(Title and Section Amended by Ord. No. 180,697, Eff. 6/26/09.)
(a) The Department shall charge and collect fees of the types and in the amounts set forth in this section, or as revised in the manner set forth in this section, to recover the costs incurred by the City in connection with animals adopted or redeemed from City animal shelters. From time to time the Board of Animal Services Commissioners shall determine the verifiable total costs incurred by the City in connection with animal impoundment and adoption, and develop and recommend to the City Council for approval, a revised fee schedule for animals adopted or redeemed from the animal shelters, including those adopted through special programs. Unless revised as set forth herein, the Department shall charge and collect the following fees: (Amended by Ord. No. 185,537, Eff. 6/21/18.)
1. Spay or neuter, dog, cat or rabbit.....$40.00
2. For each puppy (4 months and under) adopted.....$150.00
3. For each dog adopted.....$102.00
4. For each dog redeemed.....$47.00
5. For each kitten (4 months and under) adopted.....$50.00
6. For each cat adopted.....$25.00
7. For each cat redeemed.....$21.00
8. For each dog redeemed, 2nd occurrence.....$25.00 additional
9. For each dog redeemed, 3rd occurrence or more.....$50.00 additional
10. For each cat redeemed, 2nd occurrence.....$13.00 additional
11. For each cat redeemed, 3rd occurrence or more.....$26.00 additional
12. For each equine animal adopted or redeemed.....$325.00
13. For each sheep, swine, goat or other animal adopted or redeemed.....$26.00
14. For each small pet, reptile, poultry or bird adopted or redeemed.....$17.00
15. For each exotic bird adopted.....$250.00
16. For each exotic bird redeemed.....$75.00
17. For each rabbit adopted.....$71.00
18. For each rabbit redeemed.....$16.00
19. Relinquishment fee for a dog.....Donation only
20. Relinquishment fee, including pickup, for a dog.....$59.00
21. Relinquishment fee for a cat.....Donation only
22. Relinquishment fee, including pickup, for a cat.....$56.00
23. Relinquishment fee for a rabbit.....Donation only
24. Relinquishment fee for an equine animal.....$237.00
25. Relinquishment fee, including pickup, for an equine animal.....$333.00
26. Relinquishment fee for a small animal.....Donation only
27. Relinquishment fee for other animals.....Donation only
28. Relinquishment fee, including pickup, for other animals.....$55.00
For feeding and caring for an animal held for other than adoption or redemption, the Department may charge a fee for the reasonable cost of feeding and caring for the animal. In addition to the above fees, the Department shall charge and collect fees for implanting a microchip and for spay and neuter and other charges as provided in this article. For each dog, cat or rabbit adopted, the above fee includes the cost of a microchip and sterilization. In the case of a dog, the adoption fee may be increased by an additional amount equal to the cost of a license for an altered dog.
(b) No fees whatsoever shall be charged or collected for or on account of any animal which has been unlawfully taken up or impounded, and any such animal shall be immediately delivered upon demand therefore to the owner or person entitled to the custody thereof.
(c) For veterinary services furnished to animals by the Department:
1. If furnished by a private veterinarian at the request of the Department, the fee to be charged and collected shall be the total of the actual bill to the Department plus $2.00 for Department administrative expenses, or such other reasonable fee as established in the manner set forth in Subsection (a) above.
2. If furnished by a City veterinarian, the fees shall be charged and collected pursuant to a fee schedule to be established by the General Manager.
Said fee schedule shall take into account the reasonable expense of supplying the services including such factors as direct costs of the services and department overhead.
(d) Department shall not charge and collect a fee for each dog or cat redeemed by the owner who is a "disabled" individual or is 62 years of age or older provided that the combined adjusted gross income of all members of the household in which such individual resides was less than the "very low income" limitations for residents of the City of Los Angeles, as determined by the United States Housing Act of 1937, as amended, using the figure in effect on the preceding first day of April and published by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development. (Amended by Ord. No. 181,268, Eff. 9/26/10.)
(e) Department shall not charge and collect a fee for each animal, or litter under four months old, which is impounded, other than an animal suspected of rabies which is impounded for the purpose of quarantine, provided that the combined adjusted gross income of all members of the household in which the owner resides is less than the "very low income" limitation for persons residing in the City of Los Angeles, as determined by the United States Housing Act of 1937, as amended, using the figure in effect on the preceding first day of April and published by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development. (Amended by Ord. No. 181,268, Eff. 9/26/10.)
(f) For purposes of this section, an individual shall be considered to be "disabled" if he or she meets the definitions promulgated from time to time pursuant to the California Fair Employment and Housing Act and/or by the United States Department of Labor. (Amended by Ord. No. 181,268, Eff. 9/26/10.)
(g) All of the proceeds from the fee set forth in Subsection (a) for each rabbit adopted or redeemed plus the proceeds from the spay or neuter fee as established in this Article, shall be deposited into the Animal Sterilization Fund, up to an amount of $40.00 per rabbit.
(h) The General Manager may reduce the fees listed in Section 53.12(a) by up to 50%, and reduce or waive the fees for an electronic animal identification device (microchip) for a second or subsequent animal adopted along with an animal whose adoption fees were paid for in full where the animals have bonded with each other.
(i) The Department may reduce the fees listed in Section 53.12(a) by up to 50%, and reduce or waive the fees for an electronic animal identification device (microchip), for any impounded animal that is seven years of age or older, if adopted by an individual 62 years of age or older who will own and maintain that animal.