Lake Elsinore, California

Cats and dogs over the age of 4 months must be sterilized, with certain exceptions.

6.06.020 Mandatory spaying and neutering of dogs and cats.

A. Altered Dogs and Cats.

1. 1. Requirement. No person may own, keep, or harbor an unaltered dog or cat over the age of four months in violation of this section. An owner or custodian of an unaltered dog must have the dog spayed or neutered, or provide a certificate of sterility, or obtain an unaltered exempt license or obtain a hobby breeder license in accordance with this chapter. An owner or custodian of an unaltered cat must have the animal spayed or neutered, or provide a certificate of sterility, or obtain a hobby breeder license in accordance with this chapter.
   2. Exemptions. This section shall not apply to any of the following and any exempt animals are required to obtain an unaltered exempt license:

a. A dog with a high likelihood of suffering serious bodily harm or death if spayed or neutered, due to age or infirmity. The owner or custodian must obtain written confirmation of this fact from a California licensed veterinarian. If the dog is able to be safely spayed or neutered at a later date, that date must be stated in the written confirmation; should this date be later than 30 days, the owner or custodian must apply for an unaltered dog license.

b. A cat with a high likelihood of suffering serious bodily harm or death if spayed or neutered, due to age or infirmity. The owner or custodian must obtain written confirmation of this fact from a California licensed veterinarian. If the cat is able to be safely spayed or neutered at a later date, that date must be stated in the written confirmation.

c. Animals owned by recognized dog or cat breeders, as defined by City or Animal Control Agency.

d. Female dogs over the age of 10 years and male dogs over the age of 12 years; however, an unaltered exempt license is still required.

e. Animals used by law enforcement agencies for law enforcement purposes.

f. A qualified service animal. The person owning or having custody of the animal must have a service animal license and tag issued by the Animal Control Agency.

g. A competition dog or cat that meets the following requirements:

(1) The dog must have competed in at least one dog show or sporting competition approved by a national registry or the Animal Control Agency within the last 365 days; or the dog has earned a conformation, obedience, agility, carting, herding, protection, rally, sporting, working, or other title from a purebred dog registry referenced above or other registry or dog sport association approved by the Animal Control Agency; or the owner or custodian of the dog is a member of a purebred dog breed club, approved by the Animal Control Agency, which enforces a code of ethics that includes restrictions on breeding dogs with genetic defects or life-threatening health problems.

(2) The cat must have competed in at least one cat show approved by a national registry or the Animal Control Agency; or the cat has earned a conformation title from a purebred cat registry; or the owner or custodian of the cat is a member of a purebred cat breed club, approved by the Animal Control Agency, which enforces a code of ethics that includes restrictions on breeding cats with genetic defects or life-threatening health problems.

B. Hobby Breeder License. A dog or cat may be exempt from subsection (A) of this section if the owner or custodian is a hobby breeder, and obtains a hobby breeder license for each dog and/or cat. Each license authorizes the birth of no more than one litter per animal in any 12-month period. Breeding more than one litter per year will result in penalties.

C. Control of Unaltered Cats. In accordance with subsection (A) of this section, it is unlawful for any person to own, harbor or keep any unaltered cat four months of age or older within the City of Lake Elsinore. The City or Animal Control Agency may take steps to mitigate the impact of feral cat populations in compliance with this law which may include spay and neuter services and/or trap and release programs.