Source: https://www.animallaw.info/statute/de-spay-neuter-and-feral-cat-subchapter-ii-animal-population-control-program-and-spayneuter
Timestamp: 2018-03-22 07:59:45
Document Index: 648367167

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 3010', '§ 3010', '§ 3010', '§ 3011', '§ 3012', '§ 3013', '§ 3014', '§ 3015', '§ 3016', '§ 3017', '§ 3018', '§ 3019', '§ 3020', '§ 2', '§ 3021', '§ 1', '§ 8214', '§ 2', '§ 8214', '§ 1', '§ 8215', '§ 2', '§ 8215', '§ 1', '§ 8216', '§ 2', '§ 8216', '§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 8217', '§ 2', '§ 8217', '§ 8226', '§ 5806', '§ 1', '§ 8218', '§ 2', '§ 8218', '§ 3021', '§ 501', '§ 501', '§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 2', '§ 1', '§ 8219', '§ 2', '§ 8219', '§ 3017', '§ 1', '§ 8220', '§ 2', '§ 8220', '§ 3015', '§ 3018', '§ 3016', '§ 3016', '§ 3015', '§ 3016', '§ 8015', '§ 1', '§ 3', '§ 8221', '§ 2', '§ 8221', '§ 1', '§ 5', '§ 8222', '§ 2', '§ 8222', '§ 501', '§ 501', '§ 1', '§ 6', '§ 8223', '§ 2', '§ 8223', '§ 1', '§ 7', '§ 8225', '§ 8225']

DE - Spay, Neuter and Feral Cat - Subchapter II. Animal Population Control Program and Spay/Neuter Fund | Animal Legal & Historical Center
Full Statute Name: West's Delaware Code Annotated. Title 16. Health and Safety. Part II. Regulatory Provisions Concerning Public Health. Chapter 30F. Animal Welfare. Subchapter II. Animal Population Control Program and Spay/Neuter Fund
Popular Title: Animal Population Control Program Primary Citation: 16 Del.C. § 3010F - 3021F Country of Origin: United States Last Checked: February, 2018 Alternate Citation: DE ST TI 16 § 3010F - 3021F
§ 3010F. Short title
§ 3011F. Findings
§ 3012F. Purpose
§ 3013F. Definitions
§ 3014F. Funding
§ 3015F. Eligibility; division of Spay/Neuter Fund proceeds
§ 3016F. Preadoption spay/neuter mandate
§ 3017F. Enforcement, violations and penalties
§ 3018F. Program administration
§ 3019F. Veterinarian participation
§ 3020F. Reserved by 79 Laws 2014, ch. 377, § 2, eff. July 31, 2014
§ 3021F. Performance measurement
This subchapter shall be known and may be cited as the “Animal Population Control Program.”
Added by 75 Laws 2006, ch. 326, § 1, eff. June 29, 2006. Redesignated from 3 Del.C. § 8214 by 79 Laws 2014, ch. 377, § 2, eff. July 31, 2014.
Codifications: 3 Del.C. § 8214
(1) During 2002, of the 22,165 dogs and cats which were received at Delaware's primary animal facilities, of those received:
a. Two thousand four hundred and nine (11%) were returned to their owners/guardians; while
b. Seven thousand two hundred and ninety (33%) were adopted; and
c. Twelve thousand six hundred and fifty-nine (57%) were euthanized.
(2) During 2003, of the 24,510 dogs and cats which were received at Delaware's primary animal facilities, of those received:
a. Two thousand one hundred and eighty-six animals (9%) were returned to their owners/guardians; while
b. Seven thousand one hundred and twenty-five animals (29%) were adopted; and
c. Thirteen thousand six hundred and fifty-three animals (56%) were euthanized.
(3) During 2004, of the 21,254 dogs and cats which were received at Delaware's primary animal facilities, of those received:
a. Two thousand one hundred and ninety-three animals (10.3%) were returned to their owners/guardians; while
b. Five thousand five hundred animals (25.8%) were adopted; and
c. Thirteen thousand and sixty-seven animals (61.4%) were euthanized.
(4) During 2005, of the 21,062 dogs and cats which were received at Delaware's primary animal facilities or those received:
a. Two thousand two hundred and ninety-nine animals (10.9%) were returned to their owners/guardians; while
b. Five thousand eight hundred and thirty-seven animals (27.7%) were adopted; and
c. Thirteen thousand five hundred and eighty three animals (64.4%) were euthanized.
