Sacramento County, California

§ 8.16.030 Redemption.

C. If the impounded animal was previously impounded and released, the animal may be released to the owner upon payment of all fees required (including the license fee and penalty fee, if applicable) on condition that the animal has been spayed or neutered prior to its release either by the Department or by a Department approved veterinarian designated by the owner and the cost of spaying or neutering the animal, including any additional impoundment fees, have been paid by the owner. The Director may release the animal without compliance with this subdivision if satisfied that impoundment was not occasioned by the fault or negligence of the animal’s owner.

§ 8.16.040 Disposition of Impounded and Surrendered Animals.

b. When any unsterilized dog or cat is to be sold pursuant to this section, prior to the delivery of the animal there shall be deposited by the purchaser with the Chief of Animal Control an amount of money which shall be for the payment to a veterinarian for spaying or neutering of the purchased animal. The amount of said deposit shall be designated by the Chief of Animal Control and shall cover the approximate average cost of spaying or neutering. The deposit shall be forwarded to the veterinarian or clinic or to the owner of the animal upon receipt by the Chief of Animal Control of a notice from the veterinarian or clinic that the animal has been spayed or neutered.

§ 8.24.030 Dog and Cat Licenses.

b. No owner shall possess or harbor within the County any dog or cat over the age of four months that has not been sterilized, unless such person holds an unaltered license, unaltered license with reduced fee, or is otherwise exempted as set forth in Sections 8.08.030 or 8.24.030(m). Upon the written certification of a veterinarian that a dog or cat has been surgically sterilized, the amount of the license fee shall be one-half or less than the fee established for intact dogs or cats.

c. Any owner of an unaltered dog or cat shall be eligible to pay a reduced unaltered license fee if, upon written proof provided annually, the owner demonstrates to the Director that the animal qualifies as either a “competition dog or cat” or a “working ranch dog” according to the following criteria:

1. Competition Dogs and Cats.

A. The owner registers each dog or cat with the American Kennel Club, United Kennel Club, American Dog Breeders Association, International Cat Association, the Cat Fanciers Association, or other valid registry approved by the Department;

B. The animal participates in at least one event sanctioned by a national registry within the previous 12 month period from the date of issuance of the license or a showing that the animal has achieved a title from a purebred dog or cat registry. In the event that an owner cannot show proof that the animal has been shown in the previous 12 month period, the Department shall have the discretion to determine whether this subsection has been met; and

C. The owner does not breed the dog or cat during the time the animal holds a reduced unaltered license. This does not preclude the owner from obtaining an unaltered license at the full rate for the year the owner intends to breed the animal.

Or

2. Working Ranch Dogs.

A. The dog is defined as a working ranch dog; and

B. The owner does not breed the dog or cat during the time the animal holds a reduced unaltered license. This does not preclude the owner from obtaining an unaltered license at the full rate for the year the owner intends to breed the animal.

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m. The following are excused from ordinarily applicable license fee requirements, as specified:

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3. Dogs and cats that are certified in writing by a licensed veterinarian as not being suitable subjects for sterilizing due to health or age reasons will be assessed the altered license fee. If the animal at a later date is determined by the veterinarian to be suitable for sterilization then the appropriate fee will be assessed.

§ 8.24.055 Advertisements, Sale or Transfer of Animals.

a. Any person who advertises to the public the availability of any dog or cat for sale or transfer, whether for compensation or otherwise, shall prominently display the license number as described in Section 8.24.030 of this chapter in any such advertisement except as provided in subsection (a)(3) of this section.

1. If the person is selling a litter of puppies and/or kittens under the age of four months, the license number of the animal who was bred must be displayed.

2. If the person is selling a dog or cat over the age of four months, the license number of the animal who is being sold or transferred must be displayed.

3. If the person is selling a puppy or kitten under the age of four months, the person selling the puppy or kitten shall disclose upon request to the new owner or the Department the name and address of the animal’s original owner.

b. The dog or cat license holder must provide the dog or cat license number to any person who purchases or receives any dog or cat from the license holder and include the license number on any receipt of sale or transfer document. If the animal being sold or transferred is a locally bred puppy or kitten under the age of four months, the license holder must provide the license number of the animal who was bred on any receipt of sale or transfer document. If the puppy or kitten was bred from an animal residing outside the County’s jurisdictional boundaries, then the person selling the animal shall provide the name and address of the source of such dog or cat and any other pertinent information required by the Director.