Spay/Neuter
Santa Clarita, California
8.08.155 Hobby Breeder.
“Hobby breeder” is any person, except for a person possessing a valid animal facility license, who owns and breeds a dog or cat and sells the offspring for pay or for other compensation. A hobby breeder is required to obtain a license pursuant to Section 8.20.045.
8.12.060 Public Spay and Neuter Clinic—Establishment—Services and Fees.
A. The Director may establish a clinic, at which members of the public may have dogs and cats spayed or neutered in a humane manner upon payment of the fees set forth in Section 8.90.010.
B. A person submitting a dog or cat for the above service shall sign a consent form certifying thereon under penalty of perjury that he is the owner of the animals, or setting forth facts showing that he is otherwise authorized to present the animal for the above operation and such person may be required to furnish proof of such ownership or authority. Such consent shall contain a waiver of any and all liability of the County, City, the Department of Animal Care and Control and any county or City employees for any injury or death to an animal arising out of the aforementioned operation or any services provided incidental thereto.
C. The Department shall establish a return date by which a person submitting an animal for the above operation shall pick up such animal or be subject to a reasonable board and care fee to commence the day after such return date. Failure to pick up an animal within fifteen (15) days of the return date shall be deemed abandonment of such animal, and the Director may dispose of it by sale or destruction.
8.20.045 Hobby Breeding—License Required—Fees.
A person who is a hobby breeder as defined in Section 8.08.155 shall obtain a hobby breeding license in the amount set forth in Section 8.90.010. Each license shall authorize the birth of no more than one (1) litter per female dog or cat in any twelve (12) month period and no more than one (1) litter per domestic household in any twelve (12) month period. Breeding in excess of that authorized under this section requires a breeding facility license (see Sections 8.08.070 and 8.40.200 et seq.) and may result in further penalties.
8.20.110 License Tag—Fee for Spayed or Neutered Animals.
Pursuant to Section 30804.5 of the Food and Agricultural Code, any dog license tag issued pursuant to Section 8.20.030 of this Part 1 shall be issued for one-half or less of the fee required if a certificate is presented from a licensed veterinarian that the dog has been spayed or neutered.
8.20.350 Mandatory Spaying, Neutering of Dogs.
A. No person may own, keep, or harbor a dog over the age of four (4) months in violation of this section. An owner or custodian of an unaltered dog must have the dog spayed or neutered or obtain an unaltered dog license in accordance with Section 8.20.355.
B. The owner or custodian of a dog which is unable to be spayed or neutered without a high likelihood of suffering serious bodily harm or death due to age or infirmity must obtain written confirmation of that fact from a licensed veterinarian. The writing must also state the date by which the dog may be safely spayed or neutered. If the dog is unable to be spayed or neutered within thirty (30) days, the owner or custodian must apply for an unaltered dog license.
8.20.355 Unaltered Dog License—Requirements.
An owner or custodian of an unaltered dog over the age of four (4) months must obtain an annual unaltered dog license for the dog. The license shall be issued if the department has determined that all of the following conditions are met:
A. The dog is one of the following: a competition dog as defined in Section 8.08.097; a dog used by a law enforcement agency for law enforcement purposes; a qualified service or assistance dog as defined in Section 8.20.090; or a dog which is unable to be spayed or neutered as set forth in Section 8.20.350(B);
B. The owner or custodian has submitted the required application and has paid the fee set forth in Section 8.90.010(VI)(A); and
C. The unaltered dog will be maintained in accordance with the provisions of Los Angeles County Code Section 8.40.010, and with applicable state animal care and control laws.
