Spay/Neuter
Elk Grove, California
8.03.010 License required – Fees.
A. Every person owning, possessing, keeping, harboring or having custody of any dog or cat over four (4) months old shall obtain a license for each dog or cat and appropriate license fees shall be paid annually. Fees and charges shall be established from time to time by resolution of the City Council. Licenses shall be obtained within thirty (30) days after the day upon which the dog or cat is four (4) months old, or within thirty (30) days after acquisition of the dog or cat, or within thirty (30) days of moving into the City.
B. Failure to register and pay the required fee within the term prescribed shall cause such fee to become delinquent and penalties shall be added to the regular fee and collected by the City at the time of such delinquent registration.
C. Upon presentation of a certificate from a licensed veterinarian that the dog or cat has been spayed or neutered or that the dog or cat cannot be spayed or neutered for medical reasons, the registration fee shall be equivalent to at least one-half (0.5) that of the required fee.
D. The license fee may be prepaid for a one (1) year or a three (3) year period; provided, that the applicant presents a valid rabies vaccination certificate extending beyond the remaining period of validity of the license for which the applicant desires.
1. Fifty (50%) percent of revenue from unaltered license fees and fifty (50%) percent of all fines associated with enforcing the licenses of unaltered animals shall be reserved for the following purposes:
a. A program to spay or neuter dogs and cats;
b. A public education program to reduce and prevent the overpopulation of dogs and cats and the related costs to the City;
c. A program to ensure that dogs and cats transferred by the City to any other public animal control agency or shelter, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals shelter, humane society shelter, or rescue group are spayed or neutered.
E. Exemptions.
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2. Senior Citizens. Two (2) altered cats or dogs kept in a household where the owner of the cat or dog is over the age of sixty-five (65) shall be licensed without fee.
8.05.040 Redemption of impounded animals.
B. In addition to any other fees or fines imposed by this title or State law, the owner of a non-spayed or unneutered dog or cat shall be subject to an “unaltered impounded animal fee.” The unaltered impounded animal fee shall be set by resolution of the City Council. For the purpose of this section, “impounded” shall mean any animal that is impounded in violation of EGMC Section 8.05.020.
1. Fees collected pursuant to this subsection shall be held to ensure the spaying or neutering of the dog or cat. This fee shall be refundable if written proof of spaying or neutering of the animal is presented to the City within thirty (30) business days of the date of redemption. Refunds shall not exceed the actual fee collected and/or the actual cost charged by a licensed veterinarian to surgically alter the animal, whichever is less.
2. If written proof of spaying or neutering is not presented to the City within thirty (30) business days of the date of redemption, the fee shall be forfeited to the City. All unaltered impounded animal fees forfeited or unclaimed under this section shall be retained by the City and used only for the following purposes:
a. A program to spay or neuter dogs and cats;
b. A public education program to reduce and prevent overpopulation of dogs and cats, and the related costs to the City;
c. A follow-up program to ensure that dogs and cats transferred by the City to any other public animal control agency or shelter, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals shelter, humane society shelter, or rescue group are spayed or neutered;
d. Any additional costs incurred by Animal Control in the administration of this section.
8.05.100 Sterilization.
A. No unclaimed dog or cat shall be released for adoption without being sterilized or without a written agreement from the adopter guaranteeing that such animal will be sterilized and a sterilization deposit made. The sterilization fee deposit shall be established from time to time by resolution of the City Council.
B. In the event such animal is not sterilized within one (1) year after the date of purchase, the sterilization deposit collected at the time of adoption will be considered abandoned and the money applied to the general Animal Services fund and shall be used only for the following purposes:
- A public education program to prevent overpopulation of dogs and cats;
- A program to spay or neuter dogs and cats;
- A follow-up program to assure that animals sold or given away by the shelter are spayed or neutered;
- Any additional costs incurred under this section.
C. It shall constitute a misdemeanor to fail to sterilize any dog or cat adopted from the animal shelter and the unsterilized animal shall be impounded.
