Shafter Municipal Code Ch. 6.12 Adoption—procedure, Policy and Fees

The purpose of this chapter is to curb the animal overpopulation in the community and to ensure compliance with California State Regulations.

(Ord. 606 § 1 (part), 2007)

It is the mission of the city of Shafter to try to place healthy and socialized pets (cats and dogs) into caring and responsible new homes when they are not redeemed by their owners or are relinquished to the care of the city animal shelter.

(Ord. 606 § 1 (part), 2007)

A. To adopt an animal from the Shafter animal shelter an animal adoption contract will need to be completed. Every dog or cat adopted from the city of Shafter must be spayed or neutered as required by state law. Dogs must also be licensed as required by state law. In most cases our shelter staff will schedule an appointment for surgical sterilization and transport the animal from the animal shelter to a nearby veterinary clinic or hospital. The city of Shafter retains ownership of the animal until surgical sterilization has been conducted, and the prospective owners have claimed the animal.

B. A deposit may be accepted in lieu of immediate alteration of an adopted animal only for health reasons that might hinder the surgical sterilization at the time of adoption or if the animal is under six months of age. The deposit shall be temporary, and shall be retained until the animal is healthy and/or old enough to be altered, as certified by a licensed veterinarian or as determined by the animal control manager. If an animal has not been altered within the above-referenced guidelines, then a licensed veterinarian must certify, in writing, that the animal is too sick or injured to be altered, or that it would be otherwise detrimental to the health of the animal. If the adopter presents proof of spaying or neutering to the city of Shafter within thirty days of the sterilization, the adopter shall receive full refund of the deposit. In adoptions of dogs, a proof of license in the adopters' home area is additionally required for return of the deposit.

C. All adoption-related fees are listed in Chapter 6.72 of this title and determined by city council resolution.

(Ord. 606 § 1 (part), 2007)

No unclaimed dog shall be sold or given away to a new owner that has not been spayed or neutered except under provisions of Section 6.12.030(B). Dogs may be adopted, by a new owner, after an animal adoption contract is completed and approved and upon the payment of an adoption fee, spay or neuter fee, rabies vaccination fee, and a dog license fee according to the current animal control fee schedule.

Any costs incurred by the city of Shafter in assisting the successful adoption of an animal will be withdrawn from the fund maintained by the finance department and collected from fines under Section 30804.7 of the Food and Agriculture Code for failing to spay or neuter impounded dogs.

(Ord. 606 § 1 (part), 2007)

No unclaimed cat shall be sold or given away to a new owner that has not been spayed or neutered except under provisions of Section 6.12.030(B). Cats may be adopted, by a new owner, after an animal adoption contract is completed and approved and upon the payment of an adoption fee, spay or neuter fee according to the current animal control fee schedule.

Any costs incurred by the city of Shafter in assisting the successful adoption of an animal will be withdrawn from the fund maintained by the finance department and collected from fines under Section 31751.7 of the Food and Agriculture Code for failing to spay or neuter impounded cats.

(Ord. 606 § 1 (part), 2007)

A. If an adopter fails to comply with the spaying or neutering agreement within the given time period as provided in adoption contract, the adopter shall forfeit the sterilization deposit and will be subject to a fine of not less than fifty dollars on the first violation and not less than one hundred dollars on any second and subsequent violations of Sections 6.12.040 and 6.12.050.

B. The animal control officer, police officer, other authorized personnel may extend the date by which the spaying or neutering is to be completed at their discretion for good cause shown. Any extension shall be in writing.

(Ord. 606 § 1 (part), 2007)

All other animals (excluding cats and dogs) may be adopted and are subject to individual pricing or priced by breed of the fair market value or may be auctioned off. There may be additional charges for veterinary services rendered.

(Ord. 606 § 1 (part), 2007)