ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Fifty-sixth Legislature First Regular Session
	Senate: NREW DPA 6-0-1-0 | 3^rd Read 24-4-2-0

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SB1059: animal shelter; rescue organization; definition

Sponsor: Senator Kavanagh, LD 3

Committee on Land, Agriculture & Rural Affairs

Overview

Adds animal rescue organizations to the list of entities that must ensure a dog or cat has been spayed or neutered either before being adopted or at a later date if circumstances prevent this procedure from being immediately performed.

History

To be released for adoption from a county, city or town pound or from an animal shelter, a dog or cat must be surgically spayed or neutered or sterilized by another procedure unless:

1) there is no veterinary facility capable of sterilizing the dog or cat within a twenty-mile radius; or

2) a veterinarian determines a medical contraindication for sterilization exists that reasonably requires postponement until the surgery or another approved sterilization procedure can be performed in a safe and humane manner.

If one of these exceptions applies, the adopting party must agree to have the animal sterilized within 30 or 15 days of a veterinarian's determination that the sterilization may be performed in a safe and humane manner. Additionally, the adopting party must deposit an amount sufficient to ensure that the animal will be sterilized with the pound or shelter unless the animal's adoption fee includes the cost of sterilization (A.R.S. § 11-2022).

Provisions

1. Adds animal rescue organizations to the list of entities that must ensure a dog or cat has been spayed or neutered either before being adopted or at a later date if circumstances prevent this procedure from being immediately performed. (Sec. 1)

2. Makes technical changes. (Sec. 1)

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6.                   SB 1059

7. Initials PAB/AH     Page 0 Land, Agriculture & Rural Affairs

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