Colton Municipal Code Ch. 7.04 Dog Licensing Requirements

Every person, firm or corporation owning or harboring a dog within the City for a period longer than thirty days shall pay to the City a license fee in an amount to be determined by resolution of the City Council. No license to own or harbor a dog as provided in this chapter shall be issued except on application in writing to the Finance Director of the City as provided in Section 7.04.020.

(Ord. No. O-09-16, § 2, 6-7-2016)

No license to own or harbor a dog or similar type animal shall be issued except upon application in writing to the City, setting forth the name and address of the owner or possessor of the dog, or similar type animal and a brief description of the dog, together with a certificate of vaccination from a licensed veterinarian, showing that the dog has been vaccinated with canine rabies vaccine within a period of twelve months preceding date of application for license or that such a vaccination might be fatal to the animal due to its physical condition.

(Ord. No. O-09-16, § 2, 6-7-2016)

The license provisions of Sections 7.04.010 through 7.04.130 shall not be deemed to apply to dogs under the age of four months and which are kept within an enclosure and not permitted to run at large and to any dogs that are recovering as rescue dogs or being fostered.

(Ord. No. O-09-16, § 2, 6-7-2016)

In order to protect the public health and safety all dogs, cats, or similar type animals within the City must be vaccinated with canine or feline rabies vaccine, as appropriate for the species of the animal being vaccinated. It is unlawful for any person to own, have an interest in, harbor and feed, or have the care, charge, custody or possession of a dog or cat over the age of four months unless such dog or cat has been vaccinated with the appropriate rabies vaccine by injection or other approved method by a duly qualified and licensed veterinarian, or unless such veterinarian has issued a written certificate that such a vaccination might be fatal to the animal due to its physical condition, and such certificate has been filed with the City, and, for dogs, a license issued by the City for the animal.

(Ord. No. O-09-16, § 2, 6-7-2016)

The Finance Director upon receipt of such application and the license fee as set out in Section 7.04.020 shall issue and deliver to such owner or possessor of a license, a receipt certifying the payment of the license fee and setting forth the name and address of the applicant and a brief description of the dog, together with the fact that it has been vaccinated as provided in this chapter and stating the number allotted to such dog, and he shall deliver or cause to be delivered to the applicant a metallic tag which shall set forth the license number allotted to the dog, which tag shall at all times be affixed to the collar, covering, harness or other article worn by such dog.

The Finance Director shall make a charge in an amount to be determined by resolution of the City Council for each duplicate license issued to replace any license issued under the provisions of Sections 7.04.010 through 7.04.130 which has been lost or destroyed.

(Ord. No. O-09-16, § 2, 6-7-2016)

The Finance Director may, at his or her discretion, waive payment of the required license fee to an owner, custodian or trainer of a dog, if such dog is, or is in training to be, a guide dog for the blind, signal dog for the deaf, or service dog to the disabled. The owner, custodian or trainer of such a dog may be requested to submit proof that the dog has been successfully trained as a guide, signal or service dog, or is currently involved in such training.

(Ord. No. O-09-16, § 2, 6-7-2016)

Every stray dog found within the City for which a license has not been issued as provided in this chapter, and which does not bear a tag or microchip, shall be impounded by the Animal Control Officer after a reasonable attempt to ascertain ownership is made. Release of such animal shall be in accordance with the City contracted animal shelter policies.

(Ord. No. O-09-16, § 2, 6-7-2016)

Every person owning, harboring, or having charge, custody, control or possession of any dog, cat, or similar type animal shall not permit such animal to run loose or unrestrained in, along, or upon any public street, sidewalk or place.

(Ord. No. O-09-16, § 2, 6-7-2016)

Every dog, cat or similar type animal, regardless of whether or not it has a license, which is found running at large, loose or unrestrained in, along, or upon any public street, sidewalk or place, shall be impounded by the Animal Control Officer after a reasonable attempt to ascertain ownership is made. Release of such animal shall be in accordance with the City contracted animal shelter policies.

(Ord. No. O-09-16, § 2, 6-7-2016)

If any animal picked up by the Animal Control Officer or other public safety personnel, pursuant to this chapter, is claimed by any owner, the owner shall be liable for and shall pay to the City an apprehension fee in an amount determined by resolution of the City Council, together with any additional charges or fees levied by the City for the purpose of defraying expenses incurred by the City related to the apprehension of the animal.

(Ord. No. O-09-16, § 2, 6-7-2016)

It is unlawful for any person to willfully or maliciously torture, tease, torment, beat, kick, strike, mutilate, injure, disable or kill any dog used by the Police Department of the City in the performance of the functions or duties of the Police Department or to unwarrantably interfere with or meddle with any such dog while being used by the Police Department or any Officer or member thereof in the performance of any of the functions or duties of the Police Department or of such Officer or member.

(Ord. No. O-09-16, § 2, 6-7-2016)

Any person violating any of the provisions of Section 7.04.110 is guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof shall be fined in an amount not exceeding five hundred dollars or imprisoned in the City or County Jail for a period not exceeding three months or by being both so fined and imprisoned.

(Ord. No. O-09-16, § 2, 6-7-2016)

A. The number of dogs and cats that may be kept in any one dwelling unit or on any parcel of land used as a single family dwelling unit is limited as follows:

1. It is unlawful to keep more than ten dogs, or more than ten cats, or a combination of dogs and cats that total more than ten.

B. This section shall not apply to premises where the Planning Commission has issued a conditional use permit pursuant to Colton Municipal Code Title 18 (Zoning) and by such conditional use permit the premises are authorized for use as and for animal boarding, animal grooming, animal health care, or animal keeping (heavy or light).

C. Notwithstanding the penalty provisions in this code available to enforce this section, only administrative fines may be issued for violations of this section. Upon determining that a violation of this section exists, a person shall be given a minimum of thirty days to comply with this section before accruing penalties.

(Ord. No. O-09-16, § 2, 6-7-2016)