§ 7-18. Licenses and tags—Required.
1.
Unaltered Animal License for Responsible Owners.
(a)
Owners of dogs and cats shall act responsibly when considering whether to breed their dog or cat.
(1)
Spaying or neutering of dogs and cats is recommended.
(2)
Owners of dogs and cats may purchase an unaltered animal license from animal services if a California licensed veterinarian issues a veterinary certificate stating in writing that the owner has discussed the objectives and purpose for owning the dog or cat with the veterinarian, and after considering the overall circumstances, including the age and health of the animal, the veterinarian either:
(i)
Concludes that the owner and dog or cat will best be served by authorizing the owner to purchase an unaltered animal license; or
(ii)
Otherwise authorizes the owner to purchase an unaltered animal license.
(3)
A current veterinary certificate is required each time an unaltered animal license is purchased.
(4)
A veterinary certificate is valid for either one year or the term of the license, whichever is longer.
(b)
For every owner in the county who owns a dog or cat over six months of age and whose animal does not meet the requirements to purchase an unaltered animal license, the owner shall have the dog or cat spayed or neutered.
(c)
These requirements do not apply to owners of dogs and cats temporarily visiting the county for thirty days or less.
(d)
These requirements do not apply to owners of dogs and cats residing on parcels that are designated as AG-II and a minimum parcel size of forty acres.
2.
Does Not Qualify for an Unaltered Animal License. The following owners of dogs or cats do not qualify for an unaltered animal license:
(1)
Owners of dogs or cats impounded and/or cited at large three times within a year.
(2)
Owners of dogs or cats convicted in California for crimes against animals and/or domestic violence.
(3)
Dog owners who have been found guilty of an infraction or misdemeanor under article VIII of this chapter after their dog has bitten, attacked, or caused injury to a human being or animal while the dog was running at large.
3.
Dog Licenses.
(a)
It shall be unlawful to own or have custody of a dog four months of age or older unless a county altered or unaltered dog license has been procured.
(b)
The county shall only issue a dog license after the dog to be licensed has been vaccinated against rabies by a method approved by a licensed veterinarian who shall issue to the owner or person entitled to custody of the dog to be licensed a rabies certificate which shall include information as prescribed by the State of California. The owner shall present the rabies certificate to the county prior to being issued a dog license.
(c)
Upon payment of the license fee and the presentation of a valid rabies vaccination certificate, the county shall issue a dog license and dog tag to the person paying the license fee. The dog tag shall be worn by the dog at all times.
(d)
A county dog license shall be valid for a period not to exceed three years and the license period shall not extend beyond the remaining period of validity for the current rabies vaccination.
4.
Unaltered Cat Licenses.
(a)
It shall be unlawful to own or have custody of an unaltered cat six months of age or older unless an unaltered animal license has been procured.
(b)
Upon payment of the license fee and the presentation of a current veterinary certificate, the county shall issue an unaltered animal license and cat license tag to the person paying the license fee. The cat tag shall be worn by the cat at all times.
(c)
An unaltered animal license for a cat shall be valid for one year.
5.
General.
(a)
An unaltered animal license constitutes a breeders license. The unaltered animal license number will be displayed in any advertisements to sell or give away offspring of the animal.
(b)
For each unaltered animal license sold, ten dollars will be deposited into the animal services spay/neuter agency fund to be used for education and spay or neuter related activities.
The fees for license penalties will be deposited into the animal services spay/neuter agency fund to be used for education and spay or neuter related activities.
The fees for licenses sold include the following amounts to be deposited into the animal services capital improvement agency fund:
One dollar for one-year altered, new adoptions duplicate tags and all six-month licenses.
Two dollars for two-year altered and one-year unaltered licenses.
Three dollars for three-year altered and optional cat licenses.
Four dollars for two-year unaltered licenses.
Six dollars for three-year unaltered licenses.
6.
Enforcement Responsibility. The animal services director shall be responsible for the administration and enforcement of this chapter. Any request for review of a denial for an unaltered animal license shall be submitted in writing to the animal services director who shall hold a hearing. The decision of the animal services director shall be final.
7.
Certificate of Anti-Rabies Vaccination.
Any veterinarian who vaccinates or causes or directs to be vaccinated in the county any dog with the antirabies vaccine shall:
(a)
Provide a certificate to certify that such animal has been vaccinated that contains the following information:
(1)
The manufacturer, lot number and type of vaccine used;
(2)
The date of the vaccination;
(3)
The duration of vaccination;
(4)
Description of the dog, including age, breed, sex and color;
(5)
Name and address and phone number of owner of the dog;
(6)
Veterinarian's signature; and
(b)
Send a copy of the completed certificate to the county animal services division of the public health department.
(Ord. No. 4948, 11-17-2015; Ord. No. 5013, 10-3-2017)
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