Meeker, Colorado

6.1.117 – Dog holding periods – disposition of unclaimed dogs – immunity from actions over disposition of dogs.

(b) If the disposition of a dog from the Animal Shelter is by adoption, the prospective owner shall pay the Town’s adoption fee and sign the Town’s adoption agreement prior to the transfer of the dog, as provided by this Chapter. In the event the Animal Shelter determines that the dog has been previously spayed or neutered, as provided by Section 6.1.122.1, then the prospective owner shall not be required to pay the sterilization deposit fee or comply with the sterilization provisions of Section 6.1.122.1.

6.1.122.1 – Spay or neuter of ownerless dogs released for adoption from Animal Shelter.

(a) It is the purpose of this Section to promote the health, safety and general welfare of the residents of the Town by reducing the overpopulation of stray dogs. The Board of Trustees finds that, each year, stray or ownerless dogs are impounded by the Town and either placed for adoption or euthanized. It is the purpose of this Section to eliminate this overpopulation of dogs by implementing reasonable and enforceable legislation to provide for the sterilization of ownerless dogs.

(b) All dogs adopted from the Animal Shelter shall not be released to the prospective owner unless:

(1) The dog has been sterilized by a licensed veterinarian.

(2) Adoption agreement:

a. The prospective owner signs a Town adoption agreement to have the dog sterilized by a licensed veterinarian within ninety (90) days after the date of the release of the dog, deposits a sterilization deposit fee and pays a nonrefundable Town dog adoption fee, in amounts specified by resolution of the Board of Trustees. The written Town dog adoption agreement shall be in a form approved by the Board of Trustees and shall include at least the following: age (if known), sex, breed and general description of the dog; date of adoption and date by which the dog must be sterilized; if the time for sterilization has been extended as provided by Paragraph (3) below, then the new date by which the dog must be sterilized; the adopting party’s name, address, mailing address, telephone or cellular number and signature; and the following shelter information: Town of Meeker, 345 Market Street, Telephone: 970-878-5181.

b. Upon receiving a written statement from the licensed veterinarian who performed the sterilization procedure that the dog has been sterilized as provided by this Section, the Town shall refund the sterilization deposit fee to the prospective owner. The refunded sterilization deposit fee shall be mailed to the prospective owner’s address shown on the Town’s dog adoption agreement.

c. If the prospective owner fails to provide the Animal Shelter with a written statement from a licensed veterinarian stating that the licensed veterinarian performed the sterilization procedure on the dog within ninety (90) days of the date of the Town dog adoption agreement, the prospective owner shall forfeit the sterilization deposit fee and it shall become the sole property of the Town. Thereafter, each year upon the Town’s license renewal with the Colorado Department of Agriculture, all sterilization deposit fees held by the Town will be forwarded to the Colorado Pet Overpopulation Fund, created by Section 35-80-116.5(5), C.R.S., or a local dedicated spay and neuter fund, as designated by resolution of the Board of Trustees, as may be adopted from time to time.

(3) If a licensed veterinarian declares in writing that a sterilization procedure could jeopardize the life or health of the dog, the sterilization procedure may be delayed until such time that a licensed veterinarian determines that the dog is fit to undergo the sterilization procedure. In such event, the Town may extend the original ninety-day period for the dog’s sterilization procedure. The extension date for the sterilization procedure shall be noted on the original Town dog adoption agreement. At such time, the prospective owner shall have the dog sterilized. During the extension of the time for the sterilization procedure, the Town shall continue to hold the prospective owner’s sterilization deposit fee and its refund or forfeiture shall be subject to the provisions of Subparagraphs (2)b. or c. above, respectively. If the determination of the unfitness for sterilization has been made prior to the release of the dog from the Animal Shelter, the Animal Shelter may release the dog to the prospective owner, subject to the provisions of this Paragraph.

(c) This Section shall not apply to:

(1) The release of a dog to the dog’s owner; that is, a person with prior and continuing ownership of the dog who is reclaiming the dog from the Animal Shelter; or

(2) The transfer of the dog from the Animal Shelter to another animal shelter or pet animal rescue or to a licensed veterinarian.

(d) Nothing in this Section shall place responsibility or liability for the dog’s actions or health upon the Town for any incident arising subsequent to the date of adoption of the dog by the prospective owner. Failure of the prospective owner adopting a dog to sterilize it is a violation of this Chapter.