Santa Ana follows OC Animal Care policies that strongly encourage spay and neuter, with sharply higher license fees for unaltered dogs. California Food and Agricultural Code section 30503 requires shelters to sterilize dogs and cats before adoption throughout the entire state.
The city does not impose a blanket mandatory spay-neuter law on owned pets, but OC Animal Care charges substantially higher annual license fees for unaltered dogs to encourage sterilization. State law under Food and Agricultural Code 30503 requires every dog or cat adopted from a public shelter or rescue to be sterilized before transfer. Unaltered animals impounded twice within a year may be required to be sterilized as a condition of release. Santa Ana also waives or discounts licensing for residents who provide proof of spay or neuter from a licensed California veterinarian.
Releasing an impounded unaltered animal without compliance can cost 200 to 500 dollars in additional fees, and adopting out an unsterilized pet exposes the rescue to state penalties.
Santa Ana, CA
Santa Ana requires dogs to be restrained by a leash not exceeding six feet in length when on any public property, consistent with Orange County animal contro...
Santa Ana, CA
Santa Ana requires cats four months and older to wear identification and follow nuisance rules. Owners cannot allow cats to repeatedly damage neighboring pro...
Santa Ana, CA
California Food and Agricultural Code section 31108.3 requires shelters and rescues to microchip dogs and cats before transfer to a new owner. OC Animal Care...
See how other cities in Orange County handle mandatory spay/neuter.
See how Santa Ana's mandatory spay/neuter rules stack up against other locations.
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