death of the animal within 30 days followed by return of the deceased animal to Animal Services.
Lost and Found Animals
Quick action is essential when a pet goes missing or a resident finds someone else’s animal. The county advises residents to file a report in person at the Pet Adoption and Protection Center as soon as possible. Animal Services employees can assist owners with searching the public and restricted areas of the facility as appropriate.
The department receives a large number of animals and may legally hold found dogs or cats for only a limited period before making them available for adoption. Dogs over six months old may be held from adoption for three days under County ordinance. Owners should not rely only on online postings or wait several days before visiting the shelter.
The official lost and found pets service explains reporting, shelter searches, reclaim requirements, found-animal responsibilities, and redemption fees.
Reporting a Found Pet
A person who finds a lost dog or cat must notify Miami-Dade County Animal Services and have the animal scanned for a microchip within 72 hours. The scan may be completed at the Pet Adoption and Protection Center or by a private veterinarian. Failure to notify the department may result in a civil penalty.
If a microchip identifies a registered owner, the finder must contact that owner within 24 hours. A finder may temporarily keep the animal at home while attempting to locate the owner, but the notification and microchip requirements still apply.
Before contacting Animal Services, gather as much identifying information as possible. Useful details include the location and time the animal was found, species, approximate size, color, sex, visible tags, markings, photographs, and the result of any microchip scan. Accurate information makes it easier to compare the animal with lost-pet reports.
Reclaiming a Sheltered Pet
Owners reclaiming an animal must pay the applicable redemption and daily boarding fees. They must also present the pet’s rabies certificate. If a valid rabies certificate is unavailable, the animal will not be released until the required rabies vaccination is obtained.
Redemption fees depend on the animal type, sterilization status, and whether the pet has been redeemed within the previous 12 months. Stated base fees range from $30 for a sterilized cat to $125 for a subsequent redemption of an unsterilized dog. Daily boarding charges are added. The stated boarding rate is $10 per day for dogs and $5 per day for cats.
Owners should bring identification, available veterinary records, the rabies certificate, license tag information, microchip details, and documents showing ownership. A photograph may help identify the animal but does not replace the release requirements.
License and Microchip Searches
The county’s license tag and microchip lookup can be used to search for identification information. Animal Services license numbers use a specific format: a capital letter, a two-digit year, a hyphen, and six digits. Valid letter prefixes include L for a one-year license, T for a three-year license, and U for a pending-license placeholder.
Microchip numbers may contain nine to 15 characters and can include letters and numbers. Entering an incomplete tag number, omitting the hyphen, or confusing an Animal ID with a license or microchip number can prevent a successful search. An Animal ID begins with “A” and refers to the department’s animal record, while a license tag or microchip identifies a registered pet.
Animal Status Records
Residents who know an animal’s county identification number may use the Animal Outcome Viewer. This system indicates whether an animal has been adopted, returned to its owner, transferred to a rescue organization, or remains in Animal Services care.
The viewer searches by Animal ID in the format of a capital “A” followed by seven digits. Only animals that have entered the care of Miami-Dade Animal Services appear in the system. A privately held found pet or an animal that has never been processed by the department will not appear. Animals without a recorded outcome may also have limited information.
Users should not substitute a name, license number, microchip number, pet citation number, or dangerous-dog registration number for the Animal ID. Each number belongs to a different process and database.
Spay and Neuter Services
Low-cost sterilization appointments are offered for dogs and cats belonging to Miami-Dade County residents. The county’s spay and neuter service page provides scheduling options and current clinic information. Appointments may be scheduled up to 14 days in advance, and a separate appointment is required for each animal.
Walk-in sterilization services are suspended until further notice. Appointments may be arranged online for the Doral clinic or by calling 311 or 305-468-5900. The Homestead Community Spay/Neuter Clinic is identified as temporarily closed in the reference information.
Surgery Eligibility
The pet owner must reside in Miami-Dade County. Services are limited to as many as four pets per address, with separate appointments for each pet. Animals must be at least three months old and weigh more than three pounds. The clinic veterinarian may decline to perform surgery because of an animal’s health.