8.20.360 Denial or Revocation of Unaltered Dog License—Grounds and Reapplication.
A. Animal Control Services may deny or revoke an unaltered dog license for one or more of the following reasons:
1. The applicant or licensee is not in compliance with all of the requirements of Section 8.20.355;
2. The department has received at least one complaint, verified by the complainant under penalty of perjury, that the applicant or licensee has allowed a dog to run loose or escape, or has otherwise been found to be neglectful of his or her dog or other animals;
3. The applicant or licensee has been previously cited for violating a state law, county code or other municipal provision relating to the care and control of animals;
4. The unaltered dog has been adjudicated by a court or an agency of appropriate jurisdiction to be a potentially dangerous or vicious dog, or to be a nuisance within the meaning of the Los Angeles County Code or under State law;
5. Any unaltered dog license held by the applicant has been revoked;
6. A female unaltered dog has had more than one litter per year, or five (5) or more litters in her lifetime; or
7. The license application is discovered to contain a material misrepresentation of fact.
B. Reapplication for Unaltered Dog License.
1. When an unaltered dog license is denied, the applicant may reapply for a license upon a showing that the requirements of Section 8.20.355 have been met. The department shall refund one-half of the license fee when an application is denied. The applicant shall pay the full fee upon reapplication.
2. When an unaltered dog license is revoked, the owner or custodian of the dog may apply for a new license after a thirty (30) day waiting period upon a showing that the requirements of Section 8.20.355 have been met. No part of an unaltered dog license fee is refundable when a license is revoked and the applicant shall pay the full fee upon reapplication.
8.20.365 Appeal of Denial or Revocation of Unaltered Dog License.
A. Request for Hearing.
1. Notice of Intent to Deny or Revoke. The department shall mail to the owner or custodian a written notice of its intent to deny or revoke the license for an unaltered dog which includes the reason(s) for the denial or revocation. The owner or custodian may request a hearing to appeal the denial or revocation. The request must be made in writing within ten (10) days after the notice of intent to deny or revoke is mailed. Failure to submit a timely written hearing request shall be deemed a waiver of the right to appeal the license denial or revocation.
2. Hearing Officer. The hearing shall be conducted by the director’s designee.
3. Notice and Conduct of Hearing. The department shall mail a written notice of the date, time, and place for the hearing not less than ten (10) days before the hearing date. The hearing date shall be no more than thirty (30) days after the department’s receipt of the request for a hearing. Failure of the owner or custodian or his or her agent to appear at the hearing will result in forfeiture of the right to a hearing. The hearing will be informal and the rules of evidence will not be strictly observed. The department shall mail a written decision to the owner or custodian within ten (10) days after the hearing. The decision of the hearing officer shall be the final administrative decision.
B. Change in Location of Dog. If the dog is moved after the department has issued a letter of intent to deny or revoke, but has not yet denied or revoked the license, the owner or custodian must provide the department with information as to the dog’s whereabouts, including the current owner or custodian’s name, address, and telephone number.
8.20.370 Transfer, Sale and Breeding of Unaltered Dog.
A. Offer for Sale or Transfer of Unaltered Dog. An owner or custodian who offers any unaltered dog for sale, trade, or adoption must include a valid unaltered dog license number with the offer of sale, trade or adoption, or otherwise state and establish compliance with Section 8.20.350. The license and microchip numbers must appear on a document transferring the dog to the new owner.
B. Transfer of Unaltered Dog. The owner or custodian of an unaltered dog over the age of four (4) months, which is not a competition dog as defined in Section 8.08.097, must demonstrate compliance with Sections 8.20.185 and 8.20.350 prior to the transfer, and must notify the department of the name and address of the transferee within ten (10) days after the transfer.
C. Notification of Litter and Sale or Transfer of Puppies. Within thirty (30) days after a litter is born to a female dog, the owner or custodian of the female dog shall advise the department in writing of the number of live born puppies. When a puppy under the age of four (4) months is sold or otherwise transferred to another person, the owner or custodian shall advise the department of the name and address of the new owner or custodian, and the microchip number of the puppy, if applicable, within ten (10) days after the transfer.
The penalties for violations of any provision of this part are as follows:
A. First Violation. A first violation shall be an infraction punishable by a fine not to exceed two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00). If the owner or custodian fails to correct the underlying cause of the violation within thirty (30) days after being notified of the violation, it shall be deemed a second violation.
