10.04.205 Impounded dogs and cats adoption--Spay/neuter requirements.
A. All impounded dogs and cats which are not reclaimed by their owners/guardians and that have been held for the required holding period may be adopted by private citizens. Except as provided in this section, all dogs and cats that are adopted from the animal shelter must be spayed or neutered at the expense of the person(s) adopting them prior to the transfer of ownership/guardianship.
B. The City’s Animal Shelter may transfer an unaltered dog or cat, if a licensed veterinarian certifies that the animal is either (1) permanently non-fertile, or (2) should not be spayed or neutered for health reasons. In the latter circumstance only, the following spay/neuter deposit requirement applies prior to the transfer of ownership/guardianship being finalized:
1. The new owner/guardian must pay a temporary spay/neuter deposit fee at the animal shelter.
2. Once a veterinarian certifies that the animal is healthy enough to be spayed or neutered, the animal must undergo the procedure within 14 days. The new owner/guardian shall thereupon obtain written documentation from the veterinarian that the animal has been spayed or neutered. The new owner/guardian is entitled to a full refund of the spay/neuter deposit, if the new owner/guardian presents written documentation to the animal shelter within 30 days of the date of the procedure confirming that the animal was spayed or neutered. The deposit shall be retained by the City if the new owner/guardian fails to present timely proof that the animal has been spayed or neutered.
3. The animal shelter may waive the spay/neuter deposit for transfers to other public animal control agencies or shelters, societies for the prevention of cruelty to animals, humane society shelters, rescue groups, or veterinarians. (Ord. 6627-NS § 1, 2001: Ord. 6568-NS § 1, 2000: Ord. 5691-NS § 1, 1985)