This chapter is added pursuant to Section 31751 of the Food and Agricultural Code of the State of California and shall be construed consistently therewith.
(Ord. 91-29, 8/13/1991)
A. 
The Director of Animal Care and Control is hereby authorized to establish a voluntary cat-registration system as follows:
1. 
Upon payment of the fee prescribed herein, the department shall issue an identification tag to each cat owner or person having custody or control thereof for each cat, said tag to be worn at all times by the cat for which issued. Should a cat come into the custody of the Director and the cat shall have attached a valid identification tag issued by the department, then the department shall, within twelve (12) working hours from the time of impounding, notify the registered cat owner that said cat is in the custody of the Director.
2. 
A record of the name and address of the cat owner and a description of the cat, as well as the identification number assigned thereto, shall be maintained by the department on each cat registration, and such other information that the Director may deem proper.
3. 
The registration fee shall be five dollars ($5.00) per cat so registered. Registration shall be valid for the life of the cat. The fee may be reduced to two dollars fifty cents ($2.50) if a certificate of spaying or neutering is presented upon application for registration hereunder.
4. 
There shall be no charge to have the cat owner's address change entered upon the department's records.
5. 
There shall be a fee of one dollar ($1.00) for the duplication of a lost cat tag.
6. 
There shall be a fee of one dollar ($1.00) each to have the changed ownership for each cat entered upon the record.
7. 
From May 12, 1972, the effective date of the ordinance codified in this section, any cat shall be deemed to be stray if found at large off the property of the owner. The Director shall hold such cat for no less than the minimum time prescribed. Each such cat may be impounded, held and disposed of in the manner as provided under Chapter 8.36 of this code.
8. 
Any person taking up any cat shall fully comply with Sections 8.36.020 and 8.36.040 and any other applicable laws and/or regulations.
9. 
An unauthorized person shall not remove from any cat any collar or harness or other device to which is attached any identification tag issued by the department under this chapter, or remove such tag therefrom. Unauthorized removal of such identification tag shall be subject to penalties as provided under Section 8.04.060.
B. 
This section is of a voluntary nature and does not require a cat owner to purchase a tag as provided hereunder.
(Ord. 91-29, 8/13/1991)
As a condition to the sale or giving away of any cat that has not been spayed or neutered, the purchaser or recipient shall deposit with the Department of Animal Care and Control, at the time of the sale or giving away, an amount determined by the Director to be sufficient to cover the costs of neutering or spaying the cat, but in no event shall such deposit exceed thirty dollars ($30.00). Such deposit is to be paid to a licensed veterinarian upon proof that he has performed the required neutering or spaying operation within the time period as set forth in Section 8.24.060, and may include an amount necessary to recover any additional costs to the department under this chapter.
(Ord. 91-29, 8/13/1991)
Whenever a cat has been spayed or neutered as provided herein, the depositor shall be entitled to have the deposit paid to the licensed veterinarian performing the above operation, or the Director may return the deposit to the person purchasing or receiving the cat upon written statement or receipt from the licensed veterinarian that the cat has been spayed or neutered, and the Director shall draw the necessary demand on the auditor therefor.
(Ord. 91-29, 8/13/1991)
Any cat over six (6) months of age at the time it is sold or given away shall be spayed or neutered with sixty (60) days, or the deposit shall be deemed forfeited. Any cat under six (6) months of age at the time it is sold or given away shall be spayed or neutered within sixty (60) days after reaching the age of six (6) months or the deposit shall be deemed forfeited. The Director may extend such time periods in writing upon the showing of good cause therefor. The age of the cat for purposes of this chapter shall be determined by the Department. At least thirty (30) days before the end of the said sixty (60) day period, or any written extension thereof, the Department shall send the purchaser notice by mail to the address on file with the Department, informing the purchaser that failure to furnish satisfactory proof of performance of the operation prior to the end of the sixty (60) day period or its extension shall result in forfeiture of the deposit. If said notice has been sent and the allotted time has elapsed without satisfactory proof of performance of the operation, the deposit shall be forfeited and the Director shall transfer such money from the trust fund to the County Treasury.
(Ord. 91-29, 8/13/1991)
Whenever any cat which has been purchased from the Department of Animal Care and Control, while it was under the age of six (6) months, dies or is destroyed prior to being spayed of neutered as required in this chapter, the purchaser shall be entitled to a refund upon presenting satisfactory proof to the Director of such death or destruction, and the Director shall draw the necessary demand on the auditor therefor. No refund shall be made, however, where death or destruction occurs following the time within which the aforementioned operation was required to be performed.
(Ord. 91-29, 8/13/1991)