Lieutenant Wes Starling
(772) 220-7078
wstarlin@sheriff.martin.fl.us

Animal Control Supervisor:
Karen Kneubehl
(772) 221-1422
kkneubeh@sheriff.martin.fl.us

Animal Control
(772) 463-3211

The Sheriff’s Office Animal Control Unit is responsible for the enforcement of County Ordinances and State Statutes which relate to animals for the entire county area, to include the City of Stuart. This responsibility falls on Supervisor Karen Kneubehl, Animal Control Officers Michelle Thooney, Jason Pickering, Kimberly Mann, Zack Mihalik and dispatcher Rebecka Proscia.

Animal Control Officer Karen Kneubehl traps stray dog at local playground

These duties range from; picking up sick or injured animals, both wild and domestic, investigating cruelty or improper care complaints, animal bites, rabies control, the investigation of animal nuisance complaints and picking up stray animals. With more than 30,000 registered pets in Martin County the education of those pet owners on responsible pet ownership is a primary mission of the unit, along with public health and safety.

The Animal Control Unit works closely with the Humane Society of the Treasure Coast, which is the holding facility for all animals impounded by the unit, as well as strays brought in by the public and will take all lost and found pet information over the phone. The Humane Society of the Treasure Coast handles all adoptions and local spay and neuter programs. The Spay and Neuter “Animobile” may be contacted at 772-528-6166.

Jordan Grose, Karen Kneubehl, Dawn Hicks, Kimberly Mann, Michele Thonney

All All sick or injured wildlife impounded by the unit will be taken to the Treasure Coast Wildlife Hospital for rehabilitation and possible release back into the wild. All wildlife nuisance complaints will be referred to a licensed trapper. An excellent source of information concerning wildlife is the Florida Wildlife Commission website. The Animal Control Unit will not respond to nuisance wildlife complaints.



Animal licensing fees are collected by the Martin County Tax Collector’s Office. The current registration fee for an un-sterilized animal without a microchip is $75.00 annually, a sterilized animal without a microchip is $20.00 annually and a sterilized animal with a microchip is $10.00 annually. Please note you must supply a copy of the animals Rabies Vaccination to obtain a license. “Dangerous Dog” registration is $50.00 annually.

The County Pet Licensing Program
can be found at http://taxcol.martin.fl.us/pet_license.asp.

The Martin County Board of County Commissioners has adopted a local ordinance that governs the fines applicable with regards to animal violations. A copy of this ordinance can be accessed through the following link: http://webserver.martin.fl.us/GOVT/depts/leg/ords/ord.628.pdf