Tallahassee-Leon County Animal Services Center

The Tallahassee-Leon County Animal Services Center is an animal shelter located in Tallahassee, Florida, USA and is operated by the city of Tallahassee's Department of Neighborhood and Community Services.

Kennel
The Tallahassee-Leon County Animal Services Center maintains a clean, air conditioned kennel with 300 kennel spaces which hold 400 animals. The center is targeting a goal of zero euthanasia of adoptable pets through adoption, transfer to animal rescue organizations, and spaying and neutering.

Surgical
On February 28, 2007 TLCASC became one of only a few animal shelters across the United States with a fully equipped, best-in-class surgical suite including diagnostic imaging capabilities and veterinarians on staff. This surgical suite helps shorten the time period for adoption.

The shelter also has established the Veterinary Volunteer Program which is directed at established and retired veterinarians, individuals with medical or veterinary experience, and those with an interest in a career in veterinary medicine who wish to donate time helping with surgeries. Primary duties of volunteer vets are Surgical instruments sterilization and preparation, laundering the surgical linens, assisting with patient preparation for and recovery from surgery and assisting with animal exams, diagnostics and treatments.

Adoption outreach
Various events around Leon County bring the adoption options directly to possible new owners. Foster animals are showcased at local Petsmarts, Petcos and the Pet Supermarket on specific dates. On Saturdays from 8:00am - 2:00pm, March through November, pets can be seen at Tallahassee's Downtown Marketplace at Tallahassee's Ponce De Leon Park at Park Avenue and Monroe Street.

Adoptions
TLCASC has a stringent and thorough process for adoption of animals through a signed legal contract:
 * Persons must be a Leon County resident.
 * Persons must own their residence.
 * Persons must interviewed for disclosure of their history of pet ownership.
 * Persons must be 18 years of age or older.
 * Pet must have a secure environment.
 * Type I: Animal will be confined inside of adopting individual or family's apartment or house and exercised daily and abide by leash laws.
 * Type II: Animal shall have 1 acre or more with distant neighbors and low exposure to street traffic and be able to provide an environment where an adopted dog is only secured to a stationary object for short periods off time under adult supervision. The animal is preferred to be kept inside as a family member.
 * Type III: Animal will have a fenced in yard or enclosure measuring 100 square feet or more with a length or width in excess of 6 feet. An enclosure hight of of less than 5 feet is permitted according to breed.
 * All animals are required to be spayed or neutered
 * Adopting individuals or families must allow visitation from TLCASC
 * Adopting individuals or families must pay $50.00 to help cover costs for heartworm tests, feline leukemia/aids tests, first vaccinations, deworming.
 * All animals are required to have a microchip implant for identification
 * TLCASC can remove an animal at any time for violations of the signed contract.
 * Adoptees cannot sell or give the animal away. TLCASC must be contacted and the contract transferred to a new owner.
 * TLCASC must be notified if adopting individuals or persons relocate to a new address, pet becomes lost, stolen, or dies before spay/neutering was performed; surgery must be delayed for medical reasons or for any reason adopting person or persons cannot obtain treatment for the pet.

Foster parenting
Some shelter animals are kept at a number of foster homes where local residents care for them. These include:
 * Infant dogs and cats less than eight weeks old, kittens less than 2 pounds, and animals from other species that are unable to nourish themselves.
 * Medically-not-adoptable animals include those that are ill and need skilled medical treatment or prolonged and in-home care until their medical problem is solved. This also includes animals for whom time and space at the shelter have come to an end.