Amended
IN
Assembly
April 17, 2024 |
Amended
IN
Assembly
March 18, 2024 |
Introduced by Assembly Member McCarty |
February 08, 2024 |
(1)Under
(2)Existing
This bill would additionally prohibit a public animal control agency or shelter from giving a dog or cat to a foster unless the public animal control agency or shelter schedules a spay or neuter surgery for the dog or cat within 5 business days of the dog or cat departing the public animal control agency or shelter, and would require the surgery to be performed within 30 business days of the dog or cat departing the shelter. The bill would require a public animal control agency or shelter to require a
foster to voluntarily return a dog or cat if the foster fails to bring the dog or cat to their scheduled spay or neuter appointment, and, in certain situations, would require a public animal control agency or shelter to visit the foster’s home to confirm whether the dog or cat has been altered, and, if the dog or cat is still unaltered, would require the public animal control agency or shelter to confiscate the dog or cat. To the extent that the above-described provisions impose unique requirements on public animal control agencies or shelters, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
Existing law requires an adopter or purchaser to pay to a public animal control agency or shelter, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals shelter, humane society shelter, or rescue group a temporary deposit of not less than $40 and not more than $75 if a veterinarian licensed to practice veterinary medicine in this state certifies that a dog or cat is too sick or
injured to be spayed or neutered, or that it would otherwise be detrimental to the health of the dog or cat to be spayed or neutered.
This bill would increase the amount of that temporary deposit to $200.
Existing law authorizes a public animal control agency or shelter, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals shelter, humane society shelter, or rescue group, in certain counties with a population of less than 100,000 persons, to transfer to a new owner a dog or cat that has not been spayed or neutered only if that entity requires a written agreement where the recipient agrees in writing to be responsible for ensuring the dog or cat will be spayed or neutered within 30 business days and receives a sterilization deposit of not less than $40 and not more than $75, as provided. Existing law authorizes these entities to extend that date, in writing, at its discretion for good cause shown, as provided.
This bill would increase the amount of that sterilization deposit to $200. The bill would also delete the authorization to extend the date by which this spaying or neutering is to be completed.
(3)The
(4)Existing law, unless a different penalty is expressly provided, makes a violation of any provision of the Food and Agricultural Code a misdemeanor.
Because the above provisions would be part of that code, the violation of which would be a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
(a)For purposes of this section, a “rescue group” is a for-profit or not-for-profit entity, or a collaboration of individuals with at least one of its purposes being the sale or placement of dogs that have been removed from a public animal control agency or shelter, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals shelter, or humane shelter, or that have been previously owned
by any person other than the original breeder of that dog.
(b)(1)Except as otherwise provided in subdivision (c), a public animal control agency or shelter, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals shelter, humane society shelter, or rescue group shall not sell or give away to a new owner any dog that has not been spayed or neutered.
(2)(A)A public animal control agency or shelter shall not give a dog to a foster unless the public animal control agency or shelter schedules a spay or neuter surgery for the dog within five business days of the dog departing the public animal control agency or shelter. The surgery shall be performed within 30 business days of the dog departing the shelter.
(B)If the foster fails to bring the dog to the dog’s scheduled spay or neuter appointment pursuant to subparagraph (A), the public animal control agency or shelter shall require the foster to voluntarily return the dog within seven business days of the foster receiving notification from the public animal control agency or shelter to return the dog.
(C)If a foster fails to bring a dog to their scheduled spay or neuter appointment pursuant to subparagraph (A) and the public animal control agency or shelter is unable to contact the foster, the public animal control agency or shelter shall, within 14 business days of the missed appointment, conduct a site visit to the foster’s home to confirm whether the dog has been altered and, if the dog is still unaltered, the public animal control agency or shelter shall confiscate the dog.
(c)(1)If a veterinarian licensed to practice veterinary medicine in this state certifies that a dog is too sick or injured to be spayed or neutered, or that it would otherwise be detrimental to the health of the dog to be spayed or neutered, the adopter or purchaser shall pay the public animal control agency or shelter, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals shelter, humane society shelter, or rescue group a deposit of two hundred dollars
($200).
