Mariposa County, California

6.08.110 Impoundment—Disposition Of Animals

Impounded dogs and other animals shall be kept at the pound, shelter, or other facility approved by the county and may be disposed of in the following manner:

1. Unlicensed, nonexempt dogs and other domestic animals will be kept for three days (72 hours). Thereafter, they may be given to any person who will comply with this chapter or they will be destroyed in a humane manner. Persons taking unclaimed or stray animals from the control of the animal control officer shall pay to the county reasonable charges for licensing, rabies, inoculations and/or impoundment. Spaying and neutering of cats shall be in conformance with Agriculture Code sections 31750 and 31751.

6.08.141 Pound—Operation—Spaying and Neutering Of Cats And Dogs

No public pound, society for prevention of cruelty to animals shelter, or humane shelter shall sell or give away any dog or cat that has not been spayed or neutered, unless a deposit for spaying or neutering the animal has been tendered to the pound or shelter. The deposit shall be in the amount determined by the pound or shelter to be comparable to the lowest fee charged by veterinarians in the locale, but shall not exceed thirty dollars ($30.00) for cats and forty dollars ($40.00) for dogs. A veterinarian shall perform the operation. If a female cat and her kittens or a female dog and her puppies are sold or given away to one individual, only a single deposit shall be required. The pound or shelter may make appropriate arrangements for the spaying or neutering of the cat or dog or may return the deposit to the person purchasing or receiving the cat or dog upon presentation of a written statement or receipt from the veterinarian or clinic that the animal has been spayed or neutered. The deposit may also include the amount necessary to recover any additional costs under this section.

1. All cats and dogs over six (6) months of age at the time they are sold or given away by the pound or shelter shall be spayed or neutered within sixty (60) days, or the deposit shall be deemed unclaimed. All cats or dogs six (6) months or younger at the time they are sold or given away by the pound or shelter shall be spayed or neutered within six (6) months, or the deposit sha;; be deemed unclaimed.

2. Any deposit not claimed under Subsection (A) shall be used only for the following purposes:

1. A public education program to prevent overpopulation of dogs or cats.
2. A program to spay or neuter dogs and cats.
3. A follow-up program to assure that animals sold or given away by the pound or shelter are spayed or neutered.
4. Any additional costs incurred under this section.

3. Public pounds, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals shelters, and humane shelters may enter into cooperative agreements with each other and with veterinarians in carrying out this section.