Exeter Municipal Code Ch. 6.12 Dogs and Cats

No person shall keep, harbor or maintain upon his premises within the city more than a total of four cats and/or dogs combined over the age of four months unless said person comes within one of the following conditions:

A. Upon reasonable showing of necessity to the animal control officer, a person may be permitted to keep a fifth cat or dog for a period of time not to exceed thirty days. This time may be authorized to be extended for a verifiable temporary fostering commitment, at the city's discretion.

B. A person who had on or before the effective date of the ordinance codified in this title five or more licensed dogs and/or cats in the city shall be required to obtain a yearly kennel permit. Kennel permit requirements are listed in Chapter 6.28 and shall apply whether or not the person is maintaining the kennel for commercial purposes. the kennel permit fee shall be set annually by resolution of the city council.

C. The permit will be for a calendar year, or any part thereof in which the permit is required, with the permit fee renewal due and payable on January 1 of each year.

D. Effective March 1, 2026 the city will not issue kennel permits to locations that have not previously been issued a kennel permit within the prior three years. This prohibition on new kennel permits shall not apply to kennel permits for commercially operated kennels established after this date in a land use zone that allows such usage under the City Zoning Ordinance and the kennel has complied with all other applicable zoning requirements.

(Ord. No. 717, § 2, 1-13-2026)

A. It is unlawful and declared to be a public nuisance for the owner of a dog or other animal to allow it to make loud or disturbing noises without provocation, including, but not limited to, excessive barking, howling, whining, or making any other noise that reasonably disturbs the comfort, quiet, or use of neighboring property, provided that the owner of the animal has been made aware of the disturbance.

B. Violations of this ordinance shall be enforced as follows:

1. The designated animal control officer or other city official or employee, referred to herein as "enforcement officer" may issue a criminal infraction, administrative citation or administrative enforcement order pursuant to the municipal code, or commence any other type of injunctive relief authorized by law if the enforcement officer has determined that a violation of this ordinance has occurred after an investigation. The owner of the animal may appeal any violation by any means permitted by applicable law, such as requesting an administrative appeal hearing if the enforcement officer issued an administrative citation.

2. The following rules shall apply to complaints of excessive noise by animals:

a. Evidence of a violation includes, but is not limited to, personal observations of the enforcement officer, statements of witnesses, recordings of the noise, and admissions by the owner of the animal.

b. The enforcement officer has the discretion to issue a warning in instances where the enforcement officer has determined that a violation is unlikely to occur again, or the owner of the animal has agreed to take steps to mitigate future incidents of loud or excessive noise.

c. Animal services may suspend the applicable penalty for violation when the owner of the animal, in a written agreement of the city, takes steps to mitigate violations and the owner agrees to prevent additional complaints for specified periods. Any suspension of a penalty shall be in writing, and the penalty shall be reinstated if the mitigation steps are not successful.

(Ord. No. 717, § 2, 1-13-2026)

Every owner of a dog or cat within the incorporated area of the city, shall secure a license from the poundmaster, or their designated agent, for each such dog or cat over four months of age within the time limits set forth in this chapter. It is unlawful for any owner to fail to secure said license in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.

(Ord. No. 717, § 2, 1-13-2026)

The provisions of this chapter requiring the licensing of dogs and cats shall not apply to the following:

A. A license need not be secured for a dog or cat which is temporarily brought into the incorporated area of the city by a nonresident. If the dog or cat remains in the city for a period longer than thirty days, unless otherwise excluded from this requirement by the city it must wear a current license tag from its' place of residence;

B. Dogs or cats brought into the incorporated area of the city exclusively for the purpose of entering the animal in any show or exhibition, and which are actually entered in and kept at such show or exhibition;

C. Dogs or cats on sale in duly licensed pet shops, or commercial animal establishments;

D. Dogs or cats under the ownership, custody, or control of the owner of a commercial animal establishment duly licensed under the provisions of Chapter 6.28, or his duly authorized employee or agent when such dogs or cats are removed from the premises for any reason, shall wear an identification tag attached to their collar, which shall bear the name and address of the licensed operation. A dog or cat bearing such identification shall be treated in all respects as any other dog or cat in the event of its escape and subsequent impoundment.

(Ord. No. 717, § 2, 1-13-2026)

A. Application for a license required by this chapter shall be filed with the poundmaster, or their designated agent on a form prescribed by the poundmaster. Upon payment of the required fee and upon compliance with the other requirements of this chapter, the poundmaster shall issue a license. The license form shall contain a brief description of the dog or cat including the name, age, sex, color and breed of the dog or cat, and if the animal is altered or unaltered, and the name and address of the owner. The license shall contain a serial number, the expiration date of the license and such other information as the poundmaster may determine. The poundmaster shall keep a copy of the license form on file in their office and the license form shall be open to public inspection. With each license issued, the poundmaster shall also issue a tag made of some durable material. Said tag shall bear the words "City of Exeter," serial number of the license, and such other information as the poundmaster may determine. Tags issued for animals exempted from vaccination under Section 6.12.120 shall bear a distinguishing mark.

B. Any person procuring an animal license without a valid rabies vaccination for reason of redeeming an impounded animal or to clear a citation shall make payment to the poundmaster of those fees provided in