Fish and Game Code. Division 4. Birds and Mammals. Part 3. Mammals. Chapter 3. Nongame Mammals and Depredators. Article 1. Nongame Mammals.
§ 4150 . “Nongame mammal” defined; possession and taking; trapping for recreation or commerce; sale of raw fur
§ 4151 . House cats
Food and Agricultural Code (Formerly Agricultural Code. Division 14.5. Regulation of Cats. Chapter 1. Regulation of Cats Generally.
§ 31750. Repealed by Stats.1985, c. 1290, § 2
§ 31751 . Kittens in litters; treatment
§ 31751.3 . Control agencies, shelters, or rescue groups; spaying or neutering requirements
§ 31751.4. Shelters; waiver of cat adoption fee for veterans; limit on number of cats adopted
§ 31751.5 . Spayed or neutered cats; reduction in fee
§ 31751.6 . Licensed cattery; exemption from tag requirement
§ 31751.7 . Nonspayed or unneutered cats; fines
§ 31752 . Holding period for impounded cats
§ 31752.1. Microchipping; exemptions
§ 31752.2 . Identification of ownership
§ 31752.5 . Legislative findings and declarations
§ 31753 . Holding of other impounded animals
§ 31754 . Holding period; owner redemption
§ 31755. Repealed by Stats.1999, c. 81 (A.B.1482), § 1, operative July 1, 2000
Chapter 2. Special Provisions Applicable to Counties with a Population of Less Than 100,000 Persons.
§ 31760. Application of chapter; spaying or neutering required
§ 31761. Spaying or neutering deposits
§ 31764. Local ordinances; animal placement procedures
§ 31764.5. Shelters; waiver of cat adoption fee for veterans; limit on number of cats adopted
§ 31765. Cat license tags; fee discounts
§ 31766. Repealed by Stats.2004, c. 253 (S.B.1301), § 10
Link to Retail Sale of Dogs and Cats
Fish and Game Code. Division 4. Birds and Mammals. Part 3. Mammals. Chapter 3. Nongame Mammals and Depredators. Article 1. Nongame Mammals.
§ 4150. “Nongame mammal” defined; possession and taking; trapping for recreation or commerce; sale of raw fur
(a) A mammal occurring naturally in California that is not a game mammal, fully protected mammal, or fur-bearing mammal is a nongame mammal. A nongame mammal may not be taken or possessed except as provided in this code or in accordance with regulations adopted by the commission.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this code or regulations adopted pursuant to this code, it is unlawful for any person to trap any nongame mammal for purposes of recreation or commerce in fur. The raw fur of a nongame mammal otherwise lawfully taken pursuant to this code or regulations adopted pursuant to this code shall not be sold. For purposes of this subdivision, “raw fur” has the same meaning as defined in Section 4005.
(c) This section shall remain in effect only until July 1, 2024, and as of that date is repealed.
Credits
(Added by Stats.1971, c. 1470, p. 2907, § 21. Amended by Stats.1977, c. 1208, p. 4083, § 10; Stats.2015, c. 154 (A.B.1527), § 72, eff. Jan. 1, 2016; Stats.2019, c. 216 (A.B.273), § 12, eff. Jan. 1, 2020; Stats.2022, c. 469 (S.B.856), § 17, eff. Jan. 1, 2023.)
Any house cat (Felis domesticus) found within the limits of any fish and game refuge is a nongame mammal, unless it is in the residence of its owner or upon the grounds of the owner adjacent to such residence.
(Stats.1957, c. 456, p. 1382, § 4151. Amended by Stats.1957, c. 1972, p. 3520, § 47; Stats.1971, c. 1470, p. 2908, § 22.)
Food and Agricultural Code (Formerly Agricultural Code. Division 14.5. Regulation of Cats. Chapter 1. Regulation of Cats Generally.
