(A) No dog or cat may be released for adoption unless said animal has been surgically spayed or neutered; or unless the adopting party signs an agreement to have the animal sterilized, and deposits funds to ensure that the adopted animal will be spayed or neutered. The amount of the deposit required shall be as set by the Council by motion or resolution. In no event shall the required deposit be less than $10.
(B) The funds deposited shall be refunded to the adopting party upon the adopting party’s presentation of a written statement signed by a licensed veterinarian that the adopted animal has been spayed or neutered. However, no refunds shall be made unless said animal was spayed or neutered within 60 days of adoption in the case of adult animals; or, in the case of infant animals, within 30 days of the date a female animal attained the age of six months, or a male animal attained the age of eight months.
(C) Upon presentation of a written report from a licensed veterinarian stating that the life or health of an adopted animal may be jeopardized by surgery, a 30-day extension of the period within which the spay or neuter surgery would otherwise be required shall be granted. Further extensions may be granted upon additional veterinary reports stating their necessity.
(D) If requested to do so, deposited funds shall be refunded to the adopting party upon reasonable proof being presented by the adopting party that the adopted animal died before the expiration of the period during which the spaying or neutering was required to be completed.
(E) Funds which have been forfeited by adopting parties shall be placed in a separate account, which shall be an interest bearing account whenever feasible, and funds from said account shall be allocated to programs which directly promote, subsidize, or otherwise reduce the cost of spaying or neutering animals of the releasing agency. Accurate records of accounts which fund spay/neuter programs shall be maintained.
(F) The provisions of the Dog and Cat Sterilization Act, being 4 O.S. §§ 499 et seq., shall not be construed to require the sterilization of dogs and cats which are being held in releasing agencies which might be claimed by their rightful owners; nor shall it be construed to require the sterilization of dogs and cats held pursuant to the provisions of 4 O.S. §§ 391 to 402.
(Prior Code, § 96.106) (Ord. 1762, passed 7-14-2015)
Statutory reference:
Dog and cat sterilization, see 4 O.S. §§ 499.2 to 499.10