Mendocino County, California

Sec. 10.12.010 – Dog licenses.

(A) General Requirements.

(1) Except as otherwise permitted, owners of dogs shall procure a valid Mendocino County dog license not later than thirty (30) days after the dog attains the age of four (4) months or thirty (30) days after the dog comes into their possession. The licensing period shall be set by a Resolution of the Board of Supervisors, but in no instance shall a dog licensing period be for a term that exceeds the period for which the rabies vaccination is valid. The license renewal shall be procured not later than thirty (30) days after expiration of the previously issued license.

(2) Evidence of spaying and neutering when required shall be furnished by the owner and shall consist of certification from a licensed veterinarian. Any owner of the same dog so licensed may transfer a valid license and registration to another person.

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(6) Whenever a dog license tag is issued pursuant to this Chapter, the tag shall be issued for one-half (½) or less of the fee required for a dog, if a certificate is presented from a licensed veterinarian that the dog has been spayed or neutered. The fee schedule shall be set by resolution of the Board of Supervisors.

Sec. 10.24.080 – Failure to appeal impoundment—Redemption.

(D) Upon the second or subsequent impoundment of an unaltered dog or cat, Animal Care Services may not waive the impounding and penalty fees for any unaltered animal. Prior to the release of this subsequently unaltered dog or cat, Animal Care Services shall require that the animal be spayed or neutered and shall require the owner to pay the impounding fee established by resolution and to deposit the fees for spay/neutering in the account provided for such purposes.

Sec. 10.24.090 – Adoption/Sale of Animals.

(A) Except as otherwise provided in this Chapter, the County shall not place for adoption any dog or cat that has not been spayed or neutered.

(B) The County may transfer to a new owner a dog or cat that has not been spayed or neutered under the following circumstances:

(1) The new owner signs a written agreement acknowledging the dog or cat is not spayed or neutered and agrees to be responsible for ensuring the dog or cat will be spayed or neutered within thirty (30) business days after the agreement is signed. However, animals that are too young to be spayed or neutered at the time of adoption, may be granted an extension. The period of time shall be at the direction of the Animal Shelter Director, but in no case over eight (8) months of age will be allowed, otherwise the deposit required by subsection (B)(2) shall be deemed unclaimed and forfeited.

(2) The new owner pays a deposit of an amount set by the Board of Supervisors, within the limits provided by California Food and Agriculture Code § 30521, the terms of which are part of the written agreement executed.

(3) The County may extend the date by which spaying or neutering is to be completed at its discretion for good cause being shown. Any extension shall be in writing.

(4) If a veterinarian licensed to practice veterinary medicine in this state certifies that the animal is too sick or injured or that it would otherwise be detrimental to the health of the animal to be spayed or neutered the adopter shall pay a spaying and neutering deposit.

(5) The County may enter into cooperative agreements with nonprofit organizations and veterinarians in lieu of requiring spaying and neutering deposits to carry out this section.

(C) Fees for adoption including spay and neuter deposits are set forth by resolution of the Board of Supervisors. All spay and neuter deposits shall be placed in the Spay and Neuter Trust Account that was established by the Board of Supervisors.

(1) Spay and neuter deposits are refundable to the new owner if proof of alteration is presented to the County not more than thirty (30) business days after the date the animal was altered, otherwise the deposit is forfeited.

(2) All spaying or neutering deposits forfeited or unclaimed under this section shall be retained by the County and expended 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.

(c) A follow-up program to ensure that dogs and cats adopted or transferred are spayed or neutered in accordance with the adoption agreements.

(d) Any additional costs incurred by the County in the administration of the requirements of this Section.

(D) All dogs and cats adopted or sold from nonprofit organizations shall be altered under the same terms as provided in this Title.

Sec. 10.24.100 – Disposition of impounded dogs, cats and other animals excluding large domestic animals.

(A)Dogs and Cats.

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(2) Any stray dog or cat, other than a vicious dog, that is impounded pursuant to this chapter shall, prior to the killing of that animal for any reason other than irremediable suffering, be released to a nonprofit animal rescue or adoption organization if requested by the organization prior to the scheduled killing of that animal. In addition to any required spay or neuter deposit, the County, at its discretion, may assess a fee, not to exceed the standard adoption fee, for animals released.