Stray animals: impoundment: puppies: kittens.

Existing law prohibits certain animals that are irremediably suffering from serious illness or severe injury from being held for owner redemption or adoption, and authorizes newborns of those animals that need maternal care and have been impounded without their mothers to be euthanized without being held for owner redemption or adoption. Existing law specifies that no stray dog or cat impounded by a public or private shelter shall be euthanized before 6 business days after the stray dog or cat is impounded, not including the day of impoundment, and requires, except regarding animals covered by the above provisions, that the stray dog or cat be released to a nonprofit animal rescue or adoption organization before the scheduled euthanasia of the stray dog or cat if requested by the organization before the scheduled euthanasia of the stray dog or cat. This bill would permit a puppy or kitten under 8 weeks of age that is reasonably believed to be unowned and is impounded in a public or private shelter to be immediately made available for release to a nonprofit animal rescue or adoption organization before euthanasia of that animal.