For pets over four months old, proof of a current rabies vaccination must be presented at check-in. A rabies vaccine may be administered on the day of surgery for a stated fee. Microchips and protective cones may also be available.
Day-of-Surgery Preparation
Animals scheduled at the Doral clinic must arrive by 7 a.m. Pets must not receive food or water after 9 p.m. on the night before surgery. Dogs must arrive on leashes, and each cat must be presented in an individual carrier. Multiple cats in one carrier are not accepted because they do not have a safe postoperative environment.
Payment is due at morning drop-off. The stated cost is $80 per dog and $30 per cat. Accepted forms of payment include cash, MasterCard, Visa, qualifying checks from a local financial institution presented with government-issued photo identification, and ATM check cards displaying a Visa or MasterCard logo. American Express is not accepted.
The check-in process may take 30 to 60 minutes. Pickup information is provided when the pet is dropped off. Pet owners should follow the postoperative instructions supplied by the clinic, restrict running and rough play for one week, monitor the incision, and seek veterinary attention for continued bleeding, vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, discharge, foul odor, or significant swelling.
Vaccinations and Wellness Care
Animal Services provides low-cost rabies vaccinations and well-care vaccine packages for dogs and cats. County vaccination services are described on the official pet vaccination page. The Wellness Clinic accepts walk-ins for vaccination services, while appointments are required for sterilization.
Dogs and cats must be four months old for the stated adult vaccination packages. Packages may include rabies, Bordetella, DHPP, FVRCP, microchipping, and sterilization, depending on the selected option. Individual vaccines and microchips are also available.
Rabies and License Rules
Rabies vaccinations are legally required for dogs, cats, and ferrets over four months old. A pet’s first rabies vaccine provides protection for one year. A dog license tag cannot be purchased or renewed without proof of a current rabies vaccination, although a dog with an approved medical exemption must still maintain the required license tag.
Pet owners receive a 30-day grace period after the expiration of a license and rabies vaccination. Failure to renew within that period may result in a civil violation notice.
A medical exemption from rabies vaccination may be granted for up to one year. A written notice signed by a licensed veterinarian must be submitted within 30 days after the vaccine expiration date. For continuing health conditions, a new exemption request must be submitted annually.
Medical and Vaccine Records
Customers of the Animal Services Wellness Clinic may request pet medical and vaccination records online, by email, by calling 311, or in person. Records involving privately owned pets may be released or discussed only with the client who owns the pet. Customer service staff require photo identification to confirm ownership.
License tag and microchip records can help confirm rabies-related information, but they do not necessarily replace the complete medical record maintained by the Wellness Clinic.
Reporting Animal Problems
Miami-Dade County accepts reports involving animal bites, suspected cruelty, nuisance conditions, dead or injured animals, lost and found pets, illegal roadside animal sales, free-roaming dogs, and complaints involving breeders, pet stores, kennels, or groomers. The animal problem reporting page directs residents to the correct reporting method.
Emergencies and Cruelty
Call 911 when an animal bite causes a severe injury or when active animal cruelty is occurring. Medical care should be obtained before completing a non-emergency bite report. Non-emergency cruelty concerns and other animal-related code violations may be reported through 311.
Animal cruelty includes depriving an animal of food, water, shelter, or veterinary care. Leaving a pet in a parked vehicle is also treated as animal cruelty. Reports should include the exact location, date and time, description of the animal, description of the person involved when known, vehicle information when relevant, photographs or video when safely available, and a clear description of what occurred.
Bites and Rabies Exposure
Animal bites should be reported to Animal Services after urgent medical needs have been addressed. Bite cases should also be referred to the Florida Department of Health in Miami-Dade County. The county publishes an animal bite and potential rabies exposure dashboard based on submitted bite reports, but the dashboard is not currently available on mobile devices.
Strays and Injured Animals
Residents may report free-roaming dogs, request pickup of a dead animal, or report an injured animal. Injured-animal pickups receive priority. Stray cats may be brought into the Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Return program rather than being handled in the same manner as roaming dogs.
Dangerous Dog Registration
An owner whose dog has been declared dangerous must register the animal with Animal Services within 14 days of the declaration. A dog declared dangerous in another county or state must also be registered after moving into Miami-Dade County, and the owner must provide the supporting documentation.
