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Missouri Revised Statutes Title XVII. Agriculture and Animals § 273.403. Sterilization of all cats and dogs adopted or purchased from animal shelters or animal control agencies, procedure

Current as of January 01, 2025 | Updated by Findlaw Staff

1. Provisions shall be made for the sterilization of all dogs and cats sold or released for adoption or purchased from any public or private animal shelter or animal control agency operated by a humane society, or by a county or city, or other political subdivision. Such provisions may be made by:

(1) Providing for sterilization by a licensed veterinarian before relinquishing custody of the animal; or

(2) Entering into a written agreement with the adopter or purchaser guaranteeing that sterilization will be performed by a licensed veterinarian, in compliance with a sterilization agreement which shall contain the following information:

(a) The date of the agreement;

(b) The name, address, and signature of the releasing agency and the adopter;

(c) A description of the animal to be adopted;

(d) A statement printed in conspicuous bold print that sterilization of the animal is required pursuant to sections 273.400 to 273.405;

(e) A sterilization completion date which shall be either:

a. The thirtieth day after the date of adoption in the case of an adult animal; or

b. The thirtieth day after a specified date estimated to be the date an adopted infant female or male puppy or kitten becomes six months of age; or

c. If the releasing agency has a written policy recommending sterilization of certain infant animals at an earlier date, the thirtieth day after the date contained in  1 the written policy.

2. An adopter that signs a sterilization agreement shall have the adopted animal sterilized on or before the sterilization date stated in the agreement. If the sterilization completion date stated in the agreement falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, the deadline may be extended to the first day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday. The releasing agency may extend the deadline for thirty days on the presentation of a letter or telephone report from a licensed veterinarian stating that the life or health of the adopted animal may be jeopardized by sterilization. There shall be no limit to the number of extensions that may be granted for this reason.

1 Revisor's note: Word “after” appears in original rolls.
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Cite this article: FindLaw.com - Missouri Revised Statutes Title XVII. Agriculture and Animals § 273.403. Sterilization of all cats and dogs adopted or purchased from animal shelters or animal control agencies, procedure - last updated January 01, 2025 | https://codes.findlaw.com/mo/title-xvii-agriculture-and-animals/mo-rev-st-273-403/

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