Santa Rosa, California

§ 7-12.020 License—Fee imposed.

An annual dog license fee set by resolution of the City Council is imposed upon every dog over the age of four months which is kept in the City by any person who is an owner as defined in Section 7-04.010. If a certificate is presented from a licensed veterinarian that the dog has been spayed or neutered, the annual license fee imposed shall be reduced by the sum set by resolution of the City Council. The license fee is due and payable on the day upon which the dog is four months old, or the day upon which the dog, if over the age of four months, is first owned by a resident of the City, and thereafter on the annual anniversary of the rabies vaccination. If the license fee is not paid on or before the annual rabies vaccination anniversary date, the license will be considered delinquent and the owner shall pay the delinquency penalty set by resolution of the City Council in addition to the assessed dog license fee and shall pay the penalty when the license is issued. However, any dog which first becomes subject to these licensing provisions solely by reason of annexation to the City of Santa Rosa of the territory in which the owner resides, is exempt from this section for the balance of the annual period for which such dog is properly licensed by the County of Sonoma.

§ 7-12.130 Recidivism.

Any unsterilized dog which is impounded a second time within a 12-month period for violation of restraint requirements shall be spayed or neutered within seven days of the redemption. Written verification from the veterinarian performing the surgery shall be provided by the owner to the poundmaster within seven days of the surgery.

§ 7-16.150 Adoption of animals—Spaying—Neutering.

All animals adopted from the pound shall be spayed or neutered within 30 days of adoption if the animal is over six months of age. All animals adopted under the age of six months shall be spayed or neutered within 30 days of the date the animal turns six months of age. Adoption fees shall be set by resolution of the City Council. The Poundmaster is empowered to seize and impound every animal found in violation of this section and shall require the owner of the animal to either spay or neuter the animal or to produce a certificate of sterilization signed and dated by a veterinarian which lists the veterinarian’s name, clinic’s name, address, telephone number, license number, pet name, age, breed and adequate description of the animal.

§ 7-20.020 Spaying or neutering of impounded cats.

The owner of any impounded cat shall pay any penalties or fees imposed by Sections 7-16.090 and 7-16.100. If the cat has not been spayed or neutered, the owner shall either have the cat spayed or neutered at the pound and pay the surgery fee established by Section 7-16.150, or after paying a deposit equal to the surgery fee, shall take the cat to a licensed veterinarian of the owner’s choice to be spayed or neutered. Upon documentation that the cat was spayed or neutered by a veterinarian within two weeks after the cat is released, the deposit shall be refunded. Spaying or neutering is not required if the cat cannot be spayed or neutered due to a medical condition or because it is incapable of breeding.

§ 7-20.090 Fees.

Fees for cat registration shall be set by resolution of the City Council. This registration fee shall be reduced by 50 percent for spayed or neutered cats. Owners over 62 years of age who furnish legal identification shall be entitled to a 50 percent reduction of this registration fee.