§ 31750. Repealed by Stats.1985, c. 1290, § 2
§ 31751. Kittens in litters; treatment
For the purposes of this division, each member of a litter of kittens, weaned or unweaned, shall be treated as an individual animal.
(Added by Stats.1998, c. 747 (A.B.1856), § 6.5, operative Jan. 1, 2000. Amended by Stats.2004, c. 253 (S.B.1301), § 6.)
§ 31751.3. Control agencies, shelters, or rescue groups; spaying or neutering requirements
(a)(1) Except as otherwise provided in subdivision (b), no public animal control agency or shelter, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals shelter, humane society shelter, or rescue group shall sell or give away to a new owner any cat that has not been spayed or neutered.
(2) For the purposes of this section, a "rescue group" is a for-profit or not-for-profit entity, or a collaboration of individuals with at least one of its purposes being the sale or placement of cats that have been removed from a public animal control agency or shelter, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals shelter, or humane shelter or that have been previously owned by any person other than the original breeder of that cat.
(b)(1) If a veterinarian licensed to practice veterinary medicine in this state certifies that a cat is too sick or injured to be spayed or neutered, or that it would otherwise be detrimental to the health of the cat to be spayed or neutered, the adopter or purchaser shall pay the public animal control agency or shelter, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals shelter, humane society shelter, or rescue group a deposit of not less than forty dollars ($40), and not more than seventy-five dollars ($75).
(2) The entity shall establish the amount of the deposit at the level it determines is necessary to encourage the spaying or neutering of cats.
(3) The deposit shall be temporary, and shall only be retained until the cat is healthy enough to be spayed or neutered, as certified by a veterinarian licensed to practice veterinary medicine in this state.
(4) The cat shall be spayed or neutered within 14 business days of that certification.
(5) The adopter or purchaser shall obtain written proof of spaying or neutering from the veterinarian performing the operation.
(6) If the adopter or purchaser presents proof of spaying or neutering to the entity from which the cat was obtained within 30 business days of obtaining the proof, the adopter or purchaser shall receive a full refund of the deposit.
(c) Public animal control agencies or shelters, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals shelters, humane society shelters, and rescue groups may enter into cooperative agreements with each other and with veterinarians in lieu of requiring spaying and neutering deposits to carry out this section.
(d) Any funds from unclaimed deposits made pursuant to this section, as it read on January 1, 1999, and any funds from deposits unclaimed after January 1, 2000, may be expended only for programs to spay or neuter cats and dogs, including agreements with a society for the prevention of cruelty to animals or a humane society or licensed veterinarian, to operate a program to spay or neuter cats and dogs.
(e) This section only applies to a county that has a population exceeding 100,000 persons as of January 1, 2000, and to cities within that county.
CREDIT(S)
(Formerly § 31751, added by Stats.1970, c. 1303, p. 1303, § 1. Amended by Stats.1985, c. 1290, § 3. Renumbered § 31751.3 and amended by Stats.1998, c. 747 (A.B.1856), § 6, operative Jan. 1, 2000. Amended by Stats.2004, c. 253 (S.B.1301), § 7.)
§ 31751.4. Shelters; waiver of cat adoption fee for veterans; limit on number of cats adopted
(a) A public animal shelter shall not charge an adoption fee for a cat if the person adopting the cat presents to the public animal shelter a current and valid driver's license or identification card with the word “VETERAN” printed on its face pursuant to Section 12811 of the Vehicle Code.
(b) A public animal shelter may limit the number of cats adopted from that public animal shelter pursuant to this section to one cat each six-month period.
Credits
(Added by Stats.2019, c. 205 (S.B.245), § 4, eff. Jan. 1, 2020.)
§ 31751.5. Spayed or neutered cats; reduction in fee
Whenever a city or county requires cat license tags, any such tag shall be issued for one-half or less of the fee required for a cat, if a certificate is presented from a licensed veterinarian that the cat has been spayed or neutered.