The annual dangerous-dog registration fee is $125. Before registration, the owner must provide proof of a current rabies vaccination, a current Miami-Dade County tag, a registered microchip, and sterilization. The owner must also submit photographs of the enclosure where the dog will be housed and photographs of warning signs placed at all entrances to the property.
Office Visits and Service Hours
The Pet Adoption and Protection Center operates multiple service areas with different schedules. According to the county’s Animal Services contact page, general shelter and adoption mall hours are Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The Wellness Clinic hours are Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Walk-ins are accepted for wellness services, but sterilization requires an appointment. Lost-and-found service hours are stated separately as Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and weekends from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Licensing and Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Return service hours also differ from general shelter hours.
All locations are closed on County holidays unless a service page expressly states otherwise. Residents should verify the schedule for the exact service they need, particularly when visiting for surrender, licensing, lost-and-found assistance, vaccination, sterilization, or adoption at the Medley Shelter.
Common Errors to Avoid
Many delays occur because residents arrive without the correct identification, records, appointment, or animal reference number. Before contacting or visiting Animal Services, determine which transaction applies and prepare the information connected to that transaction.
Do not confuse an Animal ID beginning with “A” with a license tag or microchip number.
Do not assume an animal shown online is still available for adoption.
Do not attempt to complete an adoption or adoption hold virtually.
Do not visit for spay or neuter surgery without an appointment.
Do not bring multiple cats in one carrier for sterilization.
Do not feed or give water to a pet after 9 p.m. before a scheduled surgery.
Do not delay reporting a lost pet because shelter holding periods may be brief.
Do not keep a found dog or cat without notifying Animal Services and arranging a microchip scan within 72 hours.
Do not arrive to reclaim a pet without its rabies certificate and ownership information.
Do not assume general shelter hours apply to every clinic or service counter.
Animal Services Offices
Miami-Dade County Animal Services Department
3599 NW 79 Avenue, Doral, FL 33122
311 or 305-468-5900
Pet Adoption and Protection Center
3599 NW 79 Avenue, Doral, FL 33122
311 or 305-468-5900
Medley Shelter
7401 NW 74 Street, Medley, FL 33166
311 or 305-468-5900
Homestead Community Spay/Neuter Clinic
1034 NE 8th Street, Homestead, FL 33030
311
Animal Services FAQs
How do I adopt a shelter pet?
Begin by reviewing the County’s pet adoption requirements. Online listings can help you identify possible matches, but adoptions and adoption holds must be completed in person and are handled on a first-come, first-served basis. Applicants must be at least 18 and should bring valid photo identification, proof of their current address, and suitable transportation equipment, such as a leash for a dog or a carrier for a cat. Adopted pets generally receive vaccinations, a microchip, and sterilization services.
What should I do after losing a pet?
Act quickly because found dogs and cats may be held for only a limited period before becoming eligible for adoption. File a report through the County’s lost and found pet service, visit the shelter in person, and check available animals regularly. Bring photographs, the pet’s license or microchip number, and details about where and when the animal disappeared.
How do I report a found dog or cat?
A person who finds a dog or cat must notify Miami-Dade County Animal Services and arrange for a microchip scan within 72 hours. The scan may be completed through Animal Services or a veterinary provider. If registered owner information is found, the finder must contact that owner promptly. The animal may remain temporarily in the finder’s home while reasonable efforts are made to locate its family.
Which animal problems can be reported?
The County accepts reports involving animal cruelty, bites, injured or dead animals, roaming dogs, illegal roadside pet sales, nuisance animals, and concerns involving breeders, kennels, groomers, or pet stores. Use the official animal problem reporting guidance to select the correct complaint type. Active cruelty or a life-threatening injury should be treated as an emergency.
Do spay, neuter, and vaccine services require appointments?
Low-cost sterilization procedures require separate appointments for each pet, while many vaccination services are offered on a walk-in basis. Review the official spay and neuter instructions before the surgery date. Eligibility rules may include County residency, minimum age and weight requirements, fasting instructions, and proof of a current rabies vaccination.