Section § 30501

Explanation

This law allows the leadership of any county or city in California to adopt certain sections related to animal control and management. If these sections are adopted, they apply within that area but the county isn't required to enforce them in cities situated within its borders.

Additionally, when terms like “board of supervisors,” “county,” “county clerk,” or “animal control officer” are mentioned, they also refer to the equivalent city authorities.

(a)CA Food and Agriculture Code § 30501(a) The board of supervisors of any county or the governing body of any city may adopt Sections 30801, 30802, 30803, 30804, 30805, 30952, 31105, 31106, 31107, 31108, 31152, 31153, 31251, 31252, and 31254. If those sections are adopted by the board of supervisors of any county or the governing body of any city, those sections shall apply within the territorial limits of the county or the city, as the case may be. Nothing in this division requires a county to enforce those provisions within the territorial limits of any city located within the county.
(b)CA Food and Agriculture Code § 30501(b) Whenever the term “board of supervisors,” “county,” “county clerk,” or “animal control officer” is used in this division, those terms shall also be deemed to include the governing body of a city, a city, the city clerk, or the animal control officer of a city, respectively.

Section § 30502

Explanation

This section explains that any dog license tag issued by a city or county in California counts as meeting state requirements if it follows a few key rules. First, it needs to mostly follow state laws about dogs. Second, the tag must be worn on the dog's collar. Third, there should be a record that identifies who owns or is responsible for the dog.

Any dog license tag which is issued by any city and county or city constitutes compliance with this division if it is issued pursuant to an ordinance which does all of the following:
(a)CA Food and Agriculture Code § 30502(a) Substantially complies with this division.
(b)CA Food and Agriculture Code § 30502(b) Provides for the wearing of the license tag upon the collar of the dog.
(c)CA Food and Agriculture Code § 30502(c) Provides for the keeping of a record which shall establish the identity of the person that owns or harbors the dog.

Section § 30503

Explanation

This law mandates that animal shelters and rescue groups in California cannot sell or give away dogs that haven't been spayed or neutered, except under certain conditions. If a veterinarian confirms a dog cannot be spayed or neutered due to health issues, the adopter must pay a deposit between $40 and $75 to the shelter or rescue group. This deposit is refunded once the adopter provides proof of the operation within 30 business days after the dog is healthy enough for surgery. Instead of requiring deposits, shelters and rescue groups can partner with veterinarians to ensure dogs are spayed or neutered. Any unclaimed deposit funds must be used for spaying and neutering programs. This rule only applies to counties with populations over 100,000 and their cities.

(a)Copy CA Food and Agriculture Code § 30503(a)
(1)Copy CA Food and Agriculture Code § 30503(a)(1) Except as otherwise provided in subdivision (b), 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 to a new owner any dog that has not been spayed or neutered.
(2)CA Food and Agriculture Code § 30503(a)(2) For the 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)Copy CA Food and Agriculture Code § 30503(b)
(1)Copy CA Food and Agriculture Code § 30503(b)(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 not less than forty dollars ($40), and not more than seventy-five dollars ($75).
(2)CA Food and Agriculture Code § 30503(b)(2) The entity shall establish the amount of the deposit at the level it determines is necessary to encourage the spaying or neutering of dogs.
(3)CA Food and Agriculture Code § 30503(b)(3) 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.
(4)CA Food and Agriculture Code § 30503(b)(4) The dog shall be spayed or neutered within 14 business days of that certification.
(5)CA Food and Agriculture Code § 30503(b)(5) The adopter or purchaser shall obtain written proof of spaying or neutering from the veterinarian performing the operation.
(6)CA Food and Agriculture Code § 30503(b)(6) 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.
(c)CA Food and Agriculture Code § 30503(c) 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.
(d)CA Food and Agriculture Code § 30503(d) 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.
(e)CA Food and Agriculture Code § 30503(e) 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.

Section § 30503.5

Explanation

This law section is about the responsibilities of animal shelters and rescue groups regarding dogs with a known bite history. If a dog that is at least four months old has bitten someone and broken the skin, requiring a specific quarantine, the shelter or group must inform anyone taking the dog of this history. They have to provide the bite information in writing and get a signed acknowledgment from the new owner or recipient. The purpose is to ensure public safety and proper dog placement, though it doesn't automatically mean the dog can't be adopted. If these rules aren't followed, a fine of up to $500 may be levied against the offending shelter or group, and fines are distributed to local animal control or the city's funds depending on who violated the law.

(a)CA Food and Agriculture Code § 30503.5(a) For purposes of this section:
(1)CA Food and Agriculture Code § 30503.5(a)(1) “Animal shelter” means a public animal control agency or shelter, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals shelter, humane society shelter, or rescue group.
(2)CA Food and Agriculture Code § 30503.5(a)(2) “Rescue group” means a for-profit or not-for-profit entity or a collaboration of individuals that removes dogs from a public animal control agency or shelter, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals shelter, or humane shelter, or rehomes a dog that has been previously owned by any person other than the original breeder of that dog.
(b)CA Food and Agriculture Code § 30503.5(b) If an animal shelter or rescue group knows, to the best of the knowledge of the shelter or rescue group, that a dog, at the age of four months or older, bit a person and broke that person’s skin, thus requiring a state-mandated bite quarantine, the animal shelter or rescue group shall, before selling, giving away, or otherwise releasing the dog, do both of the following:
(1)CA Food and Agriculture Code § 30503.5(b)(1) Disclose in writing to the person to whom the dog is sold, given away, or transferred, the dog’s known bite history and the circumstances related to the bite.
(2)CA Food and Agriculture Code § 30503.5(b)(2) Obtain a signed acknowledgment from the person to whom the dog is sold, given away, or transferred that the person has been provided information about the dog as required by this section. The animal shelter or rescue group shall provide the person with a copy of the signed acknowledgment and retain the original copy in its files.
(c)CA Food and Agriculture Code § 30503.5(c) These documentation and disclosure requirements are for the purpose of public safety and the appropriate placement of dogs. A documented bite history does not necessarily preclude a dog from being available for adoption, release, or transfer, notwithstanding any other law or local ordinance related to biting dogs.
(d)CA Food and Agriculture Code § 30503.5(d) Notwithstanding Sections 31401 and 31402, any violation of this section shall be punished by a civil fine not to exceed five hundred dollars ($500), imposed by the city or county in which the animal shelter or rescue group is located. If the person who violates this section is a society for the prevention of cruelty to animals shelter, humane society shelter, or rescue group, the proceeds of the civil fine shall be paid to the local public animal control agency or shelter. If a public animal control agency or shelter violates this section, the proceeds of the civil fine shall be deposited into the treasury of the city or county in which the public animal control agency or shelter is located.

Section § 30504

Explanation

This law states that every puppy in a litter, whether it's eating solid food or still nursing, is considered an individual animal.

For purposes of this division, each member of a litter of puppies, weaned or unweaned, shall be treated as an individual animal.

Section § 30505

Explanation

If you're a veteran with a driver's license or ID card that says 'VETERAN,' you can adopt a dog from a public animal shelter without paying an adoption fee. However, the shelter might limit you to adopting one dog every six months.

(a)CA Food and Agriculture Code § 30505(a) A public animal shelter shall not charge an adoption fee for a dog if the person adopting the dog 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)CA Food and Agriculture Code § 30505(b) A public animal shelter may limit the number of dogs adopted from that public animal shelter pursuant to this section to one dog each six-month period.