CREDIT(S)
(Added by Stats.1973, c. 361, p. 802, § 3.)
§ 31751.6. Licensed cattery; exemption from tag requirement
Any licensed cattery may be exempted pursuant to regulation or ordinance from any requirement to obtain a license tag for each cat within the cattery.
CREDIT(S)
(Added by Stats.1973, c. 361, p. 803, § 4.)
§ 31751.7. Nonspayed or unneutered cats; fines
(a) The owner of a nonspayed or unneutered cat that is impounded once by a city or county animal control agency or shelter, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals, or humane society, shall be fined thirty-five dollars ($35) on the first occurrence, fifty dollars ($50) on the second occurrence, and one hundred dollars ($100) for the third or subsequent occurrence. These fines are for unneutered impounded animals only, and are not in lieu of any fines or impound fees imposed by any individual city, county, public animal control agency or shelter, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals shelter, or humane society shelter.
(b) An animal control officer, humane officer, police officer, peace officer, or any agency authorized to enforce the Penal Code may write citations with a civil penalty stated in an amount corresponding to the violation as provided in subdivision (a). The fines shall be paid to the local municipality or public animal control agency or shelter, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals shelter, or humane society shelter. Any funds collected under this section shall be expended for the purpose of humane education, programs for low cost spaying and neutering of cats, and any additional costs incurred by the animal shelter in the administration of the requirements of this division.
(c) Local ordinances concerning the adoption or placement procedures of any public animal control agency or shelter, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals shelter, humane society shelter, or rescue group shall be at least as restrictive as this division.
(d) This section applies to each county and cities within each county, regardless of population.
(e) No city or county, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals, or humane society is subject to any civil action by the owner of a cat that is spayed or neutered in accordance with this section.
CREDIT(S)
(Added by Stats.1998, c. 747 (A.B.1856), § 7, operative Jan. 1, 2000. Amended by Stats.2004, c. 253 (S.B.1301), § 9.)
§ 31752. Holding period for impounded cats
(Added by Stats.1980, c. 1060, p. 3397, § 2. Amended by Stats.1998, c. 752 (S.B.1785), § 13, operative July 1, 1999; Stats.2000, c. 567 (A.B.2754), § 3; Stats.2011, c. 97 (A.B.222), § 5; Stats.2018, c. 194 (A.B.2791), § 3, eff. Jan. 1, 2019; Stats.2019, c. 8 (A.B.1565), § 1, eff. Jan. 1, 2020.)
§ 31752.1. Microchipping; exemptions
(a)(1) Except as provided in subdivision (b), a public animal control agency or shelter, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals shelter, humane society shelter, or rescue group shall not release a cat to an owner seeking to reclaim it, or adopt out, sell, or give away a cat to a new owner, unless either of the following conditions is met:
(A) The cat is microchipped with current information on the owner reclaiming the cat or new owner receiving the cat, as applicable, and the owner or new owner is registered with the microchip registry company as the primary owner of the cat. The public animal control agency or shelter, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals shelter, humane society shelter, or rescue group shall not be registered with a microchip registry company as the primary owner of the cat. Upon adoption, sale, giving away, or transfer of ownership, the public animal control agency or shelter, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals shelter, humane society shelter, or rescue group shall provide information on the transference of ownership, including microchip company information, the microchip number and any other relevant identifiers, and any other information needed for an owner or new owner to register themselves as the microchip's primary contact, as applicable.
(B) If the agency, shelter, or group does not have microchipping capability on location, the agency, shelter, or group first obtains from the owner reclaiming the cat or new owner receiving the cat an agreement that requires the owner or new owner to present to the agency, shelter, or group, within the next 30 days, proof that the cat is microchipped as described in subparagraph (A).
(2) If the agency, shelter, or group does not have microchipping capability on location, the agency, shelter, or group shall make a good faith effort to maintain a list of local and regional free or discounted regional microchipping services and provide that information to the owner or new owner.
