Special Provisions Applicable To Counties With A Population Of Less Than 100,000 Persons - - CA Food And Agriculture Code

Section § 31760

This law applies to counties in California with fewer than 100,000 people as of 2000, and cities within those counties. If a county's population grows beyond 100,000 after that year, different laws will apply. For these smaller counties, animal shelters and rescue groups can't sell or give away cats unless they're spayed or neutered, unless a specific agreement is made with the new owner.

If a cat isn't spayed or neutered, an adopting person must sign an agreement to have the procedure done within 30 days and pay a deposit between $40 and $75. Shelters can partner with vets instead of collecting deposits to ensure compliance.

(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) Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, no public animal control agency or shelter, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals shelter, humane society shelter, or rescue group shall sell or give away any cat that has not been spayed or neutered.

(c) A public animal control agency or shelter, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals shelter, humane society shelter, or rescue group may 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 not less than forty dollars ($40) and not more than seventy-five dollars ($75), 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.

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(Added by Stats. 1998, Ch. 747, Sec. 8. Effective January 1, 1999. Operative January 1, 2000, by Sec. 9 of Ch. 747.)

Section § 31761

This law covers spaying and neutering deposits when adopting a cat from animal shelters or rescue groups. It allows the deposit to either be part of the adoption fee or a separate refundable payment. If a cat adopter shows proof of the cat's sterilization within 30 business days, they can get their deposit back. If not, the shelter keeps the money. Deposits range from $40 to $75, and if forfeited, they are used by shelters for spaying or neutering programs, public education about pet overpopulation, compliance follow-ups, or other administrative costs.

(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, which 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 determined by the shelter, but shall not be less than forty dollars ($40) and shall not exceed seventy-five dollars ($75).

(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.

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(Added by Stats. 1998, Ch. 747, Sec. 8. Effective January 1, 1999. Operative January 1, 2000, by Sec. 9 of Ch. 747.)

Section § 31762

This law outlines the responsibilities and consequences for failure to comply with a spaying or neutering agreement for cats. If a cat owner doesn't follow through within 30 business days, they lose their sterilization deposit and face a fine. Authorities like animal control and police can issue fines that fund humane education and low-cost spay/neuter programs.

If the cat is later spayed or neutered and proof is provided, fines may be waived, although the deposit is not refundable. Extensions for spaying or neutering can be granted for good reasons and must be documented in writing.

If a vet certifies that a cat is too unwell to be spayed or neutered, a refundable deposit ranging from $40 to $75 is required. Once the cat is healthy enough, spaying or neutering must happen within 14 business days, with proof required for a deposit refund. If the cat dies before the operation, the owner can get their deposit back with proof from a veterinarian.

(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 fine 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 fines 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) A public animal control agency or shelter, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals shelter, humane society shelter, or rescue group may extend the date by which spaying or neutering is to be completed at its discretion for good cause shown. Any extension shall be in writing.

(c) 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 not less than forty dollars ($40), and not more than seventy-five dollars ($75). The entity shall establish the amount of the deposit at the level it determines is necessary to encourage the spaying or neutering of cats. 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.

(d) If an adopted cat dies within the spaying or neutering period provided for in the written agreement pursuant to Section 31760, subdivision (c) 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.

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(Added by Stats. 1998, Ch. 747, Sec. 8. Effective January 1, 1999. Operative January 1, 2000, by Sec. 9 of Ch. 747.)

Section § 31763

This law states that if someone breaks the rules about spaying or neutering animals, they're fined at least $50 for the first time and $100 for any further offenses. These funds support animal shelters and groups that enforce these rules.

If someone lies about whether an animal is spayed or neutered, or gives false information about animal ownership, sterilization fees, or writes a bad check related to spaying or neutering, they would face these penalties too.

The fines go to the local animal control agency or shelter that dealt with the violation and help them keep doing their work.

(a)

(1) A person who commits any violation of subdivision (b) is subject to a civil penalty of not less than fifty dollars ($50) on a first violation of subdivision (b), and a civil penalty of not less than one hundred dollars ($100) on any second or subsequent violation of subdivision (b).

(2) An action for a penalty proposed under this section may be commenced by the administrator of the public animal control agency or shelter, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals shelter, humane society shelter, or rescue group from which the recipient obtained the animal that is the subject of the violation in a court of competent jurisdiction.

(b) A person is subject to the civil penalties pursuant to subdivision (a) if that person does any of the following:

(1) Falsifies any proof of spaying or neutering submitted for the purpose of compliance with this chapter.

(2) Provides to a public animal control agency or shelter, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals shelter, humane society shelter, or rescue group or a licensed veterinarian inaccurate information regarding ownership of any cat required to be submitted for spaying or neutering under this chapter.

(3) Submits to a public animal control agency or shelter, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals shelter, humane society shelter, or rescue group false information regarding sterilization fees or fee schedules.

(4) Issues a check for insufficient funds for any spaying or neutering deposit required under this chapter.

(c) All penalties collected 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 imposing the penalties, to be used solely for purposes provided for under subdivision (c) of Section 31761.

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(Added by Stats. 1998, Ch. 747, Sec. 8. Effective January 1, 1999. Operative January 1, 2000, by Sec. 9 of Ch. 747.)

Section § 31764

This law states that any local rules about how animal shelters handle adoptions or the placement of animals must be at least as strict as the rules outlined in this chapter.

Local ordinances concerning the adoption or placement procedures of any animal shelter shall be at least as restrictive as this chapter.

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(Added by Stats. 1998, Ch. 747, Sec. 8. Effective January 1, 1999. Operative January 1, 2000, by Sec. 9 of Ch. 747.)

Section § 31764.5

If you are a veteran in California and want to adopt a cat from a public animal shelter, you won't have to pay an adoption fee. All you need to show is your driver's license or ID card that says "VETERAN" on it. However, shelters can limit a veteran to adopting just one cat every six months.

(a) A public animal shelter shall not charge an adoption fee for a cat if the person adopting the cat presents to the public animal shelter a current and valid driver’s license or identification card with the word “VETERAN” printed on its face pursuant to Section 12811 of the Vehicle Code.

(b) A public animal shelter may limit the number of cats adopted from that public animal shelter pursuant to this section to one cat each six-month period.

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(Added by Stats. 2019, Ch. 205, Sec. 5. (SB 245) Effective January 1, 2020.)

Section § 31765

If a city or county mandates that cats need license tags, the tag fee will be reduced to half or less if you provide proof from a vet that your cat has been spayed or neutered.

Whenever a county, or a city that is within a county to which this chapter applies, requires cat license tags, the tag shall be issued for one-half or less of the fee required for a cat, if a certificate is presented from a licensed veterinarian that the cat has been spayed or neutered.

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(Added by Stats. 1998, Ch. 747, Sec. 8. Effective January 1, 1999. Operative January 1, 2000, by Sec. 9 of Ch. 747.)