Eastpointe, Michigan

Sec. 8-18. – Requirement to spay and neuter.

(a) Requirement. No person may own, keep, or harbor more than one nonspayed female dog and one nonneutered male dog. An owner or custodian of two unaltered dogs of the opposite sex shall be required to have at least one of the owned, kept, or harbored dogs spayed or neutered by the age of one year.

(b) Exceptions. The provisions of this section shall not apply to:

(1) A dog with a high likelihood of suffering serious bodily harm or death if spayed or neutered due to age or infirmity as verified by a licensed veterinarian.

(2) A dog that can be safely spayed or neutered at a later date as verified by a licensed veterinarian provided said later date is confirmed in writing.

(3) An owner registered by the state of Michigan as a licensed kennel/breeder.

(4) Any dog with a minimum of one year show experience with provided documentation.

(c) Impounding of dog. At the discretion of the animal control officer, a nonspayed or nonneutered dog may be impounded but released to the owner or custodian upon their signing of a statement attesting, under penalty of perjury, that the nonspayed dog or nonneutered dog shall be spayed or neutered within ten days of release or is otherwise incapable of breeding. Compliance with the requirements of this subsection shall be verified in writing by a licensed veterinarian.

(d) Violations; penalty. Upon violation of this section, the owner or custodian shall be guilty of a misdemeanor which, upon conviction, shall be punished by a fine not to exceed $500.00 or imprisonment for a term not to exceed 93 days in jail, or both, and the court may order a dog to be spayed or neutered in accordance with this section.

Sec. 8-36. – License—Required; kennel defined.

(a) The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this article, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this subsection, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:

Kennel means premises in a properly zoned district where more than two dogs and/or cats over six months of age are habitually kept or harbored primarily for the purpose of grooming, boarding, breeding or other commercial or similar purpose.

(b) No person shall own or operate any kennel in the city without first obtaining a license therefor.

Sec. 8-37. – Same—Application.

Any person who keeps or operates a kennel shall make application to the city clerk for a kennel license entitling the applicant to keep or operate a kennel. Such application shall set forth the name and residence of the applicant and the number of dogs sought to be kept thereunder. Such application shall also state the purpose for which such kennel is to be maintained and such other information as may be requested by the city clerk.

Sec. 8-38. – Same—Fee.

A kennel license applicant shall pay to the director of finance a license fee in an amount as adopted by the city council from time to time.