Given the increasing population densities, both human and animal, in our state, injuries to animals will continue to be a problem. Animal control and protection agencies may be asked to provide injured animal rescues.

The Florida Animal Control Association believes that injured animal rescues legitimately fall within the range of animal control and protection activities, but these should be undertaken in cooperation with any other local organizations capable of providing similar services.

All reasonable efforts should be made to contact the owner of the injured animals to determine a course of action and financial liability. The disposition of unidentified animals should be left to the discretion of the officer or supervisor involved with the rescue, as outlined by FL Statutes, Chapter 828.05, but in no case should the animal be allowed to suffer. FACA believes that individual animal control and protection agencies should anticipate injured, sick, and stray animal care and include the cost of such efforts in their budgets.