(A) All impounded animals shall be redeemed within 3 working days after impoundment. Any animal not redeemed within the required period shall become the property of Valencia County and may be placed for adoption or the animal will be humanely destroyed. Any dog or cat to be placed for adoption that is under 6 months of age shall be released only upon payment of the adoption fee, the sterilization deposit, and after adopting person has signed an agreement stating that the adopted animal will be sterilized when no more than 6 months of age.
(B) Any dog or cat to be placed for adoption that is over 6 months of age shall be released only upon payment of the adoption fee, the sterilization deposit, and after the adopting person has signed an agreement stating that the adopted animal will be sterilized within 30 days of the date of adoption.
(C) The sterilization deposit shall be reimbursed only upon presentation of a receipt from a veterinarian stating that the adopted animal has been sterilized.
(D) All reasonable effort must be made to place adoptable animals. This shall include, but is not limited to, public advertisement.
(E) An intact animal reclaimed by its owner shall be released without sterilization upon payment of all impoundment fees, the sterilization deposit and the owner shall sign an agreement to have the dog or cat sterilized within 30 days of release or to obtain an intact animal permit. An animal impounded 3 times or more shall be sterilized prior to release at the owner's expense.
(F) All animals shall be humanely euthanized by a licensed veterinarian, veterinary technician, or certified animal control officer as described by the New Mexico Pharmacy Board and the New Mexico Board of Veterinary Medicine.
(Ord. passed 6-23-1997; Am. Ord. 2022-02, passed 3-2-2022) Penalty, see § 90.999