44-17-503 - Deposit. - Tennessee Statutes

44-17-503. Deposit.

(a)  If the dog or cat being adopted has not been spayed or neutered, the agency shall require a deposit of not less than twenty-five dollars ($25.00) from the new owner prior to the adoption in order to ensure that the dog or cat is spayed or neutered. The new owner may request and shall receive a refund of the deposit from the agency upon providing confirmation of the spaying or neutering.

(b)  If the new owner fails to have the dog or cat spayed or neutered within the time frame established by § 44-17-502, or if the spaying or neutering is timely performed, but the new owner fails to request the return of the deposit within an additional ten (10) days after the date by which the spaying or neutering is required to be performed, the deposit shall be forfeited to the agency holding the deposit and shall be used by the agency to conduct programs to spay or neuter dogs and cats and/or to conduct educational programs in support of the spaying and neutering of dogs and cats.

[Acts 2000, ch. 789, § 4.]