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ARTICLE 5. Spay/Neuter Program. § 19A -60. Legislative findings. The General Assembly finds that the uncontrolled breeding of cats and dogs in the State has led to unacceptable numbers of unwanted dogs, puppies and cats and kittens. These unwanted animals become strays and constitute a public nuisance and a public health hazard. The animals themselves suffer privation and death, are impounded, and most are destroyed at great expense to local governments. It is the intention of the General Assembly to provide a voluntary means of funding a spay /neuter program to provide financial assistance to local governments offering low - income persons reduced -cost spay /neuter services for their dogs and cats and to provide a statewide education program on the benefits of spaying and neutering pets. (2000 -163, s. 1.) § 19A -61. Spay /Neuter Program established. There is established in the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services a voluntary statewide program to foster the spaying and neutering of dogs and cats for the purpose of reducing the population of unwanted animals in the State. The program shall consist of the following components: (1) Education Program. — The Department shall establish a statewide program to educate the public about the benefits of having cats and dogs spayed and neutered. The Department may work cooperatively on the program with the North Carolina School of Veterinary Medicine, other State agencies and departments, county and city health departments and animal control agencies, and statewide and local humane organizations. The Department may employ outside consultants to assist with the education program. (2) Local Spay/Neuter Assistance Program. — The Department shall administer the Spay/Neuter Account established in G.S. 19A -62. Monies deposited in the account shall be available to reimburse eligible counties and cities for the direct costs of spay /neuter surgeries for cats and dogs made available to low - income persons. (2000 -163, s. 1; 2010 -31, s. 11 A(b).) § 19A -62. Spay/Neuter Account established. (a) Creation. — The Spay/Neuter Account is established as a nonreverting special revenue account in the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. The Account consists of the following: (1) Repealed by Session Laws 2010 -31, s. I1.4(c), effective October 1, 2010. (2) Twenty dollars (520.00) of the additional fee imposed by G.S. 20 -79.7 for an Animal Lovers special license plate. (3) Any other funds available from appropriations by the General Assembly or from contributions and grants from public or private sources. (b) Use. — The revenue in the Account shall be used by the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services as follows: (1) Repealed by Session Laws 2010 -31, s. 11.4(c), effective October 1, 2010. (2) Up to twenty percent (20 %) may be used to develop and implement the statewide education program component of the Spay/Neuter Program established in G. S. 19A- 61(a). (3) Up to twenty percent (20 %) of the money in the Account may be used to defray the costs of administering the Spay/Neuter Program established in this Article. (4) Funds remaining after deductions for the education program and administrative expenses shall be distributed quarterly to eligible counties and cities seeking reimbursement for reduced -cost spay /neuter surgeries NC General Statutes - Chapter 19A Article 5 F -1 Attachment number 3 Page 34