Title
Introduce, waive first reading, and set June 23, 2026 at 10:30 a.m. as the date and time to consider adoption of an ordinance amending Chapters 8.04 and 8.08 of the Monterey County Code to require spaying and neutering of dogs and cats, while allowing certain exceptions.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors introduce, waive first reading, and set June 23, 2026 at 10:30 a.m. as the date and time to consider adoption of an ordinance amending Chapters 8.04 and 8.08 of the Monterey County Code to require spaying and neutering of dogs and cats, while allowing certain exceptions.
SUMMARY:
Board Referral No. 2025.10 was issued by Supervisor Alejo and assigned to the Health Department on August 26, 2025. This is an update on the referral process to date and the first hearing of the attached draft mandatory spay/neuter ordinance in the unincorporated areas of Monterey County as requested by the Board of Supervisors.
DISCUSSION:
Board Referral No. 2025.10 was issued by Supervisor Alejo and assigned to the Health Department on August 26, 2025. Hitchcock Road Animal Services (HRAS) staff presented this Board Referral to the HRAS Board of Directors (the HRAS Board) on September 18, 2025, meeting. The HRAS Board briefly discussed the Referral and discussion related to having more information come back in the future. On September 30, 2025, staff presented to the County Board of Supervisors (the County Board) with intent to come back within 6-9 months.
At the November 20, 2025 meeting, staff presented the HRAS Board with information on spay/neuter ordinances in general, common industry understanding regarding the challenges that are found to impact the effectiveness of such ordinances as well as feedback from other California agencies with existing ordinances and their current 25/26 staffing and community challenges. The HRAS Board requested staff to bring this topic to the HRAS Advisory Committee for discussion and possible reco...
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