Visalia, California

6.12.090   License fees–Dogs or cats.

The Poundmaster shall collect a fee for dog and cat licensing.

A.   This subsection applies only to dogs or cats which have not been spayed or neutered.

1.   The annual license fee for each dog or cat so described in subsection (A) of this section shall be set by resolution of the city council on an annual basis in an amount to be recommended by the Poundmaster.

2.   The owner of an unaltered dog or cat will have the option of paying the altered license fee if they place a deposit for the estimated cost of spaying or neutering with the Poundmaster at the time they obtain a license. This deposit shall be forfeited if the operation is not performed within thirty (30) days, unless an extension of time is granted by the Poundmaster.

B.   This subsection applies only to dogs or cats which have been spayed or neutered, or which are unable to bear or produce offspring for physical or medical reasons.

1.   A certificate from a licensed veterinarian that the dog or cat comes within one of the provisions in subsection (B) of this section shall accompany the license form along with the fees set forth in this section.

2.   The annual license fee for each dog or cat so described in subsection (B) of this section shall be set by resolution of the city council on an annual basis in an amount to be recommended by the Poundmaster.

6.12.200   Spay/neuter compliance for shelter animals.

A.   A spay or neuter deposit will be required upon the purchase of any unaltered dog or cat from the City of Visalia Animal Care Center pursuant to Food and Agriculture Code 30503. Said fee shall be deposited by City into a fund to provide low cost spay or neuter surgery of future shelter animals. The fee shall be refunded if the owner provides proof the animal was altered within thirty (30) business days from the date the animal is redeemed or adopted or as otherwise allowed below in subsection (B), otherwise the fee becomes non-refundable.

B.   Any dog or cat, over four (4) months of age, that is redeemed or adopted from the City of Visalia Animal Care Center shall be spayed or neutered prior to release from the facility. For animals less than four months old, they shall be required to be spayed or neutered within thirty (30) days of reaching four months of age. An extension of time to perform surgery may be granted by the Poundmaster if a veterinarian provides a medical determination that the surgery cannot be performed as scheduled and must be postponed.

6.28.040   Breeder permit.

A.   It is unlawful for any person to breed more than one litters of dogs and/or cats in one year for sale

or profit or to advertise for the sale/adoption of such animals without first obtaining a breeder permit.

B.   The fees for a breeder permit shall be set by resolution of the city council and must be submitted to the Poundmaster for the breeding of dogs or cats that produce one or more litters in a year, as well as advertising for the sale of dogs and cats within the city limits. Breeding permit requirements are as follows:

1. No offspring can be sold/adopted until eight weeks of age;
   1. No offspring can be sold/adopted until vaccinated against common diseases;
   1. The breeder permit holder must display the permit number when advertising the animals for sale/adoption.

6.28.050   Breeder advertising.

It is unlawful for any person to advertise for the sale/adoption of a litter of dogs or cats in the city without including in the advertisement a city breeder permit number. A litter shall be defined as two or more offspring from the same female dog or cat.