Current through Register Vol. XLI, No. 50, December 13, 2024
Section 61-24-3 - Definitions3.1. "Animal" means a dog or cat that has not been spayed or neutered:3.2. "Caretaker" means a person, organization or agency that captures or facilitates the capture of free roaming cats for the purpose of spaying or neutering them and returning them to the environment from which they were captured.3.3. "Cat" means a member of the genus and species known asfeliscatus.3.4. "Commissioner" means the Commissioner of the Department of Agriculture.3.5. "Dog" means a member of the genus and species known as canisfamiliaris.3.6. "Feral cat" means a domesticated cat that has returned to the wild or the offspring of such a cat.3.7. "Free roaming cat" includes feral, stray, community, or abandoned cats that may or may not have a caretaker and do not have an owner or are otherwise homeless. The term does not include a stray pet cat that might have been lost or abandoned and which has identifiable ownership such as, but not limited to, a tag, microchip or tattoo.3.8. "Fund" means the Spay Neuter Assistance Fund established in the State Treasury and maintained by the Commissioner.3.9. "Grant" means a monetary amount from the Fund awarded to a grantee along with the associated terms and conditions.3.10. "Grantee" means a nonprofit spay neuter organization or program that receives a grant from the Commissioner under this rule to perform spay neuter services for eligible owners and caretakers. "Nonprofit spay neuter organization or program" means: 3.10.a. A nongovernmental entity that is incorporated in and is in good standing with the state, has its principal place of business in the state, maintains a 501(c)(3) status under the federal Internal Revenue Code and meets one or more of the following criteria: 3.10.a.1. Provides or facilitates spay neuter services by a veterinarian to the general public;3.10.a.2. Rescues stray, abandoned or feral animals and provides or facilitates adoptions services for the animals to the general public; or3.10.a.3. Advocates and furthers effective means for the propagation of humane principles to prevent animal cruelty, abuse, neglect and overpopulation; or3.10.b. A county or municipal shelter or animal control agency.3.11 "Low-income restricted program" means a spay neuter program that provides spay neuter services to owners or caretakers currently receiving assistance from at least one of the state and federal public assistance programs:3.11.a. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP);3.11.c. Supplemental Security Income (SSI);3.11.d. Thee West Virginia Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP);3.11.e. Social Security Disability;3.11.f. Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF);3.11.g. Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFCD);3.11.h. Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP); or3.11.i. Low Income Veterans Assistance under 38 USC 2044.3.12. "Owner" means a person who is a resident of this state who owns an animal that has not been spayed or neutered.3.13. "Spay neuter assistance program" means the program authorized by W. Va. Code § 19-20C-let seq. and this rule.3.14. "Spay neuter" means to sterilize a female animal by removing the reproductive organs or by tubal ligation, or castration of a male animal by removing the testicles or by vasectomy or by FDA approved pharmaceutical sterilization.3.15. "Veterinarian" means a person, firm or corporation licensed to practice veterinary medicine under the provisions of W. Va. Code § 30-10-1et seq. and doing business in this state.