§ 4-278. Conditions for release from animal shelter; conditions for adoption.

(a)

In order for a dog or cat to be released from the City animal shelter, the following conditions must be met:

(1)

If the dog or cat is being released to its current owner, the owner must:

a.

Have the dog or cat initially vaccinated against rabies or revaccinated as scheduled or produce a valid vaccination tag or certificate.

b.

Purchase a City license or produce a valid City license tag or certificate.

c.

Purchase a valid breeding permit or produce proof of sterilization.

(2)

If the dog or cat is being released to a new owner for adoption, the new owner must:

a.

Have the dog or cat initially vaccinated against rabies or revaccinated as scheduled, unless there is evidence making such vaccination unnecessary; and

b.

Purchase a City license if the dog or cat is unlicensed.

(3)

If the dog or cat is being transferred to a Humane Society, animal welfare society, or other nonprofit organization devoted to the welfare, protection and humane treatment of animals, such receiving organization must:

a.

Have the dog or cat initially vaccinated against rabies or revaccinated as scheduled, unless there is evidence making such vaccination unnecessary.

b.

Sign an agreement to either have the dog or cat sterilized by a licensed veterinarian within 30 days after the transfer if the dog or cat is sexually mature, or have the dog or cat sterilized within 30 days after the dog or cat reaches six months of age if the dog or cat is not sexually mature at the time of the transfer. In extreme cases where the life or health of the dog or cat may be jeopardized or endangered by sterilization, the licensed veterinarian may request from the Director an extension of the date by which the dog or cat must be sterilized.

c.

Provide the City animal shelter with a copy of the rabies vaccination certificate within seven days after the release of the dog or cat.

d.

Provide the City animal shelter with written confirmation of sterilization signed by a licensed veterinarian to include the dog's or cat's shelter identification number, a description of the dog or cat, and the date of sterilization.

e.

Maintain records of all the dogs or cats transferred.

If a copy of the rabies vaccination certificate is not provided to the City animal shelter by the transferring organization within seven days of the release of the dog or cat, the transferring organization will be charged a civil penalty in the amount of $50.00. If written confirmation signed by the licensed veterinarian certifying the sterilization is not provided to the City animal shelter within seven days after the expiration of the time specified in the transfer agreement, the transferring organization will be charged a civil penalty in the amount of $50.00 for failure to confirm the sterilization of the dog or cat as required. The failure to provide verification of vaccination and sterilization within specified time periods shall result in a suspension of transferring privileges until such time as the Division of Animal Control receives the required verifications in the format detailed in Subsections (a)(3)c and (a)(3)d of this section. Two or more violations of this Subsection (a)(3) may result in termination of transferring privileges. The Director shall have full authority to terminate and reinstate transferring privileges.

(b)

If a copy of the vaccination certificate is not provided to the City by the owner, or new owner in the case of an adoption, within seven days after the release of the dog or cat, such owner or new owner will be charged a civil penalty in the amount of $50.00 for failure to have the dog or cat vaccinated against rabies. If written confirmation signed by the licensed veterinarian certifying the sterilization of the dog or cat is not provided to the City within seven days after the expiration of the time specified in the sterilization agreement, the new owner will be charged a civil penalty in the amount of $50.00 for failure to confirm the sterilization of the dog or cat as required. The written confirmation shall:

(1)

Briefly describe the dog or cat;

(2)

Include the new owner's name and address;

(3)

Certify that the sterilization was performed; and

(4)

Specify the date of the procedure.

(c)

If an adopted dog or cat is lost, stolen or dies before being sterilized and prior to the date by which the dog or cat is required to be sterilized, the new owner shall notify the City of the dog's or cat's disappearance or death within seven days of the dog's or cat's disappearance or death. Failure to notify the City of the disappearance or death of the dog or cat prior to its required sterilization will result in a civil penalty of $25.00 to the new owner.

(d)

Payment of a civil penalty for failure to have a dog or cat vaccinated against rabies or sterilized does not relieve the owner, or new owner in the case of an adoption, of the responsibility to have the dog or cat vaccinated against rabies or sterilized. The conditions and stipulations required in this section for the release of dogs or cats are in addition to the impound-related charges for dogs or cats at the City animal shelter. An adoption fee is also charged if the dog or cat is being adopted from the City animal shelter.

(Code 1993, § 4-74; Code 2004, § 10-204)

State Law reference— Requirements for release of animals, Code of Virginia, §§ 3.2-6545, 3.2-6574.

(Code 1993, § 4-74; Code 2004, § 10-204)

State law reference

Requirements for release of animals, Code of Virginia, §§ 3.2-6545, 3.2-6574.