Mission Viejo, CA Animal Ordinances: Mandatory Spay/Neuter (2026)

Sec. 284 addresses only animals leaving a humane shelter, including any shelter operated by a society for the prevention of cruelty to animals: it bars adopting out or giving away any female dog or cat, or any male dog or cat that has not been neutered, unless a spay/neuter deposit is collected at the time of adoption. That deposit is refunded once the shelter receives notice from a licensed veterinarian that the spay or neuter procedure has been completed. The companion provision at Sec. 278(b) applies the same rule to unredeemed impounded animals the city itself disposes of: an unredeemed dog or cat that has not been spayed or neutered cannot be sold or given away unless the Sec.

284 deposit has first been received. Read together, these sections function as a point-of-adoption sterilization incentive rather than a citywide mandate reaching pets that are never surrendered or adopted through the shelter system; an owner who already has a pet, or who acquires one privately rather than through the city shelter or an SPCA-type shelter, is not required by this chapter to have it spayed or neutered. The definitions section, Sec. 010, requires that any neutering or spaying relied on under the code be certified by a licensed veterinarian to count. Enforcement of Sec. 278 falls to the director of animal services under the general enforcement authority of Sec. 040.