Instructions
Build housing for the dogs. In Florida, you have to provide each dog with a separate covered shelter to protect them from rain and give them shade. Additionally, each dog has to have a separate labeled food and water dish. Because of this, building individual pens or kennels is the best option. You will also have to get at least $1,000,000 worth of liability insurance regardless of the number of dogs you plan to house.
Call the Florida Department of Health at (850) 245-4444 to inspect your property. You need a permit from them before you can house any dogs. They will inspect the property every six months, so you have to keep the property in good shape as these inspections are surprise inspections.
Plan for hurricanes. You need to have an evacuation plan in place for the dogs in case a hurricane warning is issued for your area. This is required by Florida state law. Consider contacting rescues or kennels in other states to get commitments from them to care for a certain number of dogs during a natural disaster.
Find veterinarians in your area to care for the dogs. Some of the rescue dogs will be in bad shape due to neglect, abuse and/or dog fighting. These dogs will need immediate care. If you live near a university that has a veterinarian program, contact them as they will usually provide free care for rescue centers.
Accept donations of time, money and supplies. You will make some money from adoption fees but you will need people to help you care for the dogs and you will need collars, food, dishes and other supplies for the dogs. If you are a non-profit rescue, you can contact the municipal court in your area to find out if people can serve their court-ordered community service at your rescue.
Take in dogs, have them spayed or neutered, test their temperament and adopt them to responsible pet owners. Florida law stipulates that all dogs adopted from rescues or shelters must be neutered.
How to Start a Pit Bull Rescue in Florida
Opening a Pit Bull rescue center in Florida requires careful planning, research and a lot of hard work. Many Florida municipalities have Breed Specific Legislation pending or enacted. Miami-Dade county, for example, has completely outlawed Bully breed dogs within the county. Because of BSL, you should contact local legislators to ensure that the area you have chosen for your rescue isn't affected by any of these laws.