Blythe, California

6.06.050 – Spay/neuter of dogs.

A. Requirement. No person may own, keep, or harbor an unaltered or unspayed dog in violation of this section. An owner or custodian of an unaltered dog must have the dog spayed or neutered, or provide a certificate of sterility in accordance with this chapter. Nothing in this section supersedes, eliminates, or alters the requirements of Sections 6.06.020 BMC, and any other licensing requirements of this chapter.

B. Enforcement. A violation of subsection A shall not be enforced unless the department has received at least three complaints, verified by the department, that the owner, custodian, or licensee has allowed a dog to be stray or run at large. An administrative citation, infraction, or other such authorized penalty may be issued to an owner or custodian of an unaltered dog for a violation of this section only when the owner or custodian is concurrently cited for another violation under state or local law pertaining to the obligations of a person owning or possessing a dog.

C. Exemptions. This section shall not apply to any of the following:

1. A dog with a high likelihood of suffering serious bodily harm or death if spayed or neutered, due to age or infirmity. The owner or custodian must obtain written confirmation of this fact from a California licensed veterinarian. If the dog is able to be safely spayed or neutered at a later date, that date must be stated in the written confirmation; should this date be later than thirty days, the owner or custodian must apply for an unaltered dog license.

2. Animals owned by recognized dog breeders, as defined by animal control policy.

D. Impoundment of Unaltered Dog. When an unaltered dog is impounded pursuant to state and/or local law, in addition to satisfying applicable requirements for the release of the animal, including, but not limited to, payment of impound fees pursuant to this chapter, the owner or custodian shall also do one of the following:

1. Provide written proof of the dog’s prior sterilization, if conditions cannot or do not make this assessment obvious to department personnel;

2. Have the dog spayed or neutered by a California licensed veterinarian. The veterinarian shall complete and return to the department within ten days, a statement confirming that the dog has been spayed or neutered or is, in fact, incapable of breeding and shall release the dog to the owner or custodian only after the spay or neuter procedure is complete;

3. At the discretion of the animal control officer, the dog may be released to the owner or custodian if he or she signs a statement under penalty of perjury, representing that the dog will be spayed or neutered and that he or she will submit a statement within ten days of the release, signed by the veterinarian, confirming that the dog has been spayed or neutered or is incapable of breeding.