Santa Clara, California

6.10.100 Mandatory sterilization for multiple impounds.

Any unsterilized dog or cat impounded twice or more from the same owner within the lifetime of the animal shall be sterilized at the owner’s expense prior to redemption. At the option of the owner, a private veterinarian may perform the required spaying or neutering. The impounding agency may require that transportation to a private veterinarian be performed by the impounding agency. The owner may request a hearing as set forth in SCCC 6.10.060.

6.30.020 Maximum number of dogs, cats or litters.

(b) No person shall keep or maintain more than one unspayed female dog or one unspayed female cat, at any street address.

(c) A female dog or cat shall be rebuttably presumed to be unspayed, unless the owner provides evidence of spaying. Written certification from a licensed veterinarian that an animal cannot be spayed for health reasons or is incapable of breeding shall be deemed a satisfactory substitution for a certificate showing an animal is spayed.

(d) No person shall allow the parturition and rearing of more than one litter (dogs or cats) in any one calendar year from females owned by him/her or maintained on his/her premises.

6.30.040 License required.

(a) No person shall maintain or board any cat or dog four months of age or older that has not been licensed pursuant to the provisions of this title, except:

(b) A license shall not be required for an animal owned or under the control of a nonresident of the City that is to be kept in the City for less than thirty (30) days in any twelve (12) month period.

(c) A license shall not be required for cats or dogs temporarily brought into the City for entry into an event, show or exhibition scheduled not more than ten days thereafter.

6.30.050 License fees.

(a) Dog and cat license fees, including reduced fees for spayed females or neutered males, for each dog or cat within the City shall be those fixed by resolution of the City Council. Dog and cat license fees shall not be refundable in whole or in part.

(b) The City Manager may require the submission of a certificate of a licensed veterinarian stating that a dog or cat has been spayed or neutered, or cannot be spayed or neutered for health reasons and is incapable of breeding, or is incapable of breeding, prior to issuance of a license at a lesser fee.

6.35.120 Adoption of animals.

(a) Any person adopting an unspayed or unneutered dog or cat from any Humane Society animal shelter, public animal shelter or Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals shelter in the County of Santa Clara shall have such animal spayed or neutered on or before a date specified in the adoption agreement unless a licensed veterinarian states in writing that the date specified in the adoption agreement is inappropriate for the animal in question. On submission of such written statement to the person at such shelter responsible for ensuring compliance with this section, the adoption agreement will be modified accordingly.

(b) As a condition for adoption, the person adopting an animal may be required to deposit with the shelter an amount sufficient to cover the cost of spaying or neutering such animal by a veterinarian or spaying or altering clinic designated by the person adopting the animal. The deposit shall be forwarded to the veterinarian or clinic upon receipt by the pound or shelter of a notice from the veterinarian or clinic that the cat or dog has been spayed or neutered.