Editing Openai/6961487e-3e10-8004-be8e-c1139b64e3eb (section)

===== 📜 Florida State Law on Stray Dogs & Cats =====

Florida Statute § 823.151 authorizes counties to establish minimum stray hold periods for lost or stray dogs and cats to allow owners an opportunity to reclaim their animals. It also requires:
* Screening for identification (tags, licenses, microchips)
* Public notice of lost/stray animals received within 48 hours
* Reasonable attempts to notify identified owners
* Access for owners to retrieve animals during and after hours at least once per week during the hold period Florida.Public.Law<ref>{{cite web|title=Florida.Public.Law|url=https://florida.public.law/statutes/fla._stat._823.151|publisher=florida.public.law|access-date=2026-01-10}}</ref>

This state statute provides the baseline standards for stray holds, and local ordinances like Escambia’s can specify the exact hold duration.