The Department shall maintain a Pet Control Unit. The Pet Control Unit shall maintain a pound, provide and carry out a territory-wide plan to collect and place under observation biting pets, reduce the number of pets running at large and, upon request, collect and dispose of humanely any sick, aged, injured or unwanted small animal. The Mayors of Guam shall have the concurrent responsibility within their respective jurisdiction for collecting all pets running at large and turning them over to the Pet Control Unit. At the discretion of the Director or his designated representative, a biting pet may be confined by the owner of such pet in accordance with regulation adopted by the Director.
SOURCE: Repealed and reenacted by P.L. 22-013:1 (May 7, 1993).

§ 34116. Dog Running at large, Impoundment, Holding
Period, Sterilization and Adoption.

(a) It shall be unlawful for any dog owner to negligently allow a dog owned by him to run at large.

(b) Any pet over three (3) months old that is not licensed as required by § 34102 of this Article or any dog that is not wearing a current tag in accordance with § 34106 of this Article or any dog that is running at large shall be apprehended and impounded or disposed of in accordance with regulations adopted by the Director.

(c) The owner, as shown on the license, of any licensed pet that has been impounded shall be notified of such impoundment and that the pet, if not claimed within ten (10) days after such notification, may be given for adoption upon payment of the applicable per diem costs and adoption deposit or humanely destroyed. Such notice may be delivered personally to the owner, let at his place or residence in Guam, or sent by regular mail to his last known address, or informed by telephone or fax to the number(s) as shown on the license. At the end of ten (10) days after notification, any licensed pet not claimed may be given for adoption upon payment of the applicable per diem costs and adoption deposit or humanely destroyed.

(d) Any unlicensed pet that has been impounded shall be kept for three (3) days and may be claimed by the owner by obtaining a license as provided in this Article and paying for the costs for care and keep. At the end of three (3) days after impoundment, any such pet not claimed may be given for adoption or humanely destroyed.

(e) A per diem charge to be fixed annually by the Director on the basis of operating costs shall be charged for every day, or part thereof, for any pet, kept in the pound. Such charge shall be borne by the owner of the impounded pet, if known, and shall be included in costs to any claimant.

(f) All pets over the age of six (6) months given for adoption shall be sterilized before being released to new owners.
Any expense incurred for such operations or vaccinations shall be included with the costs of care and keep and borne by the new owner.

(g) No dog or cat under the age of six (6) months to be given for adoption shall be released without a written agreement from the adopter guaranteeing that such animal will be sterilized. A deposit of at least Seventy-Five Dollars ($75) must be paid at the time of adoption of a dog, and Fifty Dollars ($50) for a cat to guarantee for sterilization. Failure to perform the sterilization shall be a forfeiture of the amount deposited and the animal shall be returned to the pound.

SOURCE: Repealed and reenacted by P.L. 22-013:1 (May 7, 1993). Subsection (a) amended by P.L. 28-108:2 (Apr. 14, 2006).