San Bernardino, California

§ 6.01.160 MANDATORY SPAY OR NEUTERING OF DOGS.

(A)   No person may own, keep, harbor or maintain a dog over the age of four months which has not been spayed or neutered unless the dog is exempt as follows:

(1)   The dog is a registered purebred, as defined in § 6.01.020, and has competed in at least one dog show or sporting competition sanctioned by a national registry within the last 365 calendar days or has earned a conformation, obedience, agility, carting, herding, protection, rally, sporting, working or other title from a purebred dog registry;

(2)   The animal is unable to be spayed or neutered without a high likelihood of suffering serious bodily harm or death due to age or infirmity. The owner or custodian must obtain written confirmation to that effect from a licensed veterinarian. The statement must also include the date by which the animal may be safely spayed or neutered, if at all possible; or

(3)   Dogs used by law enforcement agencies.

(B)   After the effective date of this chapter, pet owners will have 60 days to come into compliance. New pet owners or pet owners new to the city will have 60 days to come into compliance.

§ 6.01.170 IMPOUNDMENT OF DOGS.

(A)   When a dog is impounded, the owner or custodian may reclaim the animal; provided one of the following occurs.

(1)   The owner shows proof the animal is spayed or neutered.

(2)   The owner shall pay a spay/neuter deposit of $100 and shall then have 30 days to have the animal spayed or neutered. Upon proof of the spaying or neutering, the $100 deposit will be refunded to the pet owner. Failure to have the animal spayed or neutered in that time frame will result in forfeiture of the deposit.

(3)   Exempt animals whose status was denied or revoked under the provisions of § 6.01.180 will be required to comply with division (A)(1) above.

(B)   Costs for impoundment.

(1)   The owner of an unaltered animal shall be responsible for the costs of impoundment, including outstanding fines, fees or any amount set by the Mayor and City Council.

§ 6.01.180 DENIAL OR REVOCATION OF UNALTERED DOG LICENSE OR EXEMPT STATUS.

The Department may deny or revoke an unaltered dog license or exempt status for one or more of the following reasons.

(A)   The pet owner is not in compliance with all of the requirements of § 6.01.160(A)(1).

(B)   The Department has received at least one complaint, in writing, by a complainant and verified by the Department, that the pet owner has allowed the dog to run loose or escape.

(C)   The pet owner was previously cited for violating a state law, county code or other municipal provision relating to the care and control of animals.

(D)   The unaltered dog has been adjudicated by a court or an agency of appropriate jurisdiction to be potentially dangerous or vicious.