San Bernardino County requires dogs and cats adopted or reclaimed from county shelters to be spayed or neutered before release. Owners present a deposit refunded once veterinary verification is submitted, encouraging compliance among redeeming owners.
Title 3 of the County Code authorizes Animal Care to require sterilization of shelter animals. The Devore shelter performs in-house surgeries or arranges vouchers with partner clinics. Reclaim deposits are returned upon receipt of a signed veterinary form within a set window, often thirty days. Working dogs, registered breeders, and medically exempt animals may obtain breeder permits or veterinary waivers. The policy reduces shelter intake and supports the no-kill goal across the largest US county by area.
Forfeiture of sterilization deposit, escalating fines for non-compliance, and possible loss of license. Continued violations may trigger animal seizure or denial of future adoption applications.
San Bernardino County, CA
San Bernardino County requires microchipping of dogs and cats at the time of licensing or shelter release. The chip must be registered to a current owner wit...
San Bernardino County, CA
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See how San Bernardino County's mandatory spay/neuter rules stack up against other locations.
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