Battle Creek, MI Animal Ordinances: Mandatory Spay/Neuter (2026)

Battle Creek, Calhoun County, Michigan does not run its sterilization rule through a blanket order on every pet. It runs through the impound redemption steps in Section 608.14(d)(2) of the Codified Ordinances. Upon a third or subsequent impound, any animal six months of age or older must be sterilized before it is redeemed, unless a licensed veterinarian signs an affidavit stating that sterilization would jeopardize the animal's health.

The second impound brings an unaltered animal fee, set in the fee schedule at Section 802.24 and charged on top of all other fees, fines and costs. The person paying receives a City voucher for the amount paid. After a second impound, the voucher can be applied up to the full amount toward the spay or neuter if the surgery is done within 30 days of redemption, and any difference between the surgery cost and the voucher is refunded on request if the surgery happens before redemption. After a third or subsequent impound, the surgery must be done before redemption and no unused portion is refunded. Any unredeemed portion of the fee goes to the Police Department Animal Control budget for animal control purposes, and the City is not responsible for any cost of spaying or neutering.

Subsection (d)(2)F gives a first-time owner a break: a warning replaces the Class C ticket for allowing an animal to stray under Section 608.11(a) if the animal is voluntarily spayed or neutered before redemption. The person can still be cited for other violations. Sterilization cost is also part of the payment-in-full requirement in (d)(3), and subsection (e) forfeits the animal if the owner has not met every requirement within seven days. Two related rules apply: Section 608.17(b) grants a reduced license fee for a dog or cat with written proof of neutering or spaying, and Section 608.23(e)(2) lets the court order a dangerous animal sterilized.