(2)The deposit shall be temporary, and shall only be retained until the dog is healthy enough to be spayed or neutered, as certified by a veterinarian licensed to practice veterinary medicine in this state.
(3)The dog shall be spayed or neutered within 14 business days of that certification.
(4)The adopter or purchaser shall obtain written proof of spaying or neutering from the veterinarian performing the operation.
(5)If the adopter or purchaser presents proof of spaying or neutering to the entity from which the dog was obtained within 30 business days of obtaining the proof, the adopter or purchaser shall receive a full refund of the deposit.
(d)Public animal control agencies or shelters, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals shelters, humane society shelters, and rescue groups may enter into cooperative agreements with each other and with veterinarians in lieu of requiring spaying and neutering deposits to carry out this section.
(e)Any funds from unclaimed deposits made pursuant to this section, as it read on January 1, 1999, and any funds from deposits that are unclaimed after January 1, 2000, may be expended only for programs to spay or neuter dogs and cats, including agreements with a society for the prevention of cruelty to animals or a humane society or licensed veterinarian to operate a program to spay or neuter dogs and cats.
(f)This section only applies to a county that has a population exceeding 100,000 persons as of
January 1, 2000, and to cities within that county.
(a)This chapter only applies to a county that has a population of less than 100,000 persons as of January 1, 2000, and to cities within that county. A county whose population exceeds 100,000 persons in a year subsequent to January 1, 2000, shall be subject to Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 30501) commencing on January 1 of the year immediately following the year in which the population of that county exceeds 100,000 persons.
(b)(1)Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, a public animal control agency or shelter, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals shelter, humane society shelter, or rescue group shall not sell or give away any dog that has not been spayed or neutered.
(2)(A)A public animal control agency or shelter shall not give a dog to a foster unless the public animal control agency or shelter schedules a spay or neuter surgery for the dog within five business days of the dog departing the public animal control agency or shelter. The surgery shall be performed within 30 business days of the dog departing the shelter.
(B)If the foster fails to bring the dog to the dog’s scheduled spay or neuter appointment pursuant to subparagraph (A), the public animal control agency or shelter shall require the foster to voluntarily return the dog within seven business days of the foster receiving notification from the public animal control agency or shelter to return the dog.
(C)If a foster fails to bring a dog to their scheduled spay or neuter appointment pursuant to subparagraph (A) and the public animal control agency or shelter is unable to contact the foster, the public animal control agency or shelter shall, within 14 business days of the missed appointment, conduct a site visit to the foster’s home to confirm whether the dog has been altered and, if the dog is still unaltered, the public animal control agency or shelter shall confiscate the dog.
(c)A public animal control agency or shelter, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals shelter, humane society shelter, or rescue group shall not transfer to a new owner a dog that has not been spayed or neutered, except as provided in subdivision (d).
(d)A public animal control agency or shelter, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals shelter, humane society shelter, or rescue group may transfer to a new owner a dog that has not been spayed or neutered only if the animal shelter does both of the following:
(1)Requires a written agreement, executed by the recipient, acknowledging the dog is not spayed or neutered and the recipient agrees in writing to be responsible for ensuring the dog will be spayed or neutered within 30 business days after the agreement is signed.
(2)Receives from the recipient a sterilization deposit of two hundred dollars ($200), the terms of which are part of the written agreement executed by the recipient under this section.
(e)Public animal control agencies or shelters, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals shelters, humane society shelters, and rescue groups may enter into cooperative agreements with each other and with veterinarians in lieu of requiring spaying and neutering deposits to carry out this section.
(a)A spaying or neutering deposit may be either of the following:
(1)A portion of the adoption fee or other fees rendered in acquiring the dog that will enable the adopter to take the dog for spaying or neutering to a veterinarian with whom the public animal control agency or shelter, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals shelter, humane society shelter, or rescue group has an agreement that provides that the veterinarian will bill the shelter directly for the sterilization.
(2)A deposit that is both of the following:
(A)Refundable to the recipient if proof of spaying or neutering of the dog is presented to the public animal control agency or shelter, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals shelter, humane society shelter, or rescue group not more than 30 business days after the date the dog is spayed or neutered.
