Chapter 6.24
SPAY AND NEUTER PROGRAM
Sections:
6.24.040 Amount of reimbursement.
6.24.050 Requirements for dogs--Deposit.
6.24.060 Dogs--Failure to spay or neuter--Forfeit of deposit.
6.24.070 Requirements for cats--Deposit.
6.24.080 Cats--Failure to spay or neuter--Forfeit of deposit.
6.24.010 Established.
There is established in the city a spay and neuter program to help control the population of unwanted dogs. (Ord. 682 §3(part), 1988)
6.24.020 Eligibility.
Only dogs which are licensed in the city owned by permanent residents of Lakeport shall be eligible to participate in the program established by this chapter. (Ord. 682 §3(part), 1988)
6.24.030 Purpose of program.
Any owner of a dog eligible under Section 6.24.020 of this chapter, may receive a partial reimbursement for the owner’s costs of a spay or neuter surgical operation if such owner provides the animal control director, within thirty days, of the qualifying spay or neuter surgical operation, a certificate of spay or neuter and a copy of the receipt of the veterinarian charges for the spay or neuter operation. (Ord. 682 §3(part), 1988)
6.24.040 Amount of reimbursement.
Any owner of a dog eligible under Section 6.24.020 of this chapter who has fulfilled the requirements of Section 6.24.030 of this chapter shall receive a reimbursement in the amount of one-half of the actual spay or neuter surgical fee charged by the veterinarian, however, in no case shall any reimbursement exceed sixty dollars. The reimbursement shall be limited to surgical fees only and shall not include other fees or supplies. (Ord. 682 §3(part), 1988)
6.24.050 Requirements for dogs--Deposit.
A. No public pound, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals’ shelter, or humane shelter shall sell or give away any dog that has not been spayed or neutered, unless a deposit for spaying or neutering the dog has been tendered to the pound or shelter.
B. The deposit shall be in the amount determined by the pound or shelter to be comparable to the lowest fee charged by veterinarians in the locale, but shall not exceed forty dollars for female dogs or thirty dollars for male dogs.
C. The pound or shelter shall return the deposit to the person purchasing or receiving the dog upon presentation of a written statement or receipt from the veterinarian or clinic that the dog has been spayed or neutered.
D. The deposit may also include an amount necessary to recover any additional costs under this chapter. (Ord. 682 §3(part), 1988)
6.24.060 Dogs--Failure to spay or neuter--Forfeit of deposit.
A. Any dog over six months of age at the time it is sold or given away by the pound or shelter shall be spayed or neutered within thirty days, or the deposit shall be deemed unclaimed.
B. Any dog six months of age or younger at the time it is sold or given away by the pound or shelter shall be spayed or neutered within thirty days after reaching the age of eight months, or the deposit shall be deemed unclaimed.
C. Any deposit not claimed under Section 6.24.050 of this chapter shall be deposited in the animal control director’s trust fund. (Ord. 682 §3(part), 1988)
6.24.070 Requirements for cats--Deposit.
A. No public pound, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals’ shelter, or humane shelter shall sell or give away any cat that has not been spayed or neutered, unless a deposit for spaying or neutering the cat has been tendered to the pound or shelter.
B. The deposit shall be in the amount determined by the pound or shelter to be comparable to the lowest fee charged by veterinarians in the locale, but shall not exceed twenty-five dollars for female cats or fifteen dollars for male cats.
C. The pound or shelter shall return the deposit to the person purchasing or receiving the cat upon presentation of a written statement or receipt from the veterinarian or clinic that the cat has been spayed or neutered.
D. The deposit may also include the amount necessary to recover any additional costs under this chapter. (Ord. 682 §3(part), 1988)
6.24.080 Cats--Failure to spay or neuter--Forfeit of deposit.
A. All cats over six months of age at the time they are sold or given away by the pound or shelter shall be spayed or neutered within thirty days, or the deposit shall be deemed unclaimed.
B. All cats six months of age or younger at the time they are sold or given away by the pound or shelter shall be spayed or neutered within thirty days after reaching the age of six months, or the deposit shall be deemed unclaimed.
C. Any deposits not claimed under Section 6.24.070 of this chapter shall be deposited in the animal control director’s trust fund. (Ord. 682 §3(part), 1988)
6.24.090 Restrictions.
No person shall own, harbor, or keep within the city of Lakeport, a dog or cat over the age of four months, which has not been spayed or neutered unless the dog or cat is exempted from the provisions of this section pursuant to Section 6.24.110 of this chapter. (Ord. 848 §1(part), 2005)
6.24.100 Compliance required.
Any person intentionally providing care or sustenance for a dog or cat shall be deemed the owner of such dog or cat and shall comply with Chapter 6.24 of this title. (Ord. 848 §1(part), 2005)
6.24.110 Exemptions.
The following animals are exempt from the provisions of Section 6.24.090 of this chapter:
A. Dogs documented as having been appropriately trained and actually being used by public law enforcement agencies for law enforcement activities, or such dogs designated as breeding stock by an appropriate agency or organization approved by the director of animal care and control after consultation with knowledgeable professionals;
B. Dogs having been appropriately trained and actually being used as a service dog, such as a guide dog, hearing dog, assistance dog, seizure alert dog, or social/therapy dog, or such dogs designated as breeding stock by an appropriate agency or organization approved by the director of animal care and control after consultation with knowledgeable professionals;
C. Dogs documented as having been appropriately trained and actually being used by search and rescue agencies for search and rescue activities, or such dogs designated as breeding stock by an appropriate agency or organization approved by the director of animal care and control after consultation with knowledgeable professionals;
D. Dogs or cats certified by a licensed veterinarian as having a health reason for not being spayed/neutered;
E. Dogs which are appropriately trained and actually being used for herding of other animals, or as livestock guardian dogs, hunting dogs, or such dogs designated as breeding stock by an appropriate agency or organization approved by the director of animal care and control after consultation with knowledgeable professionals;
F. Dogs or cats boarded in a licensed kennel or a business, which boards such animals for professional training or resale;
G. Dogs or cats which are registered with the American Kennel Club, the Cat Fancier Association or other recognized registry or trained or kept for the purpose of show, field trials or agility trials. (Ord. 848 §1(part), 2005)