Fort Dodge, Iowa

6.02.135 – Breeder.

“Breeder” means any person eighteen years of age or older, owning, keeping, harboring, or in control of one or more animals which have not been spayed or neutered. This definition applies regardless of actions to sell, adopt out, or permanently place off-spring.

6.14.030 – Disposition of animals not reclaimed.

(d) Adoption. A person seeking to adopt an animal shall:

(1) Pay an adoption fee in the amounts to cover the costs of boarding the animal from the time it was delivered to the shelter to the time of adoption, city license fee, vaccinations as required by this chapter and surgical sterilization.

(2) If an animal is too young to submit to vaccinations or to surgical sterilization, the person shall agree in writing to surgical sterilization of the adopted animal within a designated time period. Upon submission of written proof of compliance from a veterinarian, the amount set in the schedule of fees adopted by the city council by resolution shall be refunded to the person adopting the animal. The animal control officer or his or her designee shall be authorized to seize and impound the animal for the purpose of administering vaccinations and surgical sterilization as necessary.

6.24.120 – Breeding permit.

(a) No kennel, breeder, or pet store shall cause or allow any dog, cat or ferret owned or harbored to breed without first obtaining a breeding permit. The city clerk shall administer a permit program to allow the breeding of dogs, cats, or ferrets consistent with the criteria and according to procedures contained in this chapter and all other standards of care governing such activities.

(b) Each applicant who is issued a permit to breed dogs, cats or ferrets under this section shall pay a breeding permit fee as set in the schedule of fees adopted by the city council by resolution.

(c) Breeding permits shall be valid for twelve months, renewable on an annual basis. All breeding permits shall contain the following terms and conditions and be subject to all the following requirements:

(1) Applications must include the street address and nature of the premises (e.g., residential house/unit/rural) where the animal is kept and address where the animal will be bred if located at a different premise.

(2) A signed copy of veterinary surgeon’s certificate confirming the breeding animal has been vaccinated.

(3) Written approval by a veterinary surgeon that the animal has been examined by the veterinary surgeon, and the veterinary surgeon reasonably considers the animal to be ready for breeding.

(4) Microchip number (PPID number) is required to breed animals OR signed veterinary surgeon’s certificate for the breeding animal stating that implanting it with a PPID is likely to be a serious risk to the health of the breeding animal.

(5) No offspring may be sold or adopted and permanently placed until reaching an age of at least eight weeks and having received age-appropriate health testing.

(6) No offspring may be sold or adopted until they have begun a course of disease prevention and immunization against common diseases under the direction of a licensed veterinarian.

(7) Any permit holder advertising to the public the availability of any animal for adoption or sale must prominently display the permit numbers in any publications in which they advertise. Further, the permit number must be provided to any person adopting or purchasing an animal bred by the permit holder.

(8) The breeding permit holder shall adhere to minimum standards regarding the care and keeping of animals and all other standards of care governing such activities.

(A) The land on which the breeding will be undertaken is suitable for the keeping of the animal(s).

(B) The enclosure in which the animal(s) are to be kept is structurally safe and suitable.

(C) The animal(s) will not be likely to cause any undue nuisance, inconvenience, or annoyance to the occupiers of adjoining land.

(D) The animal(s) will not have a significant detrimental effect on the amenity of the surrounding area.

(E) The animal(s) will not have a significant detrimental effect on the local environment or cause pollution or other environmental damage.