The mission of Animal Care and Adoption is to provide shelter for lost and surrendered animals and promote successful adoptions that enhance the lives of companion animals and their humans.

Primary responsibilities are to:

• Provide shelter and care to stray, surrendered and impounded dogs and cats
• Coordinate the return of found animals to their owners
• Operate two adoption centers to facilitate placement of stray, surrendered and impounded animals in good and loving homes
• Offer programs and services that promote responsible pet ownership, including rabies vaccination and pet licensing clinics, and sterilization programs such as SPOT (Stop Pet Overpopulation Together)
• Conduct community outreach and education that promotes agency programs and services
• Enforce Broward County and State of Florida Animal Care ordinances and regulatory requirements

Broward County Animal Care and Adoption is a section under Broward County’s Permitting, Licensing and Consumer Protection Division, and part of the Environmental Protection & Growth Management Department.

An Animal Care Advisory Committee was created by the Board of County Commissioners in November 2008, to assist in developing public policies on animal issues, goal setting and long-range planning. Committee membership is a cross-section of individuals concerned with domestic animal issues, including a veterinarian, a representative from the Broward County Health Department, and representatives from community and non-profit groups including animal welfare organizations, rescue groups, law enforcement and animal regulatory agencies, animal behaviorists and a representative of a pet retail establishment.

Fundamental to the agency’s success are the many animal advocates and animal groups who generously donate their money and their time to provide a better life for the homeless dogs and cats in our community.