(3) An agency, shelter, or group may require proof that the cat is microchipped pursuant to paragraph (1) before releasing, adopting out, selling, or giving away the cat. If a cat has a preexisting microchip or there is reasonable proof of ownership, the agency, shelter, or group shall document and retain a record of all efforts made to contact the microchip's primary registrant or other demonstrated owner for at least two years.
(4) For purposes of subparagraph (B) of paragraph (1), an owner reclaiming a cat or new owner receiving a cat is not required to register the cat's microchip number with a microchip registry company that will use, without the owner's or new owner's consent, the personal information of the owner or new owner for purposes other than to reunite the owner or new owner with the cat.
(b)(1) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), this section does not require a cat to be microchipped if a licensed veterinarian certifies in writing that the cat is medically unfit for the microchipping procedure because the cat has a physical condition that would be substantially aggravated by the procedure.
(2) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), this section does not require a cat to be microchipped if the agency, shelter, or group receives a signed form from the owner reclaiming the cat or new owner receiving the cat that states that the cost of microchipping would impose an economic hardship for the owner or new owner.
(c)(1) An agency, shelter, or group that violates this section on or after January 1, 2022, is subject to a civil penalty of one hundred dollars ($100).
(2) Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 31401) of Division 14 and Section 9 do not apply to a violation of this section.
(3) An agency, shelter, or group that does not have microchipping capability on location is not subject to the civil penalty described in this subdivision upon obtaining the agreement described in subparagraph (B) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (a).
(d) This section does not apply to a cat that is temporarily housed under an emergency evacuation order.
Credits
(Added by Stats.2020, c. 108 (S.B.573), § 2, eff. Jan. 1, 2021. Amended by Stats.2022, c. 549 (A.B.2723), § 2, eff. Jan. 1, 2023.)
§ 31752.2. Identification of ownership
(a) Upon relinquishment of a cat to a public or private shelter, the owner of that cat shall present sufficient identification to establish his or her ownership of the cat and shall sign a statement that he or she is the lawful owner of the cat.
(b) Any person who provides false information pursuant to this subdivision about his or her ownership of the cat shall be liable to the true owner of the cat in the amount of one thousand dollars ($1,000).
CREDIT(S)
(Added by Stats.2000, c. 567 (A.B.2754), § 4.)
§ 31752.5. Legislative findings and declarations
(a) The Legislature finds and declares the following:
(1) Domestic cats' temperaments range from completely docile indoor pets to completely unsocialized outdoor cats that avoid all contact with humans.
(2) “Feral cats” are cats with temperaments that are completely unsocialized, although frightened or injured tame pet cats may appear to be feral.
(3) Some people care for or own feral cats.
(4) Feral cats pose particular safety hazards for animal shelter employees.
(5) It is cruel to keep feral cats caged for long periods of time; however, it is not always easy to distinguish a feral cat from a frightened tame cat.
(b) For the purposes of this section, a “feral cat” is defined as a cat without owner identification of any kind whose usual and consistent temperament is extreme fear and resistance to contact with people. A feral cat is totally unsocialized to people.
(c) Notwithstanding Section 31752, if an apparently feral cat has not been reclaimed by its owner or caretaker within the first three days of the required holding period, animal shelter personnel qualified to verify the temperament of the animal shall verify whether it is feral or tame by using a standardized protocol. If the cat is determined to be docile or a frightened or difficult tame cat, the cat shall be held for the entire required holding period specified in Section 31752. If the cat is determined to be truly feral, the cat may be euthanized or relinquished to a nonprofit, as defined in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code,1 animal adoption organization that agrees to the spaying or neutering of the cat if it has not already been spayed or neutered. In addition to any required spay or neuter deposit, the animal shelter, at its discretion, may assess a fee, not to exceed the standard adoption fee, for the animal released.