(B)Forfeited to the public animal control agency or shelter, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals shelter, humane society shelter, or rescue group if proof of spaying or neutering is not presented to the animal shelter within 30 business days.
(b)A spaying or neutering deposit shall be in the amount of two hundred dollars ($200).
(c)All spaying or neutering deposits forfeited or unclaimed under this section shall be retained by the public animal control agency or shelter, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals shelter, humane society shelter, or rescue group and shall be used by the public animal control agency or shelter, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals shelter, humane society shelter, or rescue group only for the following purposes:
(1)A program to spay or neuter dogs and cats.
(2)A public education program to reduce and prevent overpopulation of dogs and cats, and the related costs to local government.
(3)A followup program to ensure that dogs and cats transferred by the public animal control agency or shelter, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals shelter, humane society shelter, or rescue group are spayed or neutered in accordance with the agreement executed under subdivision (d) of Section 30520.
(4)Any additional costs incurred by the public animal control agency or shelter, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals shelter, humane society shelter, or rescue group in the administration of the requirements of this chapter.
(a)(1)If a recipient fails to comply with the spaying or neutering agreement within 30 business days after the agreement is signed, the recipient shall forfeit the sterilization deposit and is subject to a civil penalty pursuant to Section 30523.
(2)An animal control officer, humane officer, police officer, peace officer, or any agency authorized to enforce the Penal Code may write citations with a civil penalty stated in an amount corresponding to the violation as provided in Section 30523. The civil penalties shall be paid to the local municipality or public animal control agency or shelter, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals shelter, humane shelter, or rescue group. Any funds collected under this section shall be expended for the purpose of humane education, programs for low-cost spaying and neutering of dogs and cats, and any additional costs incurred by the animal shelter in the administration of the requirements of this chapter.
(3)If the owner, at any time subsequent to 30 business days after the spaying or neutering agreement was signed, provides proof of spaying or neutering, the deposit shall be forfeited, but any fine levied but not yet paid, shall be waived.
(b)If a veterinarian licensed to practice veterinary medicine in this state certifies that a dog is too sick or injured to be spayed or neutered, or that it would otherwise be detrimental to the health of the dog to be spayed or neutered, the adopter or purchaser shall pay the public animal control agency or shelter, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals shelter, humane society shelter, or rescue group a deposit of two hundred dollars ($200). The deposit shall be temporary, and shall be retained only until the dog is healthy enough to be spayed or neutered as certified by a veterinarian licensed to practice veterinary medicine in this state. The dog shall be spayed or neutered within 14 business days of that certification. The adopter or purchaser shall obtain written proof of spaying or neutering from the veterinarian performing the operation. If the adopter or purchaser presents proof of spaying or neutering to the entity from which the dog was obtained within 30 business days, the adopter or purchaser shall receive a full refund of the deposit.
(c)If an adopted dog dies within the spaying or neutering period provided for in the written agreement pursuant to Section 30520, subdivision (b) shall not apply to the dog. In that case, the recipient may receive a reimbursement of the sterilization deposit by submitting to the public animal control agency or shelter, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals shelter, humane society shelter, or rescue group within the sterilization period a signed letter from a veterinarian licensed to practice medicine in this state stating that the animal has died. The letter shall include a description of the dog.
(a)For purposes of this section a “rescue group” is a for-profit or not-for-profit entity, or a collaboration of individuals with at least one of its purposes being the sale or placement of cats that have been removed from a public animal control agency or shelter, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals shelter, or humane shelter or that have been previously owned
by any person other than the original breeder of that cat.
(b)(1)Except as otherwise provided in subdivision (c), a public animal control agency or shelter, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals shelter, humane society shelter, or rescue group shall not sell or give away to a new owner any cat that has not been spayed or neutered.
(2)(A)A public animal control agency or shelter shall not give a cat to a foster unless the public animal control agency or shelter schedules a spay or neuter surgery for the cat within five business days of the cat departing the public animal control agency or shelter. The surgery shall be performed within 30 business days of the cat departing the shelter.
(B)If the foster fails to bring the cat to the cat’s scheduled spay or neuter appointment pursuant to subparagraph (A), the public animal control agency or shelter shall require the foster to voluntarily return the cat within seven business days of the foster receiving notification from the public animal control agency or shelter to return the cat.