(5) As Delaware's human population growth rate increases so too will the population growth rate of the dog and cat populations, the intake at animal facilities and the consequent disposition rates associated therewith.
(6) Controlling the dog and cat population would have a significant benefit to the public health and safety in the following manner:
a. Reducing nuisance complaints regarding homeless dogs and cats;
b. Reducing the number of homeless dogs and cats seeking to mate;
c. Reducing the number of dog and cat bite cases involving children;
d. Minimizing opportunities for rabies transmission;
e. Decreasing the number of automobile accidents caused by stray dogs and cats; and
f. Reducing cruelty to animals opportunities by addressing and decreasing the presence of unwanted/nuisance populations.
(7) This subchapter recognizes the economic hardships associated with animal population control, the problems associated with homeless animals, and the societal impacts associated with failing to address these problems and establishes a program focused upon addressing dog and cat population control by providing a means by which population control and rabies vaccinations may be financed.
Added by 75 Laws 2006, ch. 326, § 1, eff. June 29, 2006. Redesignated from 3 Del.C. § 8215 by 79 Laws 2014, ch. 377, § 2, eff. July 31, 2014.
Codifications: 3 Del.C. § 8215
(1) Population growth among stray and unwanted cats and dogs; and
(2) Stray and unwanted cats and dogs entering animal shelters; and
(3) Cat and dog euthanasia rates; and
(4) Animal-inflicted injuries to humans (e.g., bites); and
(5) Threats to public health and safety (e.g., from rabies and vehicular accidents).
Added by 75 Laws 2006, ch. 326, § 1, eff. June 29, 2006. Redesignated from 3 Del.C. § 8216 by 79 Laws 2014, ch. 377, § 2, eff. July 31, 2014.
Codifications: 3 Del.C. § 8216
(a) “Abandoned/free roaming/homeless/stray/unwanted animal”--A cat or dog with no known owner or keeper or not wanted by its owner or keeper or that may be deserted by its owner or keeper.
(b) “Administrator”--Department of Health and Social Services.
(c) “Animal control agency”--Any state, county or municipally authorized animal control agency.
(d) “Animal shelter”--A public or private facility which includes a physical structure that provides temporary or permanent shelter to stray, abandoned, abused, or owner-surrendered animals.
(e) “Cat”--A member of the genus and species known as felis catus.
(f) “Dog”--A member of the genus and species known as canis familiaris.
(g) “Feral cat”--An offspring of abandoned domestic cats who reverts to a semi-wild state and lives outside in family groups called colonies. Feral cats have a temperament of extreme fear and resistance to contact with humans.
(h) “Feral cat caretaker”--A person or group of people who provide food and shelter to feral cats, and work or works to reduce colony numbers by working to spay and neuter the animals within their specific colony or colonies.
(i) “Keeper”--A person in possession or control of a cat, dog or other animal becomes the keeper of a stray domesticated animal, other than livestock, if the person feeds that animal for at least 3 consecutive days.
(j) “Owner”--Any person, firm, partnership, association or corporation owning, keeping or harboring a cat, dog or other animal.
(k) “Program”--The mandatory pre-adoption sterilization and rabies inoculation program established by and set forth in this subchapter for cats and dogs.
(l) “Spay/neuter”--To sterilize a female animal by removing the ovaries or to castrate a male animal by removing the testicles or by FDA approved pharmaceutical sterilization.
Added by 75 Laws 2006, ch. 326, § 1, eff. June 29, 2006. Amended by 76 Laws 2008, ch. 284, § 1, eff. July 1, 2008. Redesignated from 3 Del.C. § 8217 and amended by 79 Laws 2014, ch. 377, § 2, eff. July 31, 2014.
Codifications: 3 Del.C. § 8217
(a) Spay/Neuter Fund shall be established for the purpose of funding the Animal Population Control Program.
(b) All moneys received by the administrator in accordance with the authority provided by this subchapter shall be deposited into a separate, nonlapsing account and shall be dedicated for use by the administrator exclusively for veterinarian reimbursement and administration costs associated with the Program and set forth in this subchapter.
(c) All interest earnings shall be credited to the assets of the Fund and shall become part of the Fund.
(d) Any balance remaining in the Fund at the end of any fiscal year shall be carried forward for the next fiscal year for this Program.
(e) The Fund shall be created from a combination of the following:
(1) On June 29, 2006, $250,000, subject to appropriation, shall be deposited in the account for use during fiscal year 2007.
