Lathrop, California

§ 6.12.180 License required—Fees.

A. Every person owning, possessing, keeping, harboring or having custody of any dog over four months old shall obtain a license for each dog and appropriate license fees shall be paid annually. Fees and charges shall be established from time to time by resolution of the council. Such license shall be obtained, and the fee therefor paid, on or before the first day of February in any year, or within 30 days after the day upon which the dog is four months old, or within 30 days after acquisition of the dog, or within 30 days of moving into the city.

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C. Upon presentation of a certificate from a licensed veterinarian that the dog has been spayed or neutered or that the dog cannot be spayed or neutered for medical reasons, the registration fee shall be equivalent to at least one-half that of the required fee.

§ 6.28.040 Redemption of impounded animals.

B. In addition to any other fees or fines imposed by this title or state law, the owner of a nonspayed 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 Section 6.12.050 or 6.12.070.

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 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 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 the animal control department in the administration of this section.

3. The city may extend the date by which spaying or neutering is to be completed at its discretion for good cause shown, including, but not limited to, a written determination by a veterinarian licensed to practice veterinary medicine in this state that a dog or cat is too sick or injured to be spayed or neutered, or that it would otherwise be detrimental to the health of the dog or cat to be spayed or neutered. Any extension shall be in writing and shall be temporary, until the dog or cat is healthy enough to be spayed or neutered as certified by a veterinarian licensed to practice veterinary medicine in this state. The dog or cat shall be spayed or neutered within 14 business days of that certification. The owner shall obtain written proof of spaying or neutering from the veterinarian performing the operation. If the owner presents proof of spaying or neutering to the city within 30 business days of the expiration of the temporary extension, the owner shall receive a refund of the unaltered impounded animal fee pursuant to subsection (B)(1) of this section.

§ 6.28.090 Adoption.

Animals subject to disposition by the city may be sold if the animal control department finds that the sale of any such animal is not contrary to law, to policy of the department, or to the public interest. Dogs or cats may not be sold for purposes other than keeping of pets, and may not be sold without first having been licensed when required, neutered or spayed or a fee therefor having been deposited.

§ 6.28.100 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 council.

B. In the event such animal is not sterilized within one 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 control fund and shall be used only for the following purposes:

1. A public education program to prevent overpopulation of dogs and cats;
   1. A program to spay or neuter dogs and cats;
   1. A follow-up program to assure that animals sold or given away by the pound or shelter are spayed or neutered;
   1. 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.