(C)If a foster fails to bring a cat to their scheduled spay or neuter appointment pursuant to subparagraph (A) and the public animal control agency or shelter is unable to contact the foster, the public animal control agency or shelter shall, within 14 business days of the missed appointment, conduct a site visit to the foster’s home to confirm whether the cat has been altered and, if the cat is still unaltered, the public animal control agency or shelter shall confiscate the cat.
(c)(1)If a veterinarian licensed to practice veterinary medicine in this state certifies that a cat is too sick or injured to be spayed or neutered, or that it would otherwise be detrimental to the health of the cat to be spayed or neutered, the adopter or purchaser shall pay the public animal control agency or shelter, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals shelter, humane society shelter, or rescue group a deposit of two hundred dollars
($200).
(2)The deposit shall be temporary, and shall only be retained until the cat is healthy enough to be spayed or neutered, as certified by a veterinarian licensed to practice veterinary medicine in this state.
(3)The cat shall be spayed or neutered within 14 business days of that certification.
(4)The adopter or purchaser shall obtain written proof of spaying or neutering from the veterinarian performing the operation.
(5)If the adopter or purchaser presents proof of spaying or neutering to the entity from which the cat was obtained within 30 business days of obtaining the proof, the adopter or purchaser shall receive a full refund of the deposit.
(d)Public animal control agencies or shelters, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals shelters, humane society shelters, and rescue groups may enter into cooperative agreements with each other and with veterinarians in lieu of requiring spaying and neutering deposits to carry out this section.
(e)Any funds from unclaimed deposits made pursuant to this section, as it read on January 1, 1999, and any funds from deposits unclaimed after January 1, 2000, may be expended only for programs to spay or neuter cats and dogs, including agreements with a society for the prevention of cruelty to animals or a humane society or licensed veterinarian, to operate a program to spay or neuter cats and dogs.
(f)This section only applies to a county that has a population exceeding 100,000 persons as of January
1, 2000, and to cities within that county.
(a)This chapter only applies to a county that has a population of less than 100,000 persons as of January 1, 2000, and to cities within that county. A county whose population exceeds 100,000 persons in a year subsequent to January 1, 2000, shall be subject to Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 31751) commencing on January 1 of the year immediately following the year in which the population of that county exceeds 100,000 persons.
(b)(1)Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, a public animal control agency or shelter, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals shelter, humane society shelter, or rescue group shall not sell or give away any cat that has not been spayed or neutered.
(2)(A)A public animal control agency or shelter shall not give a cat to a foster unless the public animal control agency or shelter schedules a spay or neuter surgery for the cat within five business days of the cat departing the public animal control agency or shelter. The surgery shall be performed within 30 business days of the cat departing the shelter.
(B)If the foster fails to bring the cat to the cat’s scheduled spay or neuter appointment pursuant to subparagraph (A), the public animal control agency or shelter shall require the foster to voluntarily return the cat within seven business days of the foster receiving notification from the public animal control agency or shelter to return the cat.
(C)If a foster fails to bring a cat to their scheduled spay or neuter appointment pursuant to subparagraph (A) and the public animal control agency or shelter is unable to contact the foster, the public animal control agency or shelter shall, within 14 business days of the missed appointment, conduct a site visit to the foster’s home to confirm whether the cat has been altered and, if the cat is still unaltered, the public animal control agency or shelter shall confiscate the cat.
(c)A public animal control agency or shelter, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals shelter, humane society shelter, or rescue group shall not transfer to a new owner a cat that has not been spayed or neutered, except as provided in subdivision (d).
(d)A public animal control agency or shelter, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals shelter, humane society shelter, or rescue group may transfer to a new owner a cat that has not been spayed or neutered only if the public animal control agency or shelter, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals shelter, humane society shelter, or rescue group does both of the following:
(1)Requires a written agreement, executed by the recipient, acknowledging the cat is not spayed or neutered and the recipient agrees in writing to be responsible for ensuring the cat will be spayed or neutered within 30 business days after the agreement is signed.
(2)Receives from the recipient a sterilization deposit of two hundred dollars ($200).
