§19-20B-1. Short Title

This article may be cited as the "West Virginia Spay/Neuter Act."

§19-20B-2. Requirement for Adoption

(a) No person may adopt a dog or cat from an agency, including, but not limited to, an animal shelter, animal control agency or humane shelter operated by a municipality, county, or other governmental agency within the state, or a private organization operating a shelter from which animals are adopted or reclaimed, unless: (1) The […]

§19-20B-3. Deposit

(a) If the dog or cat being adopted has not been spayed or neutered, the agency may require a deposit of not more than $50 from the new owner prior to the adoption to ensure that the dog or cat is spayed or neutered. The new owner shall receive a refund of the deposit from […]

§19-20B-4. Petition for Compliance

If a person fails to comply with the provisions of this article, the agency may file a petition with a court of competent jurisdiction seeking compliance or requesting return of the dog or cat to the agency from which it was adopted.

§19-20B-5. Penalty

A person failing to have a dog or cat spayed or neutered within the time frame established in section two of this article is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not less than $150 nor more than $250.

§19-20B-6. Dogs or Cats Claimed by Owner

Nothing in this article authorizes an agency to spay or neuter a dog or cat if the dog or cat is claimed by and returned to its lawful owner within five days of being taken into custody by the agency.