B. Second Violation. A violation within a year of a first violation shall be deemed a second violation. A second violation is a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment in the county jail for a period not to exceed six (6) months or by a fine not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000), or by both such fine and imprisonment. Each subsequent violation within one year shall be considered an additional misdemeanor.
8.20.380 Impoundment of Unaltered Dog.
A. When an unaltered dog is impounded, the owner or custodian may reclaim the unaltered dog when one of the following occurs:
1. The dog is spayed or neutered by a department veterinarian at the expense of the owner or custodian. Such expense may include additional fees due to extraordinary care required;
2. The dog is spayed or neutered by another department-approved veterinarian. The owner or custodian may arrange for another department-approved veterinarian to spay or neuter the dog, and shall pay to the department the cost to deliver the dog to the chosen veterinarian. The cost to deliver the dog shall be based on the department’s hourly rate established by the Auditor-Controller, billed in minimum one-hour increments. The veterinarian shall complete and return to the department, within ten (10) days, a statement confirming that the dog has been spayed or neutered and shall release the dog to the owner or custodian only after the spay or neuter procedure is complete;
3. At the discretion of the director, the dog may be released to the owner or custodian if he or she signs a statement under penalty of perjury representing that the dog will be spayed or neutered and that he or she will submit a statement within ten (10) days, signed by the veterinarian, confirming that the dog has been spayed or neutered; or
4. If the owner or custodian demonstrates compliance with Section 8.20.350.
B. Costs of Impoundment.
1. The owner or custodian of the unaltered dog shall be responsible for the costs of impoundment, which shall include daily board costs.
2. The costs of impoundment shall be a lien on the dog, and the unaltered dog shall not be returned to its owner or custodian until the costs are paid. If the owner or custodian of an impounded unaltered dog does not pay the lien against the dog in full within fourteen (14) days, the dog shall be deemed abandoned to the department in accordance with Section 8.36.310.
8.24.030 Spaying or Neutering—Condition of Sale—Deposit Required.
As a condition to the sale or giving away of any cat that has not been spayed or neutered, the purchaser or recipient shall deposit with the Department of Animal Care and Control, at the time of the sale or giving away, an amount determined by the Director to be sufficient to cover the costs of neutering or spaying the cat, but in no event shall such deposit exceed thirty dollars ($30.00). Such deposit is to be paid to a licensed veterinarian upon proof that he has performed the required neutering or spaying operation within the time period as set forth in Section 8.24.060, and may include an amount necessary to recover any additional costs to the department under this chapter.
8.24.050 Spaying or Neutering—Deposit Paid to Veterinarian.
Whenever a cat has been spayed or neutered as provided herein, the depositor shall be entitled to have the deposit paid to the licensed veterinarian performing the above operation, or the Director may return the deposit to the person purchasing or receiving the cat upon written statement or receipt from the licensed veterinarian that the cat has been spayed or neutered, and the Director shall draw the necessary demand on the auditor therefor.
8.24.060 Spaying or Neutering—Deposit Forfeited Without Proof of Operation—Conditions.
Any cat over six (6) months of age at the time it is sold or given away shall be spayed or neutered with sixty (60) days, or the deposit shall be deemed forfeited. Any cat under six (6) months of age at the time it is sold or given away shall be spayed or neutered within sixty (60) days after reaching the age of six (6) months or the deposit shall be deemed forfeited. The Director may extend such time periods in writing upon the showing of good cause therefor. The age of the cat for purposes of this chapter shall be determined by the Department. At least thirty (30) days before the end of the said sixty (60) day period, or any written extension thereof, the Department shall send the purchaser notice by mail to the address on file with the Department, informing the purchaser that failure to furnish satisfactory proof of performance of the operation prior to the end of the sixty (60) day period or its extension shall result in forfeiture of the deposit. If said notice has been sent and the allotted time has elapsed without satisfactory proof of performance of the operation, the deposit shall be forfeited and the Director shall transfer such money from the trust fund to the County Treasury.