(2) In addition to the foregoing, a $3.00 surcharge shall be added to each rabies shot administered to cats and dogs in Delaware on or after September 1, 2006. It shall be the responsibility of the veterinarian administering the inoculation to collect said funds and forward same on a monthly basis, together with all applicable rabies inoculation verifications and other forms to the administrator.
(4) The funding stream established in this section shall be evaluated on or before December 30, 2007, to assess the measurable impacts as set forth in § 8226 [FN 1] of this title and to determine the potential necessity for an extension of subsidized funding compared to the ability of the fund's corpus, as set forth below, to generate sufficient on-going revenues to provide a self-sustaining funding mechanism.
(f) Soliciting and accepting funds from public or private sources:
(1) The administrator is authorized to solicit and accept donations, grants, gifts, and bequests of money, property or personal services from individuals and/or organizations including, but not limited to, private foundations or alliances, nonpublic agencies, institutions, organizations or businesses. All funds generated shall be retained by the administrator in order to defray costs associated with the Animal Population Control Program and any volunteer and community service activities and events of the Animal Population Control Program. Funds received will not be used for employee salaries or benefits. All funds received are subject to audit by the Office of Management and Budget, and employees of the administrator or the Animal Population Control Program, if any, are bound by § 5806 of Title 29 when engaging in fundraising activities.
Added by 75 Laws 2006, ch. 326, § 1, eff. June 29, 2006. Redesignated from 3 Del.C. § 8218 by 79 Laws 2014, ch. 377, § 2, eff. July 31, 2014.
Codifications: 3 Del.C. § 8218
[FN 1] So in enrolled bill; probably should read “16 Del.C. § 3021F”.
The proceeds of the Spay/Neuter Fund outlined in this subchapter shall be available to those parties qualifying for participation under the following eligibility requisites:
(1) An individual may qualify to participate in the program if the individual:
a. Is 18 years of age or older;
b. Is a resident of the State;
c. Establishes proof of being a recipient of benefits from 1 of the following programs:
1. Food Stamps;
2. General Assistance;
3. Delaware Medical Assistance;
4. Social Security Disability (SSD), including an individual who was receiving Social Security Disability benefits at the time the individual reached full retirement age but whose benefits have since been converted to regular retirement benefits by the Social Security Administration;
5. SSI (Supplemental Security Income);
6. Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF);
7. WIC [Women, Infants and Children];
8. Veteran’s Administration Disability Compensation (only if veteran has a disability rating of 50% or higher).
(2) A corporation may qualify to participate in the Program if it:
a. Is registered as a Delaware corporation with the Delaware Secretary of State, Division of Corporations;
b. States in its corporate purpose clause or in its mission statement that its activities are devoted to animal rescue, animal welfare, or the humane treatment of animals;
c. Applies these funds to animals who have their origin in Delaware; and
d. Is exempt from federal taxation in accordance with Internal Revenue Code § 501(c)(3) [26 U.S.C. § 501(c)(3)].
a. Approximately 75% of the funding shall be dedicated to subsidizing the cost of sterilizing domesticated animals owned by those participants qualifying under the terms set forth in paragraph (1) of this section.
b. Approximately 25% of the funding shall be dedicated to subsidizing the cost of sterilizing those abandoned, free-roaming, homeless, stray, or unwanted animals located in communities by participants qualifying under paragraph (2) of this section.
d. Division by the Administrator of the program’s fiscal allotment and the numerical spay and neuter procedures established above shall be reevaluated by the Administrator after the first 2 years of operations and thereafter as necessary to assure the program’s continued viability.
Added by 75 Laws 2006, ch. 326, § 1, eff. June 29, 2006. Amended by 70 Laws 1995, ch. 186, § 1, eff. July 10, 1995; 76 Laws 2008, ch. 284, § 2, eff. July 1, 2008; 77 Laws 2009, ch. 174, §§ 1-5, eff. July 22, 2009. Redesignated from 3 Del.C. § 8219 by 79 Laws 2014, ch. 377, § 2, eff. July 31, 2014.
Codifications: 3 Del.C. § 8219
(b) Exceptions to the preadoption spay/neuter mandate shall be limited to the following:
(2) A dog or cat under the age of 6 months provided that:
a. The adopted shall post a deposit of $75; and
b. In the absence of an exemption as provided in paragraph (b)(1) of this section above, said deposit shall be held by the adopting agency until such time as:
1. Said deposit is rebated to the adopter upon proof that the spay/neuter procedures has been completed within 5 months of the date of adoption; and
2. The animal has received a rabies inoculation in accordance with the existing laws governing rabies inoculations and such inoculation was not postponed beyond the seventh month of age; or
3. The deposit is disbursed subject to and in accordance with the procedures elaborated in § 3017F(c) of this title below.
