This part of the King County, Washington animal control ordinance states that no person shall own or harbor any cat or dog over the age of six months that has not been spayed or neutered unless the person holds an unaltered animal license for the animal pursuant to K.C.C. 11.04.030 (except for guide dog puppies and police service dogs). The animal care and control authority shall develop and implement a twelve-month program to canvass for compliance with the licensing requirements of this chapter.
III. ENFORCEMENT, PENALTIES AND PROCEDURES
11.04.210 Impounding.
IV. MANDATORY SPAY AND NEUTER PROGRAM
11.04.400 Mandatory spaying and neutering .
11.04.410 Spay or neuter vouchers.
V. OTHER PROVISIONS
11.04.500 Euthanasia rate targets.
11.04.510 Unaltered dogs and cats - Advertising requirements.
11.04.520 Rabies vaccination required.
11.04.530 Exemptions from chapter.
11.04.540 Unauthorized release of animals from confinement.
11.04.550 Monitoring and reporting.
11.04.560 Public information education.
11.04.570 Breeder certification program.
11.04.580 Canvassing program.
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B. As provided in K.C.C. 11.04.400, all dogs and cats adopted from the King County animal shelter shall be spayed or neutered before adoption, except that, persons adopting a juvenile may elect not to spay or neuter the animal at the time of adoption if such persons purchase a juvenile license and pre-purchase an adult altered license, effective the month that the animal would become six months of age. Such persons shall also pay a spay or neuter deposit that shall be returned to the adopting person upon submission of proof that the sterilization was performed within six months from the adoption. Failure to spay or neuter such a dog or cat is a violation of this chapter and a breach of the adoption contract and shall result in the forfeiture of the adoption and return of the dog or cat to King County animal care and control for the required spaying or neutering. Persons adopting a juvenile dog or cat that is spayed or neutered may purchase an adult altered license at the time of adoption, effective for one year...
D.
1. Any unaltered dog or cat impounded more than once shall be spayed or neutered:
a. by the regional animal services before the release of the dog or cat; or
b. at the request of the owner, after release of the dog or cat to the owner, but only if the owner agrees to pay a cash deposit of two hundred fifty dollars and provides proof of neutering or spaying on a form provided by the county. In order for the deposit to be refunded to the owner the form must be certified by a licensed veterinarian within ten days of release of the dog or cat to the owner. If proof of neutering or spaying is not provided within ten days, the regional animal services may again impound the dog or cat to verify that it is spayed or neutered. If the animal is not spayed or neutered, the regional animal services section may spay or neuter the animal before it is released to the owner.
2. If the dog or cat is spayed or neutered by the regional animal services section, the cost of the spay or neuter shall be charged to the owner upon redemption but shall be deducted from the impound and redemption fees otherwise required under this chapter. (Ord. 16861 § 28, 2010: Ord. 15801 § 21, 2007: Ord. 11920 § 1, 1995: Ord. 10423 § 23, 1992: Ord. 10168 § 7, 1991: Ord. 7986 § 2, 1987: Ord. 7871, 1986: Ord. 6370 § 7, 1983: Ord. 6243 § 1, 1982: Ord. 6049, 1982: Ord. 5805 § 3, 1981: Ord. 2428 § 12, 1975: Ord. 1396 Art. III § 5, 1972).
IV. MANDATORY SPAY AND NEUTER PROGRAM
11.04.400 Mandatory spaying and neutering.
A. No person shall own or harbor any cat or dog over the age of six months that has not been spayed or neutered unless the person holds an unaltered animal license for the animal pursuant to K.C.C. 11.04.030.
B. Guide dog puppies in training and police service dogs are exempted from the provisions of this section.
C. Any dog or cat over the age of six months adopted from an animal shelter in King County shall be spayed or neutered before transfer to the owner. (Ord. 10423 § 2, 1992).
11.04.410 Spay or neuter vouchers.
When issuing a license for an unaltered pet the regional animal services section may provide to the applicant a voucher for the payment of all or part of the cost of a spay or neuter operation by a licensed veterinarian on the pet, with the amount of the voucher established by the manager of regional animal services based upon available resources and appropriation authority being provided by the council. The regional animal services section shall compile, maintain and make available to the public a list of veterinarians who accept the vouchers as full or partial payment for spay or neuter operations. Spay or neuter vouchers shall be redeemed through the King County treasury by veterinarians who have performed a spay or neuter operation on a pet licensed in King County as an unaltered pet.
(Ord. 16861 § 36, 2010: Ord. 15801 § 30, 2007: Ord. 10423 § 24, 1992).
