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HomeFood and Agricultural CodeDiv. 14.5Ch. 2§ 31763 Animal Adoption Fraud Penalties

§ 31763 Animal Adoption Fraud Penalties

Food and Agricultural Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 31763 Animal Adoption Fraud Penalties

Key Takeaways

  • •If you lie about your pet being spayed or neutered, you can get fined $50 the first time and $100 if you do it again.
  • •You can also get fined for giving wrong info about who owns a cat that needs to be spayed or neutered.
  • •Writing a bad check for a pet spay/neuter deposit can also lead to a fine.
  • •The money from these fines goes to animal shelters to help with their work.

Example

You adopt a cat from a shelter and tell them it’s already spayed, but it’s not. You give them fake papers to prove it.

The shelter finds out you lied, and you get a $50 fine for the first time. If you do it again, the fine will be $100.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 31763 Animal Adoption Fraud Penalties

(a) (1) A person who commits any violation of subdivision (b) is subject to a civil penalty of not less than fifty dollars ($50) on a first violation of subdivision (b), and a civil penalty of not less than one hundred dollars ($100) on any second or subsequent violation of subdivision (b). (2) An action for a penalty proposed under this section may be commenced by the administrator of the public animal control agency or shelter, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals shelter, humane society shelter, or rescue group from which the recipient obtained the animal that is the subject of the violation in a court of competent jurisdiction. (b) A person is subject to the civil penalties pursuant to subdivision (a) if that person does any of the following: (1) Falsifies any proof of spaying or neutering submitted for the purpose of compliance with this chapter. (2) Provides to a public animal control agency or shelter, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals shelter, humane society shelter, or rescue group or a licensed veterinarian inaccurate information regarding ownership of any cat required to be submitted for spaying or neutering under this chapter. (3) Submits to a public animal control agency or shelter, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals shelter, humane society shelter, or rescue group false information regarding sterilization fees or fee schedules. (4) Issues a check for insufficient funds for any spaying or neutering deposit required under this chapter. (c) All penalties collected under this section shall be retained by the public animal control agency or shelter, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals shelter, humane society shelter, or rescue group imposing the penalties, to be used solely for purposes provided for under subdivision (c) of Section 31761. (Added by Stats. 1998, Ch. 747, Sec. 8. Effective January 1, 1999. Operative January 1, 2000, by Sec. 9 of Ch. 747.)

Last verified: January 23, 2026

Key Terms

ownershipviolationpreventioncomplianceinformationrescuepenaltylicense

Related Statutes

  • § 30523 Animal Adoption Fraud Penalties
  • § 12997.8 Rodenticide Violation Penalties
  • § 12999.4 Civil Penalty Enforcement Authority
  • § 12999.5 Agricultural Violation Civil Penalties
  • § 20222 Brand Penalty Violations

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Food and Agricultural Code. Section 31763.
View Official Source