Orange Cove, California

6.16.080 – Redemption.

A. The owner of any animal, other than a potentially dangerous or vicious animal, a sick, injured or mistreated animal, or an animal prohibited in the city, may reclaim and redeem such animal upon:

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3. Payment of a deposit for the animal not being spayed or neutered as required by this chapter;

6.20.150 – Spay and neuter of cats and dogs.

A. Spaying or neutering prior to adoption. No dog or cat shall be made available for adoption unless the dog or cat is spayed or neutered in accordance with California Food and Agricultural Code Sections 30503 and 31751.3 or is otherwise exempt pursuant to subsection B below.

B. Spaying or neutering a dog or cat over the age of four months. No person within the city shall own a dog or cat over the age of four months that has not been spayed or neutered, unless valid written documentation is provided to show proof that the animal is exempt from the requirement to be spayed or neutered by reason of one of the following, and is in compliance with subsection C below:

1. The dog or cat is a breed approved by and is registered with a registry or association recognized by the city manager, whose program and practices are consistent with the humane treatment of animals, and the dog or cat is actively used to show or compete and has competed in at least one show or sporting competition hosted by or under the approval of the recognized registry or association within the last two years, or is being trained or groomed to show or compete and is too young to have yet competed.

2. The dog is being trained or has been appropriately trained and is actively used in a manner that meets the definition of guide, signal or service dog as set forth in California Civil Code Section 54.1 or Penal Code Section 365.5, or the dog is enrolled in a guide, signal or service dog breeding program administered by a person licensed under Chapter 9.5 (commencing with Section 7200) of Division 3 of the California Business and Professions Code.

3. The dog is appropriately trained or is in the process of being trained and is actively used by law enforcement agencies or the military for law enforcement, military or rescue activities.

4. The owner of the dog or cat provides a letter to Animal Services from a licensed veterinarian certifying that either: the animal’s health would be best served by spaying or neutering after a specified date, in which case a deposit as set forth in the city’s fee schedule or by separate resolution shall be provided to ensure spaying or neutering by the owner after the specified date; or that due to age, poor health, or illness it is unsafe to spay or neuter the animal at any time. This letter shall include the veterinarian’s license number and be updated periodically as necessary.

5. The dog or cat has been registered for breeding pursuant to this chapter.

C. Unaltered dogs and cats. An unaltered dog or cat shall be implanted with an animal microchip identification device identifying the owner of the animal. The dog license application for an unaltered dog shall contain the information requested by animal services, including the identification number of the implanted animal microchip identification device, the name and address of the owner, and the location at which the dog will be maintained. A license for an unaltered dog shall not be transferable, and shall not be issued to any person under the age of eighteen years.

D. Violations for not spaying or neutering. First time violators of this section shall be provided with a sixty day notice to comply prior to the issuance of a citation or the initiation of an enforcement action.

E. Applicability: Time to spay or neuter a dog or cat. The provisions of this section shall become operative on the effective date of this ordinance. However, an unaltered dog that has a valid dog license from the city shall not be subject to this subsection until the dog license expires.

6.20.160 – Breeding dogs and cats.

A. It is unlawful for any person to breed any dog or cat within the city that is not registered with the city manager pursuant to this section, unless a conditional use permit has been obtained authorizing the operation of a kennel or breeding facility as required by the city’s zoning ordinance.

B. Any person required to register their animals for breeding shall register with Animal Services on forms approved by the city manager. The registration form shall include, at a minimum, the following information:

1. The name, address and telephone numbers of the dog or cat’s owner;
2. The name, address and telephone numbers of the location where the dog or cat will be kept, if different than the name and address of the dog or cat’s owner;
3. The description of the dog or cat, including breed, color, age, name and sex;
4. The date of immunization for the dog or cat;
5. The type of rabies vaccine administered to the dog or cat; and
6. The license number of the dog.

Registration information must be updated within thirty days of any changes.

C. Violation. Failing to register a dog or cat for breeding, or failing to update registration information within thirty days of any changes, is a violation of this chapter subject to enforcement in the same manner as any other violation of the Municipal Code.