Taylor, Michigan

Sec. 6-181. – Adoption of dogs, cats and ferrets.

(b) Adoption contracts.

(1) Except as otherwise provided in this section, an animal control shelter or animal protection shelter shall not permit a person to adopt a dog, cat or ferret that has not been altered, unless that person has entered into a contract for the alteration of the dog, cat or ferret with the animal control shelter or animal protection shelter. The contract shall state that the adopting person agrees to have an alteration performed on the dog, cat or ferret and shall otherwise comply with this section.

(2) A contract with an animal control shelter or animal protection shelter entered into pursuant to subsection (b)(1) of this section shall require the adopting person to have an alteration performed on the dog, cat, or ferret within four weeks after the adoption date if at the time of adoption the dog, cat, or ferret is six months of age or older. If the dog, cat or ferret to be adopted is under six months of age at the time of adoption, the contract shall contain the date upon which the dog, cat or ferret will be six months of age and shall require the person adopting the dog, cat or ferret to have an alteration performed on the dog, cat, or ferret within four weeks after that date. This section does not prevent a veterinarian from performing an alteration on a dog, cat, or ferret that is under six months of age.

(3) Upon certification by a veterinarian in writing that a dog, cat or ferret has a serious, permanent medical or health problem that prevents an alteration, the dog, cat or ferret adopted is not required to be altered. Upon certification by a veterinarian in writing that an alteration poses a serious, temporary medical or health problem, the alteration may be postponed. The person adopting the dog, cat or ferret shall have it reevaluated by a veterinarian at intervals not to exceed 14 days and shall have the alteration performed no later than seven days after a veterinarian determines that the temporary problem is resolved.

(4) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (b)(6) of this section, a contract entered into pursuant to subsection (b)(1) of this section shall require the adopting person to leave with the animal control shelter or animal protection shelter, or a designee of the animal control shelter or animal protection shelter, a good faith deposit in an amount as currently established or as hereafter adopted by resolution of the city council from time to time, that indicates the person’s intention to have the adopted dog, cat or ferret altered within the time provided pursuant to subsection (b)(2) of this section. If the person fails to comply with the terms of the contract, the deposit is forfeited. The good faith deposit shall be returned to the adopting person if the adopting person submits written certification from a veterinarian of either of the following:

a. The dog, cat or ferret died within the time period in which the alteration was required under subsection (b)(2) of this section.

b. The dog, cat or ferret has a serious, permanent medical or health problem that prevents an alteration.

(5) If the adopting person complies with the terms of a contract entered into under subsection (b)(1) of this section, the good faith deposit shall be refunded by the animal control shelter, animal protection shelter, or a designee of the animal control shelter or animal protection shelter, upon submission by the adopting person of written certification by a veterinarian that the adopted dog, cat, or ferret was altered. The certificate shall include:

a. The date of alteration;

b. The name of the owner of the dog, cat, or ferret;

c. The description of the dog, cat, or ferret; and

d. The signature of the veterinarian who performed the alteration.

(6) The good faith deposit under subsection (b)(4) of this section is not required if one or more of the following apply:

a. A dog is transferred to a local, state or federal law enforcement agency.

b. A dog is transferred to an organization or trainer that trains guide or leader dogs for blind persons, hearing dogs for deaf or audibly impaired persons or service dogs for physically limited persons.

c. A dog, cat or ferret is transferred to another animal control shelter or animal protection shelter or is transferred to a person who will transfer the animal to another animal control shelter or animal protection shelter. Before the first animal control shelter or animal protection shelter releases the animal, it shall obtain from the person to whom the animal is to be released a written statement by the second animal control shelter or animal protection shelter that it is willing to accept the animal for purposes of adoption or humane euthanasia. Promptly after receipt of the animal by the second animal control shelter or animal protection shelter, the person to whom the animal was released shall provide the first animal control shelter or animal protection shelter with a written statement by the second animal control shelter or animal protection shelter containing a description of the dog, cat or ferret and acknowledging its receipt on a date specified in the statement.

(7) A contract entered into pursuant to subsection (b)(1) of this section shall include a statement that if the terms of the contract are breached because a person adopting a dog, cat, or ferret fails to have the animal altered as requested in the contract, then the person agrees to pay liquidated damages of the greater of an amount as currently established or as hereafter adopted by resolution of the city council from time to time, or actual reasonable costs incurred by the animal control shelter or animal protection shelter to enforce the contract. Immediately before a person signs the contract, a representative of the animal control shelter or animal protection shelter shall verbally direct the person’s attention to the liquidated damages agreement in the contract.

(8) If a person fails to comply with a contract for the alteration of a dog, cat or ferret as required under subsection (b)(6) of this section, a court with appropriate jurisdiction may order the transfer of ownership of the adopted animal only to one of the following:

a. The facility from which the animal was adopted.

b. A veterinarian, animal control shelter, or animal protection shelter willing to accept the animal and either humanely euthanize the animal or adopt the animal to an owner who agrees to have the animal altered.

(c) Violation. A person violating any provision of this section shall be guilty of a municipal civil infraction and a court of appropriate jurisdiction may enter a judgment in the amount of $100.00 plus costs.