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HomeFood and Agricultural CodeDiv. 14Ch. 1.5§ 30523 Animal Adoption Fraud Penalties

§ 30523 Animal Adoption Fraud Penalties

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

§ 30523 Animal Adoption Fraud Penalties

Key Takeaways

  • •If you lie about your dog being spayed or neutered, you can get fined $50 the first time and $100 or more if you do it again.
  • •You can also get fined if you give wrong info about who owns the dog or lie about the cost of spaying/neutering.
  • •If you write a bad check for a spay/neuter deposit, you can get fined too.
  • •The money from these fines goes to animal shelters to help more animals.

Example

You adopt a dog from a shelter and tell them it’s already neutered, but it’s not. You show them a fake paper saying it is.

This is lying about spaying/neutering, so you could get a $50 fine for the first time. If you do it again, the fine will be at least $100.

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

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 30523 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 dog 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 30521. (Added by Stats. 1998, Ch. 747, Sec. 3. Effective January 1, 1999. Operative January 1, 2000, by Sec. 9 of Ch. 747.)

Last verified: January 23, 2026

Key Terms

ownershipviolationcomplianceinformationpreventionrescuepenaltylicense

Related Statutes

  • § 31763 Animal Adoption Fraud Penalties
  • § 30522 Pet Sterilization Compliance Fines
  • § 30521 Spay/Neuter Deposit Requirements
  • § 9212 Animal Blood Bank Licensing
  • § 9222 Animal Blood Bank Sales

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Food and Agricultural Code. Section 30523.
View Official Source