Bernalillo County, New Mexico

Sec. 6-31. – Definitions.

For the purposes of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning:

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Breeder means a person who keeps, maintains or harbors any intact dog or cat for the purposes of breeding.

Breeding means permitting, either intentionally or unintentionally, a female dog or cat to produce offspring.

Sec. 6-37. – Impounding animals.

(a) An animal care services officer may take up and impound in any designated animal care services facility a stray or any animal kept or maintained contrary to the requirements of this chapter.

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(3) An unsterilized animal reclaimed by its owner shall be released without being sterilized upon payment of at least $25.00 for the sterilization deposit and impoundment fees imposed by the shelter, and the owner shall sign an agreement stating he will sterilize the animal within 30 days after release or will obtain a breeder permit, intact permit, or its equivalent.

Sec. 6-39B. – Breeder permit.

(a) No person shall keep, maintain or harbor any intact dog or cat for the purposes of breeding without a breeder permit. Each dog or cat used for the purposes of breeding shall have a breeder permit. The resultant offspring shall not be sold for resale to commercial outlets or for the purpose of research.

(b) A female dog or cat shall have no more than one litter in any consecutive 12 month period.

(c) Upon presenting identification and with notice an animal care services officer shall be allowed access to any premises housing any animal with a breeder permit for the purpose of an inspection.

Sec. 6-39C. – Litter permit.

(a) The owner of an intact female dog or cat bred intentionally or unintentionally that does not possess a breeder permit is required to obtain a litter permit for each litter.

(b) Subsequent to the issuance of a litter permit, the permitted animal shall be sterilized within 120 days of the issuance of the litter permit.

Sec. 6-39D. – Requirements for sale of offspring.

(a) No person shall advertise, barter for, sell, or give away any puppy or kitten unless the applicable permit number is displayed legibly in all advertisements. The owner shall furnish the litter permit number or breeder permit number to any potential recipient upon request.

(b) Puppies and kittens can only be bartered for, sold, given away or otherwise transferred or conveyed from the residential location listed on the litter permit or breeder permit. Puppies or kittens being bartered for, sold, given away or otherwise transferred or conveyed on public or commercial property, even with the commercial property owner’s permission, are in violation of this chapter.

Sec. 6-39F. – Intact animal permit.

(a) Any person having a stray unsterilized dog or cat returned to him or reclaiming an impounded unsterilized dog or cat will obtain an intact animal permit or have the animal sterilized within 60 days of return. The permit shall be issued upon payment of the required permit fee and proof that they possess a current county license and rabies vaccination for the animal. The permit will be renewed annually until proof of sterilization has been provided to the animal care services department.

(b) Any animal found running at large twice shall be sterilized within 30 days of the second offense.

(c) An intact animal permit is required to keep a dog or cat exempt from being sterilized as mandated by applicable law when released prior to impound from an animal shelter.

Sec. 6-42. – Number of animals allowed.

(a) No person or household shall own, harbor or keep more than a combined total of four dogs, cats or any combination thereof over the age of three months without, multiple animal site permit, or shelter permit.

(1) A household may have up to six dogs, cats or any combination thereof provided that all of the animals shall be sterilized without a multiple animal permit or shelter permit.

a. For number of animal (section 6-44(a)(1)) purposes a medical waiver certificate may be acceptable in cases when the sterilization of an animal would pose a substantial threat to the health of the animal. The certificate shall be on official letterhead from a licensed veterinarian and shall contain the name and address of the owner of the animal, a description of the animal, the medical condition prohibiting sterilization, and the date upon which the animal may be sterilized. A medical waiver certificate must be resubmitted annually. This does not waive the unsterilized license fee.

Sec. 6-65. – Sterilization agreements/contracts.

It shall be unlawful for a person to possess any unsterilized animal when such animal is required to be sterilized under the terms of any applicable sterilization agreement or contract.