Added by 75 Laws 2006, ch. 326, § 1, eff. June 29, 2006. Redesignated from 3 Del.C. § 8220 by 79 Laws 2014, ch. 377, § 2, eff. July 31, 2014.
Codifications: 3 Del.C. § 8220
(a) The administrator shall adopt regulations pursuant to this subchapter relative to:
(1) Format and content of all forms required under this subchapter.
(2) Proof of eligibility under § 3015F of this title.
(3) Administration of the Fund established under § 3018F of this title.
(b) Any person who knowingly falsifies proof of eligibility for, or participation in, any program established under this chapter, or who knowingly furnishes any licensed veterinarian with inaccurate information concerning ownership of a pet submitted for sterilization, or who falsifies an animal sterilization certificate shall be guilty of an unclassified misdemeanor and shall be subject to a minimum mandatory fine, which shall not be subject to suspension, of $250.
(c) Failure to spay/neuter a dog or cat once within the parameters established in § 3016F of this title:
(1) In the absence of a medical exemption resulting from an examination by an accredited veterinarian, which finds that the dog/cat has reached reproductive age but is in a state of health which precludes the safe and humane implementation of a spay/neuter procedure or rabies inoculation (as is outlined in § 3016F(b)(1) of this title above) the adopter's spay/neuter deposit shall be escheated to the Fund's corpus after the specified timeframe has lapsed, and the proceeds shall be disbursed in accordance with the guidelines and process elaborated in § 3015F of this title.
(4) In addition to the forfeiture of the deposit moneys and the actual cost of having the animal spayed/neutered and inoculated for rabies within the established period of 15 calendar days a mandatory minimum fine of $250, plus all enforcement and court costs, all of which shall not be subject to suspension, shall be levied upon the violator for failure to comply with the spay/neuter and inoculation requisite within the established timeframe.
(5) If the adopter fails to comply with the spay/neuter and inoculation process within the extended 15-day timeframe, the minimum mandatory fine, which shall not be subject to suspension, shall be doubled and the animal shall be forfeited to the original adopting agency.
(d) Agency failure to spay/neuter an animal of reproductive age:
(1) Any agency, organization, or other entity cited under § 3016F of this title failing to comply with the mandatory pre-adoption spay/neuter and rabies inoculation program set forth in this subchapter shall be subject to a mandatory minimum fine of $500, which shall not be subject to suspension, for each violation of this subchapter.
(e) All fines collected in association with this subchapter shall be deposited in and become a part of the Fund's corpus, shall be invested with the proceeds thereof and the moneys earned therefrom, together with other interest income generated by the Fund's corpus shall be disbursed according to the guidelines and process elaborated in § 8015F [FN 1] of this title.
Added by 75 Laws 2006, ch. 326, § 1, eff. June 29, 2006. Amended by 76 Laws 2008, ch. 284, §§ 3, 4, eff. July 1, 2008. Redesignated from 3 Del.C. § 8221 and amended by 79 Laws 2014, ch. 377, § 2, eff. July 31, 2014.
Codifications: 3 Del.C. § 8221
[FN 1] So in Revisor's version. Should probably read, “3015F”.
(a) The administrator shall administer the Program and shall be responsible for:
(1) Distributing, collecting and compiling all forms, including but not limited to, veterinarian participation agreements, sterilization and immunization certifications, and creating a database there from for enforcement and accountability purposes; and
(5) Obtaining the maximum number of spay/neuter/inoculation procedures available to the Program's financial parameters per calendar year.
(b) All reimbursement shall be through the administrator.
(c) The cost of the program manager position to administer the Pet Population Control Spay/Neuter Program shall be paid for out of General Funds until this Special Fund of $500,000, at which time the position and support costs shall be paid for out of Appropriated Special Funds.
Added by 75 Laws 2006, ch. 326, § 1, eff. June 29, 2006. Amended by 76 Laws 2008, ch. 284, § 5, eff. July 1, 2008. Redesignated from 3 Del.C. § 8222 by 79 Laws 2014, ch. 377, § 2, eff. July 31, 2014.