(e)Public animal control agencies or shelters, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals shelters, humane society shelters, and rescue groups may enter into cooperative agreements with each other and with veterinarians in lieu of requiring spaying and neutering deposits to carry out this section.
(a)A spaying or neutering deposit may be either of the following:
(1)A portion of the adoption fee or other fees rendered in acquiring the cat that will enable the adopter to take the cat for spaying or neutering to a veterinarian with whom the public animal control agency or shelter, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals shelter, humane society shelter, or rescue group has an agreement that provides that the veterinarian will bill the shelter directly for the sterilization.
(2)A deposit that is both of the following:
(A)Refundable to the recipient if proof of spaying or neutering of the cat is presented to the public animal control agency or shelter, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals shelter, humane society shelter, or rescue group not more than 30 business days after the date the cat is spayed or neutered.
(B)Forfeited to the public animal control agency or shelter, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals shelter, humane society shelter, or rescue group if proof of spaying or neutering is not presented to the animal shelter within 30 business days.
(b)Deposits shall be in the amount of two hundred dollars ($200).
(c)All spaying or neutering deposits forfeited or unclaimed under this section shall be retained by the public animal control agency or shelter, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals shelter, humane society shelter, or rescue group and shall be used by the public animal control agency or shelter, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals shelter, humane society shelter, or rescue group only for the following purposes:
(1)A program to spay or neuter dogs and cats.
(2)A public education program to reduce and prevent overpopulation of dogs and cats, and the related costs to local government.
(3)A followup program to ensure that dogs and cats transferred by the public animal control agency or shelter, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals shelter, humane society shelter, or rescue group are spayed or neutered in accordance with the agreement executed under subdivision (d) of Section 31760.
(4)Any additional costs incurred by the public animal control agency or shelter, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals shelter, humane society shelter, or rescue group in the administration of the requirements of this chapter.
(a)(1)If a recipient fails to comply with the spaying or neutering agreement within 30 business days after the agreement is signed, the recipient shall forfeit the sterilization deposit and is subject to a civil penalty pursuant to Section 31763.
(2)An animal control officer, humane officer, police officer, peace officer, or any agency authorized to enforce the Penal Code may write citations with a civil penalty stated in an amount corresponding to the violation as provided in Section 31763. The civil penalties shall be paid to the local municipality or public animal control agency or shelter, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals shelter, humane society shelter, or rescue group. Any funds collected under this section shall be expended for the purpose of humane education, programs for low cost spaying and neutering of cats, and any additional costs incurred by the public animal control agency or shelter, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals shelter, humane society shelter, or rescue group in the administration of the requirements of this chapter. This subdivision is applicable within any county.
(3)If the owner, at any time subsequent to 30 business days after the spaying or neutering agreement was signed, provides proof of spaying or neutering, the deposit shall be forfeited, but any fine levied but not yet paid, shall be waived.
(b)If a veterinarian licensed to practice veterinary medicine in this state certifies that a cat is too sick or injured to be spayed or neutered, or that it would otherwise be detrimental to the health of the cat to be spayed or neutered, the adopter or purchaser shall pay the public animal control agency or shelter, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals shelter, humane society shelter, or rescue group a deposit of two hundred dollars ($200). The deposit shall be temporary, and shall be retained only until the cat is healthy enough to be spayed or neutered as certified by a veterinarian licensed to practice veterinary medicine in this state. The cat shall be spayed or neutered within 14 business days of that certification. The adopter or purchaser shall obtain written proof of spaying or neutering from the veterinarian performing the operation. If the adopter or purchaser presents proof of spaying or neutering to the entity from which the cat was obtained within 30 business days, the adopter or purchaser shall receive a full refund of the deposit.
(c)If an adopted cat dies within the spaying or neutering period provided for in the written agreement pursuant to Section 31760, subdivision (b) shall not apply to the cat. In that case, the recipient may receive a reimbursement of the sterilization deposit by submitting to the public animal control agency or shelter, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals shelter, humane society shelter, or rescue group within the sterilization period a signed letter from a veterinarian licensed to practice medicine in this state stating that the animal has died. The letter shall include a description of the cat.
(d)