OLR Bill Analysis

HB 5408

AN ACT CONCERNING ADOPTION FEES FOR DOGS.

SUMMARY:

When anyone buys a dog as a pet from a municipal pound, this bill authorizes the municipality to charge the buyer any cost it incurred to have the dog spayed or neutered and vaccinated. By law, an animal control officer (ACO) may have a licensed veterinarian spay or neuter unclaimed healthy dogs, cats, or other animals in his or her custody after seven days, before selling or placing them as pets.

EFFECTIVE DATE: October 1, 2012

BACKGROUND

Animal Population Control

By law, ACOs must seize and impound any neglected, cruelly treated, ill, or roaming dog at the municipality's pound, unless a licensed veterinarian decides the dog's injuries or disease warrants it being destroyed.

An ACO may euthanize, sell, or place as a pet, a dog, cat, or other animal in his or her custody if its owner does not claim it within seven days after notice of its impoundment is published as the law requires (CGS § 22-332 (b)).

By law, a pound that sells or gives away an unspayed or unneutered dog or cat must charge the person buying or adopting the dog or cat $ 45. A pound must pay these funds into the animal population control account, supporting the Animal Population Control Program, which (along with portions of dog license fees, special license plates, and donations) helps pay for the spaying and neutering of dogs and cats adopted from pounds (CGS §§ 22-380e to 380m).

COMMITTEE ACTION

Planning and Development Committee

Joint Favorable