V. OTHER PROVISIONS
11.04.500 Euthanasia rate targets.
A. It shall be the policy of King County that a maximum euthanasia rate target is set to measure the progress towards reducing the rates of cats and dogs euthanized by the regional animal services section or its designees. The euthanasia rates shall be calculated based on the total number of live cats and dogs take in to King County custody to include stray, homeless, abandoned, unwanted or surrendered animals, and animals euthanized at an owner's request. The euthanasia rates shall exclude animals euthanized at the order of the director of the Seattle-King County department of public health and those animals who are not in the custody of King County but are brought to a King County shelter by their owner or guardian for the purposes of licensing, or clinic services, such as spaying, neutering and vaccinations should such services be made available to the public by the regional animal services section.
B. The total number of cats and dogs euthanized by the regional animal services section is not to exceed fifteen percent. (Ord. 16861 § 37, 2010: Ord. 15801 § 31, 2007: Ord. 10423 § 6, 1992).
11.04.510 Unaltered dogs and cats - Advertising requirements.
No person in unincorporated King County shall publish or advertise to King County residents the availability of any unaltered cat or dog unless the publication or advertisement includes: the unaltered animal's license number or the animal's juvenile license number, provided, however that nothing in this chapter shall prohibit licensed breeders from advertising in national publications for sale of a planned litter or litters. (Ord. 10423 § 9, 1992).
11.04.520 Rabies vaccination required.
All dogs and cats six months of age or older shall be vaccinated against rabies. All vaccinations shall be performed in accordance with the standards contained in the Compendium of Animal Rabies Control as amended, published by the National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians, Inc. (Ord. 10423 § 19, 1992).
11.04.530 Exemptions from chapter .
The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to dogs and cats in the custody of an animal facility registered or licenses by the United States Department of Agriculture and regulated by 7 United States Code 2131, et seq. (Ord. 10423 § 20, 1992).
11.04.540 Unauthorized release of animals from confinement.
No person other than the owner or person authorized by the owner of the animal shall release any animal from any confinement, vehicle or restraint unless the release is necessary for the immediate health and safety of the animal, though this section shall not apply to peace officers and animal care and control or humane officers. (Ord. 15801 § 32, 2007: Ord. 10423 § 21, 1992).
11.04.550 Monitoring and reporting.
The regional animal services section shall report to the council no less than twice each year on the number of animals taken into King County's custody, the average length of stay for animals, the number of animals redeemed by their owners, the number of animals adopted, the number of animals transferred to other animal welfare organizations or agencies, the number of animals euthanized, the number of animals euthanized at an owner's request, the number of animals euthanized due to a determination of vicious temperament, the number of animals euthanized due to a determination that the animal had a poor or grave prognosis of health and was irremediably suffering, the number of animals that die of causes other than an administered method of euthanasia, the number of animals spayed or neutered, the number of animal cruelty cases, the number and type of pet licenses issued and the number of spay or neuter vouchers issued and redeemed. The reports shall include program revenues, expenditures, status of payments from cities for contractual services, an accounting for the use of the animal bequest funds and impacts to the general fund. These twice-annual reports shall be prepared concurrent with and include the reports developed for cities per the terms of any interlocal agreements for regional animal services. One paper copy and an electronic copy of each report shall be filed with the clerk of the council, who shall distribute electronic copies to all councilmembers. (Ord. 16861 § 38, 2010: Ord. 15801 § 33, 2007: Ord. 10423 § 22, 1992).
11.04.560 Public information education.
The animal care and control authority in conjunction with the King County animal care and control citizen's advisory committee shall develop a public information and education campaign about responsible pet ownership, pet adoption and the benefits of spay and neuter operations. The campaign should be coordinated with other animal interest groups. The materials shall be made available to the general public and provided to each person obtaining a license or redeeming a pet. Materials shall be made available to and disseminated through veterinarians, pet shops, catteries, kennels and the media. The use of pro bono assistance from entities having expertise in public advertising or information campaigns is encouraged. (Ord. 15801 § 34, 2007: Ord. 10423 § 25, 1992).
11.04.570 Breeder certification program.
The regional animal services section shall develop a breeder certification program, including a definition of the term "breeder," to promote the "best management practices" for the breeding and caring of animals. The proposed breeder certification program shall be submitted to the county council for approval. (Ord. 16861 § 39, 2010: Ord. 15801 § 35, 2007: Ord. 10423 § 26, 1992).
The animal care and control authority shall develop and implement a twelve-month program to canvass for compliance with the licensing requirements of this chapter. The program shall be directed at households within unincorporated areas of King County and cities under contract with King County for animal care control services. Animal care and control authority employees and persons or organizations under contract to the animal care and control authority performing the canvassing may issue pet licenses and collect license fees. The canvassing program shall be reviewed by the animal care and control authority. Funding for subsequent years shall be reviewed annually based upon an evaluation of the efficacy of the canvassing program. (Ord. 15801 § 36, 2007: Ord. 10423 § 27, 1992).