St. Joseph, Missouri

Sec. 5-98. – Litter permit required.

(a) Any person which maintains an unsterilized dog or cat and allows or fails to prevent the breeding of the same, sells or offers for sale, gives away or offers to give away, or has in their possession a litter of dogs or cats and is not in possession of a breeders permit issued by the animal services division of the department of health and registered therewith, must pay to the city a litter fee of $100.00 within ten working days after the whelping thereof. Fifty dollars of this fee will be paid back to the owner if they provide written proof of sterilization from a licensed veterinarian within 30 days of contact by animal services. An extension may be granted if a licensed veterinarian states it is necessary in writing. Transfer of ownership of the animal shall not void this fee.

(b) Said person must present to the animal control section a list describing the animals by breed, color, sex and markings, therein registering the litter with the city. This list will remain on file until a transfer of ownership notice is received by the animal control section of the department of health for each animal.

(c) The animal control section of the department of health shall furnish the permit holder with printed information regarding animal control services and regulations which shall be provided by the same to the new owner of any dog or cat if the owner resides within the corporate limits of the city.

(d) Any person convicted of violating this section shall be summoned to court and assessed a fine of not less than $100.00 and not in excess of $500.00.

(e) Transfer of ownership, death or the loss of the dam and/or sire shall not waive the litter permit fee, but may waive any fine.

(f) This section shall not apply to kennels, both professionally and individually owned, inspected or licensed by another government agency.

Sec. 5-99. – Breeders—Permit required.

(a) Any person which maintains unsterilized dog(s) and/or cat(s) for the purpose of breeding with the intent to cause the whelping of or sale of or transfer of ownership of the same must pay an annual breeders permit fee of $20.00 to the animal control section of the department of health prior to such action.

(b) Each person subject to the provisions of this section shall:

(1) Not allow the whelping of more than one litter per each dog or cat in a 12-month period in order to protect the wellbeing of the animal;

(2) In the event a permit holder is forced to destroy a litter of dogs or cats due to poor health or disease, with the same verified by a licensed veterinarian, the supervisor of animal control may authorize the whelping of one additional litter within the same permit year;

(3) Cause all dogs and cats, prior to their sale or transfer of ownership, to be immunized against common disease. In the case of dogs, said immunizations shall be against distemper, parvo, adenovirus type-2, coronavirus and parainfluenza; in the case of cats, said immunizations shall be against panleukopenia, rhinotracheitis and calicivirus. Upon the sale or transfer of ownership of a dog or cat, a signed statement from the seller/transferor attesting to his knowledge of the animal’s health shall be tendered to the buyer/transferee, and said statement shall include the animal’s immunization history;

(4) Not sell, transfer ownership of or release any dog or cat, until such time that the animal has become accustomed to taking solid food and has done so without nursing for a period of at least five days; and

(5) Furnish the animal control section of the department of health with a complete transfer of ownership notice (provided by the animal control section) for each dog or cat sold or transferred within five days after the same.

(c) The animal control section of the department of health shall furnish the permit holder with printed information regarding animal control services and regulations which shall be provided by the permit holder to the new owner of any dog or cat from a litter if the owner resides within the corporate limits of the city.

(d) Persons subject to this section shall not publish or advertise the sale or giving away of any dog or cat unless said publication or advertisement is accompanied by their permit number.

(e) Each permit issued hereunder shall expire one year from the date of issuance. However, a permit may be renewed at any time up to and including the last day of the calendar month in which it is due to expire.

(f) The payment of a permit fee shall not exempt the permit holder from compliance with any other applicable provisions of this ordinance.

(g) Only a person in possession of a breeders permit may be convicted of a violation of this section.

(h) This section shall not apply to kennels, both professional and individually owned, which are inspected or licensed by another government agency.

Sec. 5-143. – Redemption.

(a) An impounded dog (other than those dogs listed in Section 5-148 of this chapter) or cat may be released from animal services to any person proving ownership or right to possession.

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(2) A spay or neuter deposit (as predetermined by the manager of animal services in conjunction with local veterinarians) shall also be paid with the boarding fee of $8.00 per day and a $7.50 microchip fee to the animal services division, then said dog or cat may be released.

(b) A person wishing to claim a dog (other than those dogs listed in Section 5-148 of this chapter) or cat not registered shall pay a $10.00 redemption fee for the first offense in a 12-month period, $25.00 for the second offense in a consecutive 12-month period and $50.00 for the third or additional offense in a 12-month period and/or up to six months in jail, a spay or neuter deposit (as predetermined by the manager of animal services in conjunction with local veterinarians), a $8.00 per day boarding fee and a $7.50 microchip fee. The spay/neuter deposit shall be refunded within 30 days if the animal is licensed and satisfactory proof from a veterinarian is submitted that such animal has been spayed or neutered, except in the case of puppies or kittens where the animal must be sterilized within 30 days of becoming two months of age. Otherwise, the deposit shall be considered forfeited.

Sec. 5-148. – Redemption and requirements of certain dogs.

(a) Any American Staffordshire Terrier, American Pit Bull Terrier, Pit Bull Terrier or Rottweiler, or any dog mixed with one of these breeds that has been impounded may be released from the pound or animal shelter to any person proving ownership or right to possession. Said person shall:

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(3) Pay a spay/neuter fee (as predetermined by the manager of animal services in conjunction with local veterinarians);