Section 31108 Of Article 1. Generally From California Food And Agricultural Code >> Division 14. >> Chapter 5. >> Article 1.
31108
. (a) The required holding period for a stray dog impounded
pursuant to this division shall be six business days, not including
the day of impoundment, except as follows:
(1) If the public or private shelter has made the dog available
for owner redemption on one weekday evening until at least 7 p.m. or
one weekend day, the holding period shall be four business days, not
including the day of impoundment.
(2) If the public or private shelter has fewer than three
full-time employees or is not open during all regular weekday
business hours, and if it has established a procedure to enable
owners to reclaim their dogs by appointment at a mutually agreeable
time when the public or private shelter would otherwise be closed,
the holding period shall be four business days, not including the day
of impoundment.
Except as provided in Section 17006, stray dogs shall be held for
owner redemption during the first three days of the holding period,
not including the day of impoundment, and shall be available for
owner redemption or adoption for the remainder of the holding period.
(b) Except as provided in Section 17006, any stray dog that is
impounded pursuant to this division shall, prior to the euthanasia of
that animal, be released to a nonprofit, as defined in Section 501
(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, animal rescue or adoption
organization if requested by the organization prior to the scheduled
euthanasia of that animal. The public or private shelter may enter
into cooperative agreements with any animal rescue or adoption
organization. In addition to any required spay or neuter deposit, the
public or private shelter, at its discretion, may assess a fee, not
to exceed the standard adoption fee, for animals adopted or released.
(c) During the holding period required by this section and prior
to the adoption or euthanasia of a dog impounded pursuant to this
division, a public or private shelter shall scan the dog for a
microchip that identifies the owner of that dog and shall make
reasonable efforts to contact the owner and notify him or her that
his or her dog is impounded and is available for redemption.
(d) As used in this division, a "business day" includes any day
that a public or private shelter is open to the public for at least
four hours, excluding state holidays.