Des Moines, IA Animal Ordinances: Mandatory Spay/Neuter (2026)
Key Facts
- Dog/cat adoption
- Sterilization required or agreed in writing
- Underage animals
- Owner signs sterilization agreement
- Community cat status
- Must be spayed/neutered, vaccinated, ear-tipped
- Missed agreement penalty
- Simple misdemeanor
- Enforced by
- Chief humane officer / Animal Control
Summary
Des Moines requires surgical sterilization for every dog and cat adopted from the city animal shelter, and for cats living as registered community cats: pets already owned by their people are not covered by the requirement.
(2) Pay an adoption fee in the amounts set in the schedule of fees adopted by the city council by resolution which fee shall include the cost of a city dog license and vaccinations as required by this article and surgical sterilization. (3) If a dog is too young to submit to vaccinations or to surgical sterilization, the person shall agree in writing to surgical sterilization of the adopted dog within a designated time period.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 38 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
Adopt a dog or cat from Des Moines Animal Control and the adoption fee, under Municipal Code § 18-65(b) for dogs and § 18-108(b) for cats, includes surgical sterilization. If the animal is too young for surgery, the adopter signs a written agreement to get it sterilized within a set window; skipping that is a simple misdemeanor, and the chief humane officer can seize the animal to complete the procedure. Free-roaming community cats run on a separate track under § 18-109(a): a cat only qualifies for that status if a veterinarian has assessed it healthy, confirmed spayed or neutered, vaccinated, and ear-tipped. Without that, the cat is treated as at large and can be impounded.
Violations & Fines
Failing to complete an agreed sterilization after adopting a dog or cat is a simple misdemeanor under § 18-65(b)(3) / § 18-108(b)(3); the chief humane officer may seize and impound the animal to administer it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Des Moines require all pet owners to spay or neuter their dog or cat?
What happens if I adopt a puppy or kitten too young to be sterilized?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Des Moines
Compare Des Moines to another location·View the Iowa animal ordinances overview
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