West Virginia Code § 19-20B-2

Requirement for adoption
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(a) No person may adopt a dog or cat from an agency, including, but not limited to, an
animal shelter, animal control agency or humane shelter operated by a municipality, county,
or other governmental agency within the state, or a private organization operating a shelter
from which animals are adopted or reclaimed, unless:
(1) The dog or cat has already been spayed or neutered;
(2) The dog or cat has been spayed or neutered by a licensed veterinarian while in the
custody of the agency; or u
(3) The new owner signs a written agreement with the agency stating that the new owner
will have the dog or cat spayed or neutered by a licensed veterinarian:
(A) Within thirty days of the date of the adoption, if the dog or cat is sexually mature; or
(B) Within thirty days after the dog or cat reaches six months of age, if the dog or cat is not
sexually mature at the time of the adoption.
(b) Any agency as set forth in subsection (a) of this section which has written policy of not
permitting the adopted dog or cat from being released from the custody of the agency to the
new owner until the dog or cat has been spayed or neutered, does not have to comply with
the provisions of subdivision (3), subsection (a) of this section.
(c) Nothing in this sectioLn precludes the spaying or neutering of a sexually immature dog or
cat at the discretion of a licensed veterinarian with the consent of the new owner.

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