Credits
(Added by Stats.1998, c. 752 (S.B.1785), § 14. Amended by Stats.2019, c. 7 (A.B.1553), § 9, eff. Jan. 1, 2020.)
§ 31753. Holding of other impounded animals
A rabbit, guinea pig, hamster, potbellied pig, bird, lizard, snake, turtle, or tortoise that is legally allowed as personal property and that is impounded in a public or private shelter shall be held for the same period of time, under the same requirements of care, and with the same opportunities for redemption and adoption by new owners or nonprofit, as defined in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code,1 animal rescue or adoption organizations as provided for cats and dogs. The public or private shelter may enter into cooperative agreements with animal rescue or adoption organizations regarding rabbits that are equivalent to those cooperative agreements authorized in Section 31108 regarding dogs and Section 31752 regarding cats. Section 17006 shall also apply to these animals. In addition to any required spay or neuter deposit, the public or private shelter, at its discretion, may assess a fee, not to exceed the standard adoption fee, for animals adopted by new owners or released to nonprofit animal rescue or adoption organizations pursuant to this section.
Credits
(Added by Stats.1998, c. 752 (S.B.1785), § 15. Amended by Stats.1999, c. 83 (S.B.966), § 61; Stats.2000, c. 567 (A.B.2754), § 5; Stats.2017, c. 740 (A.B.485), § 1, eff. Jan. 1, 2018.)
§ 31754. Holding period; owner redemption
(a) Except as provided in Section 17006, any animal relinquished by the purported owner that is of a species impounded by public or private shelters shall be held for the same holding periods, with the same requirements of care, applicable to stray dogs and cats in Sections 31108 and 31752, and shall be available for owner redemption or adoption for the entire holding period.
(b) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), kittens or puppies relinquished by the purported owner, or brought in by any other person with authority to relinquish them, to public or private shelters, may be available immediately for adoption.
(c) This section shall become operative on July 1, 2002.
CREDIT(S)
(Added by Stats.1998, c. 752 (S.B.1785), § 16.5, operative July 1, 2001. Amended by Stats.2000, c. 57 (A.B.1786), § 2, operative July 1, 2001; Stats.2000, c. 567 (A.B.2754), § 7.5, operative July 1, 2002.)
§ 31755. Repealed by Stats.1999, c. 81 (A.B.1482), § 1, operative July 1, 2000
Chapter 2. Special Provisions Applicable to Counties with a Population of Less Than 100,000 Persons.
§ 31760. Application of chapter; spaying or neutering required
(a) This chapter only applies to a county that has a population of less than 100,000 persons as of January 1, 2000, and to cities within that county. A county whose population exceeds 100,000 persons in a year subsequent to January 1, 2000, shall be subject to Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 31751) commencing on January 1 of the year immediately following the year in which the population of that county exceeds 100,000 persons.
(b) Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, no public animal control agency or shelter, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals shelter, humane society shelter, or rescue group shall sell or give away any cat that has not been spayed or neutered.
(c) A public animal control agency or shelter, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals shelter, humane society shelter, or rescue group may not transfer to a new owner a cat that has not been spayed or neutered, except as provided in subdivision (d).
(d) A public animal control agency or shelter, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals shelter, humane society shelter, or rescue group may transfer to a new owner a cat that has not been spayed or neutered only if the public animal control agency or shelter, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals shelter, humane society shelter, or rescue group does both of the following:
(1) Requires a written agreement, executed by the recipient, acknowledging the cat is not spayed or neutered and the recipient agrees in writing to be responsible for ensuring the cat will be spayed or neutered within 30 business days after the agreement is signed.
(2) Receives from the recipient a sterilization deposit of not less than forty dollars ($40) and not more than seventy-five dollars ($75), the terms of which are part of the written agreement executed by the recipient under this section.
(e) Public animal control agencies or shelters, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals shelters, humane society shelters, and rescue groups may enter into cooperative agreements with each other and with veterinarians in lieu of requiring spaying and neutering deposits to carry out this section.
