Dona Ana County, New Mexico

§ 134-14 Population control.

A. Intact animal permit. A person owning or having charge, custody, or care over an intact dog or cat shall obtain an intact animal permit from the Animal Control Unit for each intact dog or cat owned, whether or not the person intends to breed the animal.

(1) The permit application shall include an accurate physical description of the animal, and, if applicable, licensing and/or microchip registration information.

(2) The permit applicant shall pay the intact animal permit fee before a permit may be obtained. The permit holder shall, thereafter, pay an annual intact animal permit fee.

(3) The permit shall apply solely to the animal specified on the application.

(4) The intact animal permit fee shall be refunded to the permit holder if the intact dog or cat is sterilized within 90 days of the issuance of the permit.

(a) Proof of such procedure shall be submitted to the Animal Control Unit.

(b) Proof of sterilization shall consist of a written certificate by a veterinarian stating that the animal has been sterilized, or that sterilization would be an unnecessary surgical risk for the animal due to its age or physical condition.

B. Litter permit. A person owning or having charge, custody, or care over a dog or cat and who intentionally or unintentionally breeds the animal shall obtain a litter permit from the Animal Control Unit for each litter born.

(1) The permit application must be submitted within 10 days of the birth of the litter.

(2) The permit application shall include an accurate physical description of the parent animal(s).

(3) The permit applicant shall pay the litter permit fee before a permit may be obtained.

(4) The litter permit fee shall be refunded to the permit holder if the reproducing dog or cat is sterilized within 90 days of the issuance of the permit.

(a) Proof of such procedure shall be submitted to the Animal Control Unit.

(b) Proof of sterilization shall consist of a written certificate by a veterinarian stating that the animal has been sterilized, or that sterilization would be an unnecessary surgical risk for the animal due to its age or physical condition.

(5) Permit number. Each litter permit shall include a unique litter permit number provided by the Animal Control Unit.

(a) The permit holder shall not advertise, barter for, sell, or give away any puppy or kitten unless the applicable litter permit number is displayed legibly in all advertisements.

(b) The permit holder shall furnish the litter permit number to any potential recipient or Animal Control Officer upon request.

(6) Litters per female per year. A person owning or having charge, custody, or care over an intact female dog or cat shall not allow or permit intentionally or unintentionally the animal to produce more than one litter in a consecutive twelve-month period.

§ 134-25 Reclamation.

E. Proof of sterilization. A person reclaiming a dog, cat, canine hybrid, or feline hybrid judged to be six months of age or older by the ASCMV staff and that was seized or apprehended from an address or location within the County shall provide proof that said animal has been sterilized before the animal may be reclaimed if such condition is not readily obvious to the ASCMV staff.

(1) Proof of sterilization shall consist of a written certificate by a veterinarian stating that the animal has been sterilized, or that sterilization would be an unnecessary surgical risk for the animal due to its age or physical condition.

(2) If proof of sterilization cannot be provided or such condition is not readily obvious to the ASCMV staff, the owner shall provide a sterilization deposit to the ASCMV.

(3) The owner shall sign an agreement stating he or she will have the animal sterilized within 30 days of reclamation or will obtain an intact animal permit from the Animal Control Unit within such time. Such permits shall not be available for hybrid animals.

(4) The sterilization deposit shall be reimbursed to the owner upon presentation of proof of sterilization to the ASCMV by the owner within 35 days of reclamation.

(5) The sterilization deposit shall not be reimbursed for obtaining an intact animal permit.