Shelter Locations
Pet friendly shelter locations will be identified by local emergency management officials in response to the incident at hand and will be relayed to the public through known information thoroughfares such as TV, Radio, JaxReady.com, and social media.
Species Allowed
The following animal species will be accepted into the shelters:
- Dogs
- Cats
- Rodents (such as hamsters, gerbils, etc.)
- Birds
- Rabbits
Please note that NO REPTILES WILL BE ALLOWED IN THE SHELTERS.
Service Animals
Please note that service animals will be allowed at any shelter location in Duval County.
How is a "Service Animal" defined?
Service animals are defined as dogs that are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities. Examples of such work or tasks include guiding people who are blind, alerting people who are deaf, pulling a wheelchair, alerting and protecting a person who is having a seizure, reminding a person with mental illness to take prescribed medications, calming a person with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) during an anxiety attack, or performing other duties. Service animals are working animals, not pets. The work or task a dog has been trained to provide must be directly related to the person’s disability.
Dogs whose sole function is to provide comfort or emotional support do not qualify as service animals under the ADA. This definition does not affect or limit the broader definition of “assistance animal” under the Fair Housing Act or the broader definition of “service animal” under the Air Carrier Access Act. Some State and local laws also define service animal more broadly than the ADA does. Information about such laws can be obtained from the State attorney general’s office. (Source: U.S. Department of Justice)
A link containing more information on service animals can be found here.
Pet Requirements
All pets must have proof of vaccination and registration, be properly crated or caged and be maintained by their owners. Animals may be housed in a separate room from their owners. Click here to learn more about licensing your pet.
Supplies
Owners should provide all necessary supplies to maintain their pet. The items to include in a pet emergency kit are listed on the Emergency Kit for Pets page.
Transportation
Service animals are the only animals allowed on public transportation. Make sure you plan ahead to get your pet safely to a shelter.
More Information
Call 630-CITY (2489) to get more information.
This program is a coordinated project involving City of Jacksonville - Animal Care Protective Services, Duval County Emergency Management, the Duval County Health Department, the Duval County Public Schools and the Northeast Florida Chapter of the American Red Cross.