CREDIT(S)
(Added by Stats.1998, c. 747 (A.B.1856), § 8, operative Jan. 1, 2000.)
§ 31761. Spaying or neutering deposits
(a) A spaying or neutering deposit may be either of the following:
(1) A portion of the adoption fee or other fees rendered in acquiring the cat, which will enable the adopter to take the cat for spaying or neutering to a veterinarian with whom the public animal control agency or shelter, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals shelter, humane society shelter, or rescue group has an agreement that provides that the veterinarian will bill the shelter directly for the sterilization.
(2) A deposit that is both of the following:
(A) Refundable to the recipient if proof of spaying or neutering of the cat is presented to the public animal control agency or shelter, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals shelter, humane society shelter, or rescue group not more than 30 business days after the date the cat is spayed or neutered.
(B) Forfeited to the public animal control agency or shelter, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals shelter, humane society shelter, or rescue group if proof of spaying or neutering is not presented to the animal shelter within 30 business days.
(b) Deposits shall be in the amount determined by the shelter, but shall not be less than forty dollars ($40) and shall not exceed seventy-five dollars ($75).
(c) All spaying or neutering deposits forfeited or unclaimed under this section shall be retained by the public animal control agency or shelter, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals shelter, humane society shelter, or rescue group and shall be used by the public animal control agency or shelter, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals shelter, humane society shelter, or rescue group only for the following purposes:
(1) A program to spay or neuter dogs and cats.
(2) A public education program to reduce and prevent overpopulation of dogs and cats, and the related costs to local government.
(3) A followup program to ensure that dogs and cats transferred by the public animal control agency or shelter, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals shelter, humane society shelter, or rescue group are spayed or neutered in accordance with the agreement executed under subdivision (d) of Section 31760.
(4) Any additional costs incurred by the public animal control agency or shelter, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals shelter, humane society shelter, or rescue group in the administration of the requirements of this chapter.
CREDIT(S)
(Added by Stats.1998, c. 747 (A.B.1856), § 8, operative Jan. 1, 2000.)
§ 31762. Failure to comply with spaying or neutering agreements; forfeitures and fines; extensions of time
(a)(1) If a recipient fails to comply with the spaying or neutering agreement within 30 business days after the agreement is signed, the recipient shall forfeit the sterilization deposit and is subject to a fine pursuant to Section 31763.
(2) An animal control officer, humane officer, police officer, peace officer, or any agency authorized to enforce the Penal Code may write citations with a civil penalty stated in an amount corresponding to the violation as provided in Section 31763. The fines shall be paid to the local municipality or public animal control agency or shelter, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals shelter, humane society shelter, or rescue group. Any funds collected under this section shall be expended for the purpose of humane education, programs for low cost spaying and neutering of cats and any additional costs incurred by the public animal control agency or shelter, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals shelter, humane society shelter, or rescue group in the administration of the requirements of this chapter. This subdivision is applicable within any county.
(3) If the owner, at any time subsequent to 30 business days after the spaying or neutering agreement was signed, provides proof of spaying or neutering, the deposit shall be forfeited, but any fine levied but not yet paid, shall be waived.
(b) A public animal control agency or shelter, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals shelter, humane society shelter, or rescue group may extend the date by which spaying or neutering is to be completed at its discretion for good cause shown. Any extension shall be in writing.
(c) If a veterinarian licensed to practice veterinary medicine in this state certifies that a cat is too sick or injured to be spayed or neutered, or that it would otherwise be detrimental to the health of the cat to be spayed or neutered, the adopter or purchaser shall pay the public animal control agency or shelter, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals shelter, humane society shelter, or rescue group a deposit of not less than forty dollars ($40), and not more than seventy-five dollars ($75). The entity shall establish the amount of the deposit at the level it determines is necessary to encourage the spaying or neutering of cats. The deposit shall be temporary, and shall be retained only until the cat is healthy enough to be spayed or neutered as certified by a veterinarian licensed to practice veterinary medicine in this state. The cat shall be spayed or neutered within 14 business days of that certification. The adopter or purchaser shall obtain written proof of spaying or neutering from the veterinarian performing the operation. If the adopter or purchaser presents proof of spaying or neutering to the entity from which the cat was obtained within 30 business days, the adopter or purchaser shall receive a full refund of the deposit.
