Did you know you know you could be fined:

• $50 for your dog peeing on the grass at a public park (Sec 14-59)
• $55 for your dog leash being longer than 6' even on private property with the property owner's permission (anywhere off your own premises) (Sec 14-55)
• $120 for your dog not being registered (warnings are against Animal Control Policy for this one) (Sec 14-52)

Each of these fines is just for the first offense and goes up from there!

Yes, this is preposterous but that is how vague and poorly written the Brevard County pet policies are.

Sec. 14-59 is the worst of them which states: "No animal shall be permitted or allowed to defecate or urinate upon any public property, or any private property, without permission of the property owner."

It would be impossible for anyone to walk their dog at a public park or on a public street and follow this law because there is no way to stop your dog from doing their business, in fact, that is why many people walk their dogs, to get them to potty.

Law enforcement does not enjoy enforcing these laws (They told me) but when citizens make complaints with proper evidence they have no choice. 

I have one neighbor who has two cameras in his front yard which he checks every night to see if a dog peed or pooped on his lawn or the strip of grass owned by the HOA in front of his house.

One day animal control showed up at my door and wrote me $225 in tickets because the neighbor complained that I was walking my dog with an extendable leash and my dog pooped on that strip of grass in front of his house which he apparently thinks he owns but belongs to the HOA. The video evidence he submitted showed that I cleaned it up immediately but I still received 3 tickets: One for my dog pooping on the HOA property, One for the leash being longer than 6', and a third for my dog not being registered.

I started talking with other dog owners I ran into on my walks and soon found that there were many victims of this tyrant in my community. This individual has taken advantage of the ambiguous wording in the Brevard County code and the prudent follow-up policy of the Sheriff's office to stroke their ego and wield power over the neighborhood.

We will not stand for this tyranny!

We declare that walking your dog is not a crime!

Join us in MAKING DOG WALKING GREAT AGAIN in Brevard County!

 

We hereby urge the County Commissioners to amend the county code with the following common sense dog policies

County Dog Poo/ Pee Policy

• Pets may potty on public property as long as the owner picks up the poop.
• Pet owners will not be ticketed for residue as long as a prudent effort is made to clean up the poop.
• Pet owners may be ticketed for their dog pottying on private property if the property owner has clear and obvious signs at either end of the property line, each corner, entrances, and no less than every 50’ in between signs to clearly warn the public that it is not allowed. The signs must state “Private Property” and "No Dog Pee or Poo" with reference to the county code number and fine amount at the bottom. The font must be at least 1” tall. The signs may not be cluttered with other words that distract and cause the warning to not stand out. The following template may be used or another sign meeting the criteria (Insert Template Here)

County Leash Policy

With permission of the property owner or lessee, dogs may be off-leash or on a leash longer than 6’ on private property. This includes private property open to the public such as a dog-friendly business or HOA property.

County Pet Licensing Policy

• Pet owners may have a pet registration ticket dismissed at no cost by mailing proof of registration to the court.
• Pets should only be required to be registered once