Spay/Neuter Law in Watsonville, California

6-1.1001 Mandatory spaying/neutering.

(a) No person shall own, harbor or keep within the limits of City of Watsonville, a dog or cat over the age of six (6) months, which has not been spayed or neutered unless such person holds an unaltered animal certification for the animal issued pursuant to Section 6.1-1002 of this chapter.

(b) Any person intentionally providing care or sustenance for a dog or cat shall be deemed the owner of such dog or cat and shall comply with this section.

(1) Dogs documented as having been appropriately trained and actually being used by public law enforcement agencies for law enforcement activities, or dogs designated as breeding stock by an appropriate agency or organization approved by the director of animal control services after consultation with knowledgeable professionals;

(2) Dogs documented as having been appropriately trained and actually being used as a service dog such as a guide dog, hearing dog, assistance dog, seizure alert dog or social/therapy dog, or a dog designated as breeding stock by an appropriate agency or organization approved by the director of animal control services after consultation with knowledgeable professionals;

(3) Dogs documented as having been appropriately trained and actually being used by search and rescue agencies for search and rescue activities, or dogs designated as breeding stock by an appropriate agency or organization approved by the director of animal control services after consultation with knowledgeable professionals;

(4) Dogs or cats certified by a licensed veterinarian as having a health reason for not being spayed/neutered;

(5) Dogs which are appropriately trained and actually being used for herding of other animals, or as livestock guardian dogs, or dogs designated as breeding stock by an appropriate agency or organization approved by the director of animal control services after consultation with knowledgeable professionals;

(6) Dogs or cats boarded in a licensed kennel or a business which boards such animals for professional training or resale.

6-1.1002 Unaltered animal certification; administration.

(a) The Director of Animal Control Services shall administer a certification program to allow for unaltered cats over the age of six (6) months, and an annual certification program for unaltered dogs over the age of six (6) months, when the Director of Animal Control Services determines that the following conditions have been met:

(1) The dog or cat is examined annually by a licensed veterinarian and is following the preventive health care program recommended by the veterinarian;

(2) The owner has not had more than two (2) violations of Chapter 1 of Title 6 of this Code within the preceding twenty-four (24) months;

(3) The dog or cat is properly housed and cared for as follows:

(i) The animal is provided sufficient quantity of good and wholesome water;

(ii) The animal is provided shelter that will allow the animal to stand up, turn around and lie down without lying in his/her feces;

(iii) The area where the animal is kept is properly cleaned and disinfected; and

(iv) If the animal is a dog, it must be fully contained on the owner’s property and be provided appropriate exercise.

(4) The dog or cat owner otherwise complies with any applicable state or local law concerning the care and housing of dog or cats; and

(5) The owner furnishes the director of animal control with a signed statement agreeing to the following conditions:

(i) The female unaltered dog or cat will have no more than one litter per year, unless the owner furnishes the director of animal control, in advance of any breeding, a written statement from a licensed veterinarian recommending that the female be allowed to have up to two (2) litters per year. This written recommendation may result from the annual examination required pursuant to subsection (a)(1) above;

(ii) Offspring of the unaltered animal will not be sold or adopted until they are at least seven (7) weeks of age; and

(iii) Records will be kept documenting how many offspring were produced and the identity of the person(s) who adopted or purchased them.

(b) Any owner advertising to the public the availability of any dog or cat for adoption, sale, barter or other transfer must prominently display his or her unaltered animal certification number in the advertisement. The certification number shall also be provided to any person adopting or purchasing any dog or cat breed in the City of Watsonville.

(c) Commercial establishments selling locally bred dogs or cats shall prominently display the unaltered animal certification number of the animal’s owner.

(d) Any owner an unspayed or unneutered dog or cat who has been cited for failing to obtain an unaltered animal certification may have his or her citation dismissed if there is proof that the animal has been spayed or neutered within thirty (30) days of the issuance of the citation.

(e) Any owner who is denied an unaltered animal certification or whose certification is revoked by the director of animal control for failure to comply with the requirements of this section may appeal such denial or revocation to the City Manager or his designee. The decision of the City Manager or his designee shall be final. This deadline to file such appeal shall be ten (10) calendar days from the date of such denial or revocation.

6-1.1107 Return to owner—Conditions.

No animal properly seized under this article shall be returned to its owner until, in the determination of the seizing agency or hearing officer, the animal is physically fit or the owner can demonstrate to the seizing agency’s or hearing officer’s satisfaction that the owner can and will provide the necessary care. In the case of an unaltered dog which weighs over twenty (20) pounds, the owner or keeper shall have the dog altered or obtain an unaltered animal certificate pursuant to Section 6-1.1002 and submit to a facility check by the Animal Control Department before the dog is released.

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