8.24.070 Spaying or Neutering—Deposit Refund Conditions.
Whenever any cat which has been purchased from the Department of Animal Care and Control, while it was under the age of six (6) months, dies or is destroyed prior to being spayed of neutered as required in this chapter, the purchaser shall be entitled to a refund upon presenting satisfactory proof to the Director of such death or destruction, and the Director shall draw the necessary demand on the auditor therefor. No refund shall be made, however, where death or destruction occurs following the time within which the aforementioned operation was required to be performed.
8.36.340 Spaying or Neutering—Condition of Sale—Deposit Required.
As a condition to the sale or giving away of any dog that has not been spayed or neutered, the purchaser or recipient shall deposit with the Department of Animal Care and Control, at the time of the sale or giving away, an amount determined by the Director to be sufficient to cover the costs of neutering or spaying the dog but in no event shall such deposit exceed forty dollars ($40.00). Such deposit is to be paid to a licensed veterinarian upon proof that he has performed the required neutering or spaying operation within the time period as set forth in Section 8.36.370, and may include an amount necessary to recover any additional costs to the department under this chapter.
8.36.360 Spaying or Neutering—Deposit Paid to Veterinarian.
Whenever a dog has been spayed or neutered as provided herein, the depositor shall be entitled to have the deposit paid to the licensed veterinarian performing the above operation, or the Director may return the deposit to the person purchasing or receiving the dog upon written statement or receipt from the licensed veterinarian that the dog has been spayed or neutered, and the Director shall draw the necessary demand on the auditor therefor.
8.36.370 Spaying or Neutering—Deposit Forfeited Without Proof of Operation—Conditions.
Any dog over six months of at the time it is sold or given away shall be spayed or neutered within sixty (60) days or the deposit shall be deemed forfeited. Any dog under six months of age at the time it is sold or given away shall be spayed or neutered within sixty (60) days after reaching the age of six (6) months or the deposit shall be deemed forfeited. The Director may extend such time periods in writing upon the showing of good cause therefor. The age of the dog for purposes of this chapter shall be determined by the department. At least thirty (30) days before the end of the said sixty (60) day period, or any written extension thereof, the department shall send the purchaser notice by mail to the address on file with the department, informing the purchaser that failure to furnish satisfactory proof of performance of the operation prior to the end of the sixty (60) day period or its extension shall result in forfeiture of the deposit. If said notice has been sent and the allotted time has elapsed without satisfactory proof of performance of the operation, the deposit shall be forfeited and the Director shall transfer such money from the trust fund to the county treasury.
8.36.380 Spaying or Neutering—Deposit Refund Conditions.
Whenever any dog which has been purchased from the Department of Animal Care and Control, while it was under the age of six (6)months, dies, or is destroyed prior to being spayed or neutered as required in this chapter, the purchaser shall be entitled to a refund upon presenting satisfactory proof to the Director of such death or destruction, and the Director shall draw the necessary demand on the auditor therefor. No refund shall be made, however, where death or destruction occurs following the time within which the aforementioned operation was required to be performed.
8.90.010 Licensing Fees Schedule.
The license fees required to be paid are as follows, except that the Director may waive any fees in cases of undue hardship:
I. Individual Animal Licenses
Every person owning a dog or cat over the age of four (4) months shall obtain an annual license and tag for each such dog or cat; except, there shall be a one-time-only fee for registration of discharged military dogs, for guide dogs or seeing-eye dogs, for signal dogs trained to assist the hearing impaired, and for service dogs trained to perform tasks to assist the physically handicapped, upon payment of the following fees:
A. Dog License and Tag Fees
Dogs over four (4) months:
1. Unaltered (unspayed/unneutered) ($5.00 of each fee received is designated for low cost spay/neuter program) $60.00
2. Altered (spayed/neutered) ($5.00 of each fee received is designated for low cost spay/neuter program) $20.00
3. Senior citizen – Spayed/neutered dog $7.50
B. Cat License Fees
1. Unspayed/unneutered $10.00
2. Spayed/neutered $5.00
