A. Any pet or animal impounded under the provision of this chapter shall, at the end of the legal detention period as defined in Section 6.04.060, paragraphs G and H, or any animal or pet relinquished by its owner as provided in Section 6.04.080 shall, at the discretion of the animal care and control director, be eligible for adoption.

B. Animal care and control shall make provisions for the sterilization of all dogs and cats placed for adoption in accordance with state laws and procedures established by the director.

C. Any person seeking to adopt an animal or pet from the Colleton County animal and environmental control department must:

1. Agree to comply with the provisions of this chapter and with any regulations promulgated by Colleton County animal care and control.

2. Pay the non-refundable adoption fee, which includes a discounted spay/neuter fee as negotiated with local participating veterinarians and approved by county council by resolution.

3. Complete an adoption form as provided by animal care and control.

4. In the case of an animal or pet not already spayed/neutered, enter into a written agreement with animal care and control guaranteeing that sterilization will be performed by a licensed veterinarian within thirty (30) days of acquisition of a sexually mature animal or no later than the time the animal is six months of age.

a. Except upon receipt at animal care and control of a written statement issued by a licensed veterinarian stating that such surgery would threaten the life of the animal, any dog or cat adopted must be spayed or neutered within thirty (30) days of the adoption.

b. Any person adopting a dog or cat, which is not sterile at the time of adoption, shall submit to animal care and control a signed statement from the licensed veterinarian performing the sterilization required by subsection (B) of this section within seven days after the sterilization attesting that the sterilization has been performed. A self-addressed, mail-in postcard or similar instrument for this purpose will be provided by animal care and control to the owner at the time of the adoption.

D. A former owner may adopt without spaying or neutering his/her own dog or cat, which has become the property of animal care and control as a result of the expiration of the detention time, if said procedure has not already been performed, upon payment of a fee. Such fee to be a minimum of two hundred dollars ($200.00).

E. Any person who fails to comply with the sterilization requirement of this chapter shall forfeit ownership of the dog or cat acquired from animal care and control. In addition to forfeiting ownership of the animal, the person shall pay to animal care and control a minimum fine of two hundred dollars ($200.00) for failure to have the animal spayed and neutered in accordance with South Carolina State Law. Such remedies shall be in addition to any other legal or equitable remedies as may be available to Colleton County for breach of written agreement as provided in Section 47-3-480(A)(2) or failure to comply with Section 47-3-480(D) of the South Carolina Code of Laws, 1976, as amended.

F. No person who has been found guilty of a violation of this chapter or who has relinquished a personal pet in the past shall be eligible to adopt. (Ord. 07-O-23 §§ 1 (part), 7, 2007; Ord. 03-O-01 § 11, 2003)