Spay/Neuter
Millbrae, California
6.04.280 Redemption and spay/neuter fee.
A. Upon redemption of any impounded unaltered animal, the person responsible for the care, custody or control of any animal will be required to pay a spay or neuter fee in the amount of one hundred dollars in addition to the impound fees imposed under MMC 6.04.300. Such fee shall be refundable upon proof of spay and neuter of the animal within thirty calendar days following the date of redemption.
B. Any unaltered animal impounded twice or more within a three-year period shall be altered at a cost to be paid by the owner/caretaker or person responsible for the care, custody, or control of said animal prior to redemption. At the option of the owner/caretaker or person responsible for the care, custody, or control of said animal, required spaying or neutering may be performed by a private veterinarian within thirty calendar days.
C. Any owner or caretaker of an impounded animal subject to mandatory spay/neuter under subsection B of this section may appeal this requirement by submitting a written request for an administrative hearing to the animal control program manager. The administrative hearing will be conducted according to the provisions of MMC 6.04.150.
D. The animal control program manager may waive any county or city fee for county or city spay/neuter, vaccination or impoundment of an animal, if the animal is a feral or stray cat and the person bringing the animal to the shelter agrees that the person shall have no rights in the animal or any right to direct or control treatment or disposition of the animal by the animal control program which will retain sole discretion in determining the disposition of the animal, which may include but not be limited to treatment and/or adoption, or euthanasia.
6.04.300 Schedule of fees and charges.
This section sets forth the fees for the animal control program and licensing program. No animal shall be released to its owner, or other person responsible for the care, custody, or control of the animal, unless applicable fees have been paid.
Animal control and licensing fees and charges established by this code are as follows:
A. License Fees.
| Dogs | |
| Unaltered dog | |
| 1-year license | $55.00 |
| 3-year license | $160.00 |
| Unaltered dog – Senior pet owner (over 60 yrs.) | |
| 1-year license | $23.00 |
| 3-year license | $64.00 |
| Altered dog | |
| 1-year license | $25.00 |
| 3-year license | $70.00 |
| Altered dog – Senior pet owner (over 60 yrs.) | |
| 1-year license | $10.00 |
| 3-year license | $25.00 |
| Cats | |
| Unaltered cat | |
| 1-year license | $20.00 |
| 3-year license | $55.00 |
| Unaltered cat – Senior pet owner (over 60 yrs.) | |
| 1-year license | $12.00 |
| 3-year license | $31.00 |
| Altered cat | |
| 1-year license | $8.00 |
| 3-year license | $19.00 |
| Altered cat – Senior pet owner (over 60 yrs.) | |
| 1-year license | $5.00 |
| 3-year license | $12.00 |
B. Redemption Charges.
| Type C (dogs and cats) | |
| Impound Costs – First Impound | |
| Altered – licensed, wearing tag | $40.00 |
| Unaltered – licensed, wearing tag | $65.00 |
| Altered – unlicensed, no tag | $55.00 |
| Unaltered – unlicensed, no tag | $85.00 |
| Impound Costs – Second Impound | |
| Altered – licensed, wearing tag | $90.00 |
| Unaltered – licensed, wearing tag | $125.00 |
| Altered – unlicensed, no tag | $105.00 |
| Unaltered – unlicensed, no tag | $140.00 |
| Impound Costs – Third Impound | |
| Altered – licensed, wearing tag | $135.00 |
| Unaltered – licensed, wearing tag | $155.00 |
| Altered – unlicensed, no tag | $155.00 |
| Unaltered – unlicensed, no tag | $180.00 |
| Impound Costs – Fourth Impound | |
| Altered – licensed, wearing tag | $180.00 |
| Unaltered – licensed, wearing tag | $215.00 |
| Altered – unlicensed, no tag | $200.00 |
| Unaltered – unlicensed, no tag | $240.00 |
| Impound Costs – Fifth Impound and Up | |
| Altered – licensed, wearing tag | $225.00 |
| Unaltered – licensed, wearing tag | $260.00 |
| Altered – unlicensed, no tag | $245.00 |
| Unaltered – unlicensed, no tag | $285.00 |
| Board Charges (per day) | |
| Altered – dogs | $25.00 |
| Unaltered – dogs | $35.00 |
| Altered – cats | $16.00 |
| Unaltered – cats | $22.00 |
6.12.020 Spaying/neutering.
A. Any person who owns or harbors within the city any cat or dog over the age of six months which has not been spayed or neutered shall procure either a license to keep an unaltered dog or cat or a license and permit for breeding cats or dogs issued by the San Mateo County animal control program under MMC 6.12.030.
