(a) (1) If a recipient fails to comply with the spaying or neutering agreement within 30 business days after the agreement is signed, the recipient shall forfeit the sterilization deposit and is subject to a fine pursuant to Section 30523.

(2) An animal control officer, humane officer, police officer, peace officer, or any agency authorized to enforce the Penal Code may write citations with a civil penalty stated in an amount corresponding to the violation as provided in Section 30523. The fines shall be paid to the local municipality or public animal control agency or shelter, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals shelter, humane shelter, or rescue group. Any funds collected under this section shall be expended for the purpose of humane education, programs for low-cost spaying and neutering of dogs and cats, and any additional costs incurred by the animal shelter in the administration of the requirements of this chapter.

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(3) If the owner, at any time subsequent to 30 business days after the spaying or neutering agreement was signed, provides proof of spaying or neutering, the deposit shall be forfeited, but any fine levied but not yet paid, shall be waived.

(b) A public animal control agency or shelter, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals shelter, humane society shelter, or rescue group may extend the date by which spaying or neutering is to be completed at its discretion for good cause shown. Any extension shall be in writing.

(c) If a veterinarian licensed to practice veterinary medicine in this state certifies that a dog is too sick or injured to be spayed or neutered, or that it would otherwise be detrimental to the health of the dog to be spayed or neutered, the adopter or purchaser shall pay the public animal control agency or shelter, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals shelter, humane society shelter, or rescue group a deposit of not less than forty dollars ($40), and not more than seventy-five dollars ($75). The entity shall establish the amount of the deposit at the level it determines is necessary to encourage the spaying or neutering of dogs. The deposit shall be temporary, and shall be retained only until the dog is healthy enough to be spayed or neutered as certified by a veterinarian licensed to practice veterinary medicine in this state. The dog shall be spayed or neutered within 14 business days of that certification. The adopter or purchaser shall obtain written proof of spaying or neutering from the veterinarian performing the operation. If the adopter or purchaser presents proof of spaying or neutering to the entity from which the dog was obtained within 30 business days, the adopter or purchaser shall receive a full refund of the deposit.

(d) If an adopted dog dies within the spaying or neutering period provided for in the written agreement pursuant to Section 30520, subdivision (c) shall not apply to the dog. In that case, the recipient may receive a reimbursement of the sterilization deposit by submitting to the public animal control agency or shelter, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals shelter, humane society shelter, or rescue group within the sterilization period a signed letter from a veterinarian licensed to practice medicine in this state stating that the animal has died. The letter shall include a description of the dog.

(Added by Stats. 1998, Ch. 747, Sec. 3. Effective January 1, 1999. Operative January 1, 2000, by Sec. 9 of Ch. 747.)