Columbia, Missouri

Sec. 5-5. – Redemption; microchipping; neutering; payment of fees; disposition of unredeemed animals.

(a) The owner of any animal impounded for running at large that is not a dangerous exotic animal or a dangerous or aggressive animal may redeem the animal upon proof of ownership satisfactory to the animal control officer and upon paying a boarding fee of twenty dollars ($20.00) for each day or part of day the animal has been impounded and an impoundment fee of thirty-five dollars ($35.00) for each impoundment. If the animal is a domestic dog or cat that has not been implanted with a readable identifying microchip, the animal shall be implanted with an identifying microchip before being released. The owner shall pay a microchip implantation fee of fifteen dollars ($15.00) plus the cost of the microchip before the dog or cat is released. If the animal has previously been implanted with a microchip, the owner shall notify the department and any applicable national registry of any change in address or telephone number. Intact dogs and cats impounded for the third time shall be spayed or neutered before being released, with the following exceptions:

(1) Dogs being used by law enforcement agencies for law enforcement activities or such dogs designated as breeding stock by an appropriate agency or organization approved by the director;

(2) Dogs that have been appropriately trained and are being used as service dogs 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;

(3) Dogs that have been appropriately trained and are 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;

(4) Dogs or cats certified by a licensed veterinarian as having a health reason for not being spayed or neutered;

(5) Dogs that have been appropriately trained and are being used for herding of other animals or as livestock guardian dogs, or such dogs designated as breeding stock by an appropriate agency or organization approved by the director;

(6) Dogs or cats boarded in a licensed kennel or licensed business which boards such animals for professional training or resale.

The owner shall pay a spay or neuter fee of one hundred dollars ($100.00) before the dog or cat is released.

Section 5-63 Licensing of domestic dogs and cats–Required.

No person shall own, keep, harbor or permit to be or remain on or about his premises any dog or cat over three (3) months of age which has not been licensed.

Section 5-65 Same–License fee levied.

(a) There is hereby levied for each domestic cat or dog between the ages of three (3) months and twelve (12) months, and for each neutered domestic cat or dog of any age kept, harbored or owned within the city a license fee of five dollars ($ 5.00 ) for any period of time not to exceed one year; and ten dollars ($ 10.00 ) for any period greater than one year, but not exceeding two (2) years; and fifteen dollars ($ 15.00 ) for any period greater than two (2) years but not exceeding three (3) years. “Neutered” shall include both male and female animals irreversibly rendered incapable of reproduction by surgical or chemical procedure when such is verified in writing by the animal owner.

(b) There is hereby levied for each intact domestic cat or dog over the age of twelve (12) months kept, harbored or owned within the city a license fee of fifteen dollars ($ 15.00 ) for any period of time not to exceed one year; and thirty dollars ($ 30.00 ) for any period greater than one year, but not exceeding two (2) years; and forty-five dollars ($ 45.00 ) for any period greater than two (2) years but not exceeding three (3) years. “Intact” shall include all dogs or cats not certified in writing by the owner to have been irreversibly chemically or surgically rendered incapable of reproduction.