Blythe Municipal Code Ch. 6.12 Dogs—kennels

Every person engaged in the business of operating a dog kennel or pet shop shall obtain a license from the city.

(Ord. 675 (part), 1991)

A license shall be valid until the first day of October following issuance, and shall be renewed within thirty days thereafter.

(Ord. 675 (part), 1991)

The license fees, and the additional fees in application for licenses made more than thirty days after the date such license is required, shall be as set by resolution of the city council.

(Ord. 675 (part), 1991)

Application for a license to operate a dog kennel or pet shop shall be made in writing to the license department, which shall transmit copies of said application to the development services and the animal control officer and building and safety department.

(Ord. 675 (part), 1991)

A. After receipt of the application, the city shall make or cause to be made an examination of the dog kennel or pet shop for which the license is requested.

B. No license shall be issued, nor shall any license be renewed, unless and until the dog kennel or pet shop, in the opinion of the development service department and building and safety department complies with all the codes of the city and in the opinion of the animal control officer satisfactorily meets each of the following conditions:

1. The dog kennel or pet shop is constructed, equipped and maintained so as to continuously provide a healthful and sanitary environment for the animals kept, or to be kept therein;

2. There is adequate shelter from the elements and sufficient space for exercise;

3. There is ample and healthful food and potable water, and adequate sanitary facilities for storage of the same;

4. There are adequate drainage facilities and satisfactory sanitary disposal of both natural precipitation and animal wastes of all kinds;

5. There are adequate and effective means of control of insects and rodents, and such control is vigorously maintained at all times;

6. The living quarters of a house or home shall not be considered adequate for a kennel or pet shop.

C. Failure of the applicant for said license to comply with any one of the foregoing conditions shall be deemed just cause for the denial of any license whether original or renewal.

(Ord. 675 (part), 1991)

A. All dogs owned by the operator of a dog kennel or pet shop shall be subject to the provisions of this chapter upon attaining the age of four months.

B. Personal pets that are kept in the house may be licensed separately.

(Ord. 675 (part), 1991)

The sale of each dog by a kennel or pet shop before it has attained the age of four months shall be reported on a form to be furnished by the animal-control officer, which form shall include information as to the name and address of the person to whom the dog is sold, a description of the dog, age of the dog, and such other pertinent data as the animal- control officer may require.

(Ord. 675 (part), 1991)

The animal-control officer shall have authority to enter upon any area or premises in which a dog kennel or pet shop is located for the purpose of the enforcement of this chapter.

(Ord. 675 (part), 1991)

A. The animal-control or code enforcement officers may revoke any license issued pursuant to this chapter whenever he determines from an inspection that any dog kennel or pet shop fails to meet all the conditions of this chapter.

B. Any revocation of a license shall be effective until all conditions of this chapter have been met and complied with to the satisfaction of the animal-control and/or code enforcement officer and written notice of this fact has been given to the licensee.

C. Upon receipt of such notice, the license shall be deemed in full force and effect for the remainder of the original term for which issued.

(Ord. 675 (part), 1991)

The animal control and/or code enforcement officer shall have the power, upon the giving of ten days' notice by the United States mail to any licensee under this chapter, to revoke any license granted to a dog kennel or pet shop operator for a violation of this title.

(Ord. 675 (part), 1991)

A nonprofit corporation formed pursuant to the provisions of the California Corporations Code commencing with Section 10400, for the prevention of cruelty to animals, shall not be required to pay a fee for the licenses required by Section 6.12.030; provided, however, that all other provisions of this chapter shall be applicable to any such nonprofit corporation.

(Ord. 675 (part), 1991)

A. The AC and/or code enforcement officer may, in his discretion, deny any application for a kennel or cattery license whether such application is for an original license or renewal of a license, and may suspend or revoke any kennel or cattery license if he finds that a kennel or cattery is in violation of any law of the state or any provision of this title or the zoning codes of the city.

B. When such denial, suspension or revocation occurs, the AC shall prepare a written notice of such denial, suspension or revocation which shall contain a brief statement of the reason or reasons for such denial suspension or revocation. The AC shall serve such notice upon the applicant or licensee by hand-delivery or by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested. Denial, suspension or revocation shall be effective thirty days after service of such notice. Where an application for a kennel or cattery license is denied or where a kennel or cattery license issued pursuant to this chapter is revoked, no application for a new license for such kennel or cattery shall be considered for a period of one year from the effective date of such denial or revocation; provided, however, that for good cause shown, the city council may direct that there be a lesser period of time before such application will be considered.

C. Any person whose application has been denied or whose license has been suspended or revoked, may appeal such denial, suspension or revocation by filing with the city clerk within fifteen days after notice of such denial, suspension or revocation, written notice of appeal briefly setting forth the reasons why the appellant alleges such denial, suspension or revocation is improper. Within five days of the receipt by the city clerk of such notice of appeal, the clerk shall set a hearing date for the appeal and shall give written notice of the date, time and place of such hearing to the appellant, and such notice shall be sent by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested. The date of hearing shall be not less than twenty days from the date of mailing of the notice of the date, time and place of the hearing, and the hearing shall be conducted not later than forty-five days from the date of mailing of the notice of denial, suspension, or revocation; provided, however, that at the request of the appellant, the city clerk may extend the hearing date for a reasonable period beyond the aforementioned forty-five-day limit. The appeal shall be heard by the city council which may affirm, modify, or reverse the denial, suspension or revocation. In conducting the hearing, the city council shall not be limited by the technical rules relating to evidence and witnesses, as applicable in courts of law. To be admissible, evidence shall be of the type upon which responsible persons are accustomed to rely in the conduct of serious affairs. During the pendency of the appeal, there shall be in effect an automatic stay of the denial, suspension or revocation; provided, however, that during said period of pendency the AC officer may take such action as he deems appropriate under this chapter or any other provision of the law respecting the subject kennel or cattery, including but not limited to the abatement of public nuisances, inspection of the kennel or cattery premises or the prosecution of any violation of the title or any other provision of law not related to the failure of the subject kennel or cattery to be currently and otherwise validly licensed.

(Ord. 675 (part), 1991)