Decatur, Alabama

Sec. 4-1. – Shelter established; poundmaster’s duties; procedure to release impounded animals.

(c) In addition to the boarding fee there shall also be collected an unaltered animal redemption fee of twenty-five dollars ($25.00) from any owner redeeming a dog, puppy, kitten, or cat that cannot provide verification that said animal has been spayed or neutered. Upon redemption, the owner shall have forty-five (45) days to provide proof of the subsequent spay or neuter of said animal and upon proof being provided the twenty-five dollar ($25.00) fee shall be paid to the veterinarian who performed the surgery. If the owner declines to have the animal spayed or neutered within the forty-five-day period the unaltered animal redemption fee shall forfeited to or retained by the city.

Sec. 4-40. – Requirements.

(c) All dogs and cats which are adopted through the animal shelter shall be surgically altered to prevent reproduction of that animal, before the animal can go home with its adopter. The fee for spaying or neutering animals will be collected according to the fee schedule set by the director or shelter manager. This fee is in addition to the established adoption fee and any rabies vaccination fee. The animals will be transported by Decatur Animal Services Personnel to and from a local veterinarian for sterilization and rabies vaccination.

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(e) The director or shelter manager has the right to waive the adoption fee for a legitimate 501(c)(3) rescue organization that has veterinarian references, and that fills out any required forms to be filed and maintained at the shelter. If the animal has not been spayed or neutered, there will be a fee charged for the sterilization of said animal according to the fee schedule set by the director or shelter manager; and also a fee will be charged for a rabies vaccination before the animal will be released to the rescue organization. After an animal is placed on the adoption floor it must remain there thirty (30) days before it is eligible to be removed for the use of a legitimate rescue organization.