Battle Creek, Michigan

608.14 IMPOUNDMENTS; PROCEDURES; TIME PERIODS; NOTIFICATION; DISPOSITION OF ANIMAL; COSTS.

(d)   Requirements to Redeem Animal From Impound. In addition to any other requirement set forth in this chapter or by court order, in order to redeem an animal from impound, all of the following requirements must be met:

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(2)   Unaltered animals.

A.   Sterilization. Upon a third or subsequent time an animal is impounded, any animal six months of age or older shall be sterilized prior to the animal being redeemed from impound, unless a licensed veterinarian signs an affidavit stating that such sterilization would jeopardize the health of the animal;

B.   Unaltered Fee. When an animal is impounded for the second or subsequent time, the owner or other person responsible for that animal must pay an unaltered animal fee as prescribed in Section 802.24 , in order to redeem the animal. The unaltered fee is in addition to all other fees, fines, and costs provided for otherwise under these ordinances.

C.   Voucher. The person paying the unaltered animal fee will receive a voucher, on a form prepared by the City in the amount of the unaltered fee paid, which will be redeemable as follows:

1.   Second Impound of Animal. The voucher may be applied up to the full amount toward spaying or neutering the animal redeemed if the spay or neuter is done within 30 days of redemption. If the spay or neuter is done before redemption any difference between the cost of the spay or neuter and the voucher amount will be refunded to the voucher owner upon request. There is no refund of any unused voucher amount if the spay or neuter is not done before redemption.

2.   Third or Subsequent Impound. The voucher may be applied up to the full amount of the spaying or neutering of the animal. The spay or neuter must be done before redemption. There is no refund of any unused portion of the voucher.

D.   Unaltered Fee Not Redeemed. The portion of an unaltered fee not redeemed as set forth above, is to be placed in the Police Department Animal Control budget for use for any animal control purpose.

E.   City Not Responsible for Cost of Altering. Nothing herein makes the City responsible for any costs of spaying or neutering an animal. This provision only allows the unaltered fee to be redeemed for the cost of spay or neuter, up to the amount of the unaltered fee paid, in accordance with these provisions.

F.   Circumstances for Warning on First Impound. If an animal is being redeemed from impound for the first time, the owner or other responsible party will receive a warning, instead of the Class C ticket for a violation of Section 608.11 (a), Allowing an animal to stray, if the animal is voluntarily spayed or neutered prior to redemption. The person may still be cited for any other violation provided for under these ordinances.

608.17 LICENSE REQUIREMENT; FEES; TERM.

(a)   No person shall own, harbor or keep a dog or cat over the age of six months within the City, without first obtaining a license from the City Treasurer or the authorized agent of the City Treasurer. No person shall own, harbor or keep any other animal required by this chapter to be licensed without first obtaining a license within the time required by this chapter from the City Treasurer or authorized agent of the City Treasurer. The application for such license shall state the breed, sex, age, color and markings of such animal to be licensed, whether the animal is spayed or neutered, or whether the animal has a microchip, and the name, address, and telephone numbers of the owner, and any applicable alternate contact information. The application for a license under this section shall be accompanied by a valid authentic certificate of vaccination for rabies, where required, stating the name of the veterinarian who administered the inoculation to the animal, the date it was given, and the length of time during which such inoculation is effective.

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(b)   The license fee shall be as prescribed in the schedule provided for in Section 802.24 of the Business Regulation and Taxation Code and in conformance with this section. An application for an animal license, if for a dog or cat, is accompanied by written proof that dog or cat has been neutered or spayed shall result in a reduced license fee as prescribed in the above-mentioned schedule of fees. However, any waiver or reduction of the license fee as permitted by the schedule of fees or by this chapter shall not remove or abrogate the obligation of an owner to obtain a license for an animal in conformity with this chapter. Within seven days of an animal becoming six months of age the owner shall apply for a license.