This chapter is enacted pursuant to the authority of Government Code Section 25802 which permits a county to maintain a public pound, Health and Safety Code Section 121690 which requires a county establish a public pound and dog licensing system to assist in the control of rabies, and permits the county to impose dog license fees to defray the costs thereof, Food and Agricultural Code Sections 31251 and 31253 which permit the county to charge a fee for the impounding of dogs at its public pound, Food and Agricultural Code Sections 30503 and 31751 which require the making of a spay/neuter deposit before a dog or cat, respectively, can be adopted from a public pound, and Inyo County's police power as a subdivision of the state of California.
(Ord. 983 § 2, 1997)
The purpose of this chapter is to establish procedures to govern the adoption of animals from the Inyo County animal control shelter, to establish fees and fines for the adoption of animals from, and the impounding of animals in, the Inyo County animal control shelter, to implement state law regarding spay/neuter deposits for dogs and cats adopted from a public pound, to reduce the number of stray animals, to lessen the burden on county resources, and to protect the health and safety of our communities.
(Ord. 983 § 2, 1997; Ord. 1213 § 1, 2017)
As used in this chapter, the following terms have the following meanings:
"Impound"
means to place and hold an animal at the Inyo County animal control shelter following its seizure or delivery to the shelter.
"Shelter"
means the Inyo County animal control shelter.
"Spay/neuter"
means the surgical sterilization of a female (spay) or male (neuter) dog or cat by a licensed veterinarian.
"Spay/neuter deposit"
means a sum of money which must be deposited with the animal control division before an animal may be adopted from the shelter to be redeemed or forfeited, as the case may be, in accordance with Section 8.28.060 of this chapter.
(Ord. 983 § 2, 1997)
A. 
There is established the following schedule of fees to be charged and paid for the various animal control services performed, and permits issued by, the animal control division of the Inyo County sheriff's department. The schedule shall be known as the "Animal Control Services and Permits Fee Schedule" and shall be administered in accordance with this chapter, other relevant provisions of the Inyo County Code, and state law.
Services
Fees
1. Adoption fee to be paid by anyone who adopts an altered animal from the shelter
$40 per animal
2. Impound fees to be paid by anyone whose animal is released from impound at the shelter
$50 per initial day of impoundment of animal
$10 for each additional day, or portion thereof, animal remains impounded
3. Dog license fee to be paid annually by anyone
$30 per dog if not spayed or neutered
owning or possessing a dog 4 months of age or older in Inyo County, unless otherwise lawfully licensed
$15 per dog if spayed or neutered
4. Spay/neuter deposits
$75 each adopted cat
$75 each adopted dog
B. 
The owner of an animal that is impounded shall be fined fifty dollars on the second occurrence, and one hundred dollars for the third and each subsequent occurrence. These fines are in addition to any other fines and fees imposed by the county.
C. 
The owner of a nonspayed or unneutered animal that is impounded once shall be fined thirty-five dollars on the first occurrence, fifty dollars on the second occurrence, and one hundred dollars for the third and each subsequent occurrence. These fines are in addition to any other fines and fees imposed by the county, including, but not limited to, those fines set forth in subsection B of this section.
(Ord. 983 § 2, 1997; Ord. 1091 § 3, 2004; Ord. 1079 §4(L), 2004; Ord. 1213 § 2, 2017)
Members of the public may inquire about animals available for adoption from the shelter during regular operating hours. Any person wishing to adopt an animal from the shelter will first be interviewed by a shelter attendant to ensure that the person is capable of caring for the animal after its adoption and can provide the animal with a suitable home. If the shelter attendant is satisfied that the person can provide the animal with the requisite care and home, the person will be permitted to adopt the animal, provided the person first pays the adoption fee required by this chapter, makes a spay/neuter deposit in accordance with Section 8.28.060 of this chapter, and signs a form by which the person acknowledges the general characteristics of animals and releases the county of Inyo and its employees from any liability associated with the adoption.
(Ord. 983 § 2, 1997)
In accordance with Food and Agricultural Code Sections 30503 and 31751, no dog or cat that has not been spayed or neutered may be adopted from the shelter unless the person wishing to adopt, in addition to paying the adoption fee, makes a spay/neuter deposit in the amount set forth in Section 8.28.040. Upon making such deposit the adopting party shall receive a copy of the "Inyo County Animal Control Animal Adoption Form" (adoption form) which, at his/her option, may either be (A) redeemed in the amount of the deposit by a veterinarian located in Inyo County or registered with the Inyo County animal control division and applied toward the cost to spay/neuter the animal or (B) fully redeemed for the cash deposit left with the animal control division upon providing proof, to the satisfaction of the Inyo County animal control, that the animal has been spayed/neutered.
In either event the adoption form shall be redeemable for sixty days from the date of adoption in the case of animals older than six months at the time of adoption, and for six months from the date of adoption in the case of animals six months or younger at the time of adoption. Should the adoption form not be redeemed within these time periods, the deposit shall be forfeited to Inyo County animal control division and used for the purposes set forth in Food and Agricultural Code Sections 30503 and 31751.
(Ord. 983 § 2, 1997)
When an unaltered animal is impounded by Inyo County for a third time, the owner or custodian may reclaim the unaltered animal after one of the following occurs:
A. 
The animal is spayed or neutered by a department approved veterinarian at the expense of the owner or custodian. Such expense may include additional fees due to extraordinary care required;
B. 
The owner or custodian may arrange for another department approved veterinarian to spay or neuter the animal, and shall pay to the department the cost to deliver the animal to the chosen veterinarian. The cost to deliver the animal shall be based on the department's hourly rate established by the auditor-controller, billed in minimum one-hour increments. The veterinarian shall complete and return to the department within ten days, a statement confirming that the animal has been spayed or neutered and shall release the animal to the owner or custodian only after the spay or neuter procedure is complete; or
C. 
At the discretion of the sheriff, the animal may be released to the owner or custodian if he or she provides a spay/neuter deposit as set forth in Section 8.28.060, and signs a statement under penalty of perjury, representing that the animal will be spayed or neutered and that he or she will submit a statement within ten days, signed by the veterinarian, confirming that the animal has been spayed or neutered.
(Ord. 1213 § 4, 2017)