Codifications: 3 Del.C. § 8222
(a) Any veterinarian licensed in the State of Delaware may participate in the Program established under this chapter. To participate, a veterinarian must file an application provided by the administrator spanning a 2-year period from date of approval agreeing to all preset fees and program conditions. Preset fees shall be set by the administrator, in consultation with the Delaware Veterinary Medical Association and shall be subject to revision at 2-year intervals.
(b) For all cats or and dogs sterilized under this Program, the administrator shall reimburse the veterinarians or business they work for or the 501(c)(3) [26 U.S.C. § 501
(c)(3)] organization for services on a monthly basis. The preset fee shall cover the cost of a presurgical medical evaluation; spay/neuter surgery, rabies vaccination and routine postsurgical care required by the servicing veterinarian’s postoperative protocol. The keeper/owner/caretaker shall be responsible for the payment of any additional fees for procedures mutually agreed upon and administered by the veterinarian that are not covered under this Program.
(c) To receive reimbursement for procedures performed, the participating veterinarian or business they work for or the 501(c)(3) [26 U.S.C. § 501(c)(3)] organization shall submit an animal sterilization form signed by the owner of the dog or cat and the veterinarian together with a copy of the completed Spay/Neuter Fund Certificate to the administrator.
(d) The current rabies forms shall be revised in such a manner as to create an area for recording a serialized tag number for purposes of accountability.
(e) This process shall also apply to all inoculations clinics except that it shall also be the responsibility of the organization conducting the clinic to maintain copies of the certificates for a minimum of 12 months after the expiration date of the vaccination.
(f) In addition to that which is already established by law, a copy of the rabies registration form shall be generated and provided to the Program's administrator. The administrator's copy shall be utilized for establishing and maintaining a database for enforcement, performance review analysis and tax credit reporting purposes.
Added by 75 Laws 2006, ch. 326, § 1, eff. June 29, 2006. Amended by 76 Laws 2008, ch. 284, § 6, eff. July 1, 2008. Redesignated from 3 Del.C. § 8223 by 79 Laws 2014, ch. 377, § 2, eff. July 31, 2014.
Codifications: 3 Del.C. § 8223
(1) To measure the performance of this Program, the administrator shall establish a standardized statewide yearly reporting system for the following:
a. The number of spay/neuter surgeries; and
b. The number of rabies inoculations performed pursuant to this subchapter; and
c. Cat and dog shelter intake statistics; and
d. Euthanasia statistics; and
e. Such other criteria as the administrator shall find necessary for the purposes of performance review analysis.
(2) The Performance Review Committee shall be reinstated as the Spay/Neuter Performance Review Committee (the Committee). The Committee shall consist of the following members or their respective designees:
a. The Secretary of the Department of Health and Social Services, shall serve as an ex officio nonvoting member and shall also act as Chairperson of the Committee;
b. The Director of the Division of Public Health, or a designee having knowledge in the area of rabies control;
c. The President of the Delaware Veterinary Medical Association;
d. The President of the Board of Directors of the First State Animal Center--Delaware Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals;
e. The President of the Board of Directors of the First State Animal Center-SPCA;
f. The President of the Board of Directors of Faithful Friends Animal Society;
g. The President of the Board of Directors of the Delaware Humane Association;
h. The Director of the Division of Social Services; and
i. Six additional members appointed by the Chairperson, including 2 members from each county, each of whom shall be a veterinarian or a representative of an animal rescue organization not cited above.
(3) The Chairperson shall schedule Committee meetings as often as is necessary. The Committee shall issue recommendations to the Department of Health and Social Services as often as the Chairperson deems necessary, but no less often than annually. Any member who fails to attend 3 consecutive meetings, or who fails to attend at least ½ of all regular business meetings during any calendar year, shall automatically upon such occurrence be deemed to have resigned from the Committee and a replacement shall be appointed by the Chairperson.
(4) Subject to and in accordance with Robert's Rules of Order, a quorum shall consist of 51% of the Committee's membership and actions by the Committee may only be taken by majority vote of those members present. The members shall receive no compensation for their services. The Committee is authorized to adopt such rules and procedures as may be necessary or convenient to accomplish the purposes set forth in this subchapter, including without limitation, the adoption of conflict of interest rules.
Added by 75 Laws 2006, ch. 326, § 1, eff. June 29, 2006. Amended by 76 Laws 2008, ch. 284, §§ 7-9, eff. July 1, 2008. Redesignated from 3 Del.C. § 8225 and amended by by 79 Laws 2014, ch. 377 eff. July 31, 2014.
Codifications: 3 Del.C. § 8225