(d) If an adopted cat dies within the spaying or neutering period provided for in the written agreement pursuant to Section 31760, subdivision (c) shall not apply to the cat. In that case, the recipient may receive a reimbursement of the sterilization deposit by submitting to the public animal control agency or shelter, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals shelter, humane society shelter, or rescue group within the sterilization period a signed letter from a veterinarian licensed to practice medicine in this state stating that the animal has died. The letter shall include a description of the cat.
CREDIT(S)
(Added by Stats.1998, c. 747 (A.B.1856), § 8, operative Jan. 1, 2000.)
§ 31763. False information regarding spaying or neutering; civil penalties; use of funds from penalties
(a)(1) A person who commits any violation of subdivision (b) is subject to a civil penalty of not less than fifty dollars ($50) on a first violation of subdivision (b), and a civil penalty of not less than one hundred dollars ($100) on any second or subsequent violation of subdivision (b).
(2) An action for a penalty proposed under this section may be commenced by the administrator of the public animal control agency or shelter, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals shelter, humane society shelter, or rescue group from which the recipient obtained the animal that is the subject of the violation in a court of competent jurisdiction.
(b) A person is subject to the civil penalties pursuant to subdivision (a) if that person does any of the following:
(1) Falsifies any proof of spaying or neutering submitted for the purpose of compliance with this chapter.
(2) Provides to a public animal control agency or shelter, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals shelter, humane society shelter, or rescue group or a licensed veterinarian inaccurate information regarding ownership of any cat required to be submitted for spaying or neutering under this chapter.
(3) Submits to a public animal control agency or shelter, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals shelter, humane society shelter, or rescue group false information regarding sterilization fees or fee schedules.
(4) Issues a check for insufficient funds for any spaying or neutering deposit required under this chapter.
(c) All penalties collected under this section shall be retained by the public animal control agency or shelter, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals shelter, humane society shelter, or rescue group imposing the penalties, to be used solely for purposes provided for under subdivision (c) of Section 31761.
CREDIT(S)
(Added by Stats.1998, c. 747 (A.B.1856), § 8, operative Jan. 1, 2000.)
§ 31764. Local ordinances; animal placement procedures
Local ordinances concerning the adoption or placement procedures of any animal shelter shall be at least as restrictive as this chapter.
CREDIT(S)
(Added by Stats.1998, c. 747 (A.B.1856), § 8, operative Jan. 1, 2000.)
§ 31764.5. Shelters; waiver of cat adoption fee for veterans; limit on number of cats adopted
(a) A public animal shelter shall not charge an adoption fee for a cat if the person adopting the cat presents to the public animal shelter a current and valid driver's license or identification card with the word “VETERAN” printed on its face pursuant to Section 12811 of the Vehicle Code.
(b) A public animal shelter may limit the number of cats adopted from that public animal shelter pursuant to this section to one cat each six-month period.
Credits
(Added by Stats.2019, c. 205 (S.B.245), § 5, eff. Jan. 1, 2020.)
§ 31765. Cat license tags; fee discounts
Whenever a county, or a city that is within a county to which this chapter applies, requires cat license tags, the tag shall be issued for one-half or less of the fee required for a cat, if a certificate is presented from a licensed veterinarian that the cat has been spayed or neutered.
CREDIT(S)
(Added by Stats.1998, c. 747 (A.B.1856), § 8, operative Jan. 1, 2000.)
§ 31766. Repealed by Stats.2004, c. 253 (S.B.1301), § 10