Windsor Municipal Code Art. 14 Mandatory Spay or Neutering for All Dogs Running at Large and All Pit Bulls

Except as provided in subsections (a) through (g) of this section, all owners cited for dogs running at large for violation of Section 3-4-1025 shall have their dog spayed and neutered at the owner's expense.

a. Dogs documented as having been appropriately trained and actually being used by public law enforcement agencies for law enforcement activities, or such dogs designated as breeding stock by an appropriate agency or organized approved by the Animal Control Officer after consultation with knowledgeable professionals;

b. Dogs documented as having been appropriately trained and actually being used as an assistance dog, such as a service dog, guide dog, signal dog, or social dog, or such dogs designated as breeding stock by an appropriate agency or organization approved by the Animal Control Officer after consultation with knowledgeable professionals;

c. Dogs documented as having been appropriately trained and actually being used by search and rescue agencies for search and rescue activities, or such dogs designated as breeding stock by an appropriate agency or organization approved by the director after consultation with knowledgeable professionals;

d. Dogs certified by a licensed veterinarian as having a health reason for not being spayed/neutered;

e. Dogs which are appropriately trained and actually being used for herding of other animals, or as livestock guardian dogs, hunting dogs, or such dogs designated as breeding stock by an appropriate agency or organization approved by the Animal Control Officer after consultation with knowledgeable professionals;

f. Dogs boarded in a licensed kennel or a business, which boards such animals for professional training or resale;

g. Dogs which are registered with the American Kennel Club, United Kingdom Kennel Club, and/or American Dog Breeders Association Incorporated and trained and kept for the purpose of show, field trials and agility trials.

(Ord. No. 2006-206 § 7 (part))

No person shall own, harbor, or keep within the Town, a pit bull over the age of four (4) months, which has not been spayed or neutered, except as provided in Sections 3-4-1400(a) through (g).

(Ord. No. 2006-206 § 7 (part))

In addition to the violations set forth in Article 15 of this chapter, failure to comply with Section 3-4-1400 or 3-4-1405 above may result in the impoundment of the dog. In order for the owner of the dog to reclaim the dog from the shelter, one of the following must occur:

a. A veterinarian, chosen by the shelter, must spay or neuter the dog. The owner of the dog shall pay the cost of such sterilization and reclaim the dog from the veterinarian after the sterilization procedure is completed; or

b. A veterinarian, chosen by the owner of the dog, must spay or neuter the dog. The veterinarian must practice within the County of Sonoma. The shelter supervisor may release the dog either to the owner or directly to the veterinarian prior to the sterilization, provided, however, that if the shelter supervisor releases the dog to the owner, the owner must sign an affidavit affirming that he or she will arrange for the dog to be spayed or neutered within five (5) days of the dog's release. Upon completion of the sterilization procedure, the owner shall provide written documentation to the shelter officer verifying that such procedure occurred. If the shelter supervisor does not receive such documentation within thirty (30) days of the dog's release, or if the owner of the dog fails to have the dog spayed or neutered within five (5) days of the dog's release, the shelter supervisor shall have the authority to impound the pit bull a second time, and the owner may be charged with a second violation of this section.

(Ord. No. 2006-206 § 7 (part))

When a dog is impounded because the owner has failed to comply with Section 3-4-1400 or 3-4-1405, the notice and hearing provisions as set forth in Article 12 of this chapter shall govern the impoundment of the dog.

(Ord. No. 2006-206 § 7 (part))