B. A license shall be issued for an unaltered dog or cat if the owner signs a written statement that such animal will not be allowed to breed unless the owner has first obtained a breeding permit under MMC 6.12.030.
C. Any person providing care or sustenance for a period of thirty days or longer shall be deemed the owner of such animal and shall adhere to the provision of this section.
6.12.030 Breeding permits – Administration.
A. No person shall cause or allow any dog or cat owned or harbored in the city to breed without first obtaining a breeding permit under this section.
B. San Mateo County animal control services shall administer a permit program to allow breeding of cats and dogs consistent with criteria and according to procedures contained in this chapter.
C. Each applicant who is issued a permit to breed cats or dogs under this section shall pay a breeding permit fee according to the fee schedule contained in MMC 6.04.300.
D. No person shall cause or allow the breeding of a male or female dog or cat without first obtaining a breeding permit issued by the animal control services. Such breeding permit is required in addition to any license required under MMC 6.04.040. Breeding permits shall be valid for twelve months, renewable on an annual basis. Fees for such permit shall be as set forth in MMC 6.04.300. All breeding permits shall contain the following terms and conditions and be subject to all of the following requirements:
1. No offspring may be sold or adopted and permanently placed until reaching an age of at least eight weeks.
2. No offspring may be sold or adopted until immunized against common diseases, or until they have begun a course of disease prevention under the direction of a state of California licensed veterinarian.
3. If, within one year of placement, a new owner becomes unable or unwilling to continue ownership and responsibility for an animal, the permit holder shall assist in placement of the animal. If no suitable placement can be found within six months, the permit holder shall accept return of the animal if healthy and shall become fully responsible for its care.
4. Any permit holder advertising to the public the availability of any animal for adoption or sale must prominently display the permit numbers in any publications in which they advertise. Further, the permit number must be provided to any person adopting or purchasing an animal bred by the permit holder.
5. The breeding permit holder shall adhere to minimum standards regarding the care and keeping of animals developed and approved by the animal control services.
6.12.040 Sale or adoption of cats, dogs or wolf hybrids.
D. Prior to release for adoption, any animal adopted from any animal welfare agency shall be spayed or neutered as early as is medically appropriate, unless the adoptive owner obtains a certificate from a licensed veterinarian certifying as to the health reasons for failing to alter such animal.
6.12.050 Revocation of permit.
A. Any permit issued pursuant to MMC 6.12.030 may be revoked if the animal control officer has reasonable cause to believe any of the following to be true:
1. The permittee has violated any city or county ordinances relating to the keeping, care or use of any animal including, but not limited to, those contained in Chapters 6.04, 6.12 and 6.14 MMC;
2. The permittee is in violation of any state health or safety law or regulation regarding animal care or control;
3. The permittee has failed to comply with any condition or requirement of the permit or has failed to pay any fee imposed under this code;
4. The permittee refused to allow inspection, upon forty-eight hours written notice, of any animal covered by the permit or the premises on which the animal is kept; or
5. The permittee has transferred, sold or otherwise disposed of the animal for which the permit was issued.
B. If, after inspection, the animal control officer concludes that it is probable that one or more of the above grounds for revocation has occurred, the animal control officer shall cause written notice thereof to be transmitted by mail to the address of the permittee. Said notice shall specify the grounds of possible revocation of the permit and shall specify a date and time for an informal hearing to be held before an animal control officer. Said date shall be not less than five days subsequent to the date the notice is mailed. After the informal hearing, the animal control officer may modify the terms of the permit or revoke the permit.
C. The permittee may appeal the decision of the animal control officer to the county environmental health officer if the permittee gives written notice of such appeal within five working days of the decision.
6.12.060 Penalty for violation.
Except as otherwise provided by this chapter, any violation of the provisions of this chapter shall be punishable as an infraction, the penalty of which shall be as follows:
A. A fine not to exceed five hundred dollars for each additional violation within the same year.
B. A fine not to exceed one hundred dollars for a first violation.
C. A fine not exceeding two hundred dollars for a second violation within one year.
