Section 31752 Of Chapter 1. Regulation Of Cats Generally From California Food And Agricultural Code >> Division 14.5. >> Chapter 1.
31752
. (a) The required holding period for a stray cat 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 cat 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 cats 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 Sections 17006 and 31752.5, stray cats 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 cat 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. 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. The public or private shelter may enter into
cooperative agreements with any animal rescue or adoption
organization.
(c) During the holding period required by this section and prior
to the adoption or euthanasia of a cat impounded pursuant to this
division, a public or private shelter shall scan the cat for a
microchip that identifies the owner of that cat and shall make
reasonable efforts to contact the owner and notify him or her that
his or her cat 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.