Shelters are gearing up for the enforcement of a new law. Maricopa County Animal Care and Control (MCACC) is excited to announce that HB 2458 was signed into law by Governor Brewer. This is a great victory for MCACC and great news for all animal shelters throughout the State. Basically, this new Statute mandates that all animals entering any shelter be spayed or neutered and implanted with a microchip before being released to their owners unless any of the following occurs:
1. The dog has a current dog license at the time the dog entered the pound.
2. The dog or cat is already spayed or neutered.
3. There is no veterinary facility capable of performing surgical sterilization within a twenty mile radius of the pound.
4. A veterinarian determines that a medical contraindication for surgery exists that reasonably requires postponement of the surgery until the surgery can be performed in a safe and humane manner.
5. If the animal is quarantined, that the bite occurred in the premises of the owner and the victim is a member of the same household.
6. The owner pays a fifty dollar recovery fee, in addition to any fees or costs otherwise required pursuant to this article.
Although the law allows for the owner to pay the cost of altering the pet, MCACC has committed to absorb those costs as part of our free spay and neuter program. MCACC will be creating the necessary process reviews to be ready to enforce this law. Maricopa County Board of Supervisors’ Chairman Max Wilson is pleased this new statute passed. “The Board is hopeful that the new law will help to curb irresponsible breeding and the needless euthanasia of companion animals in Arizona,” he said.
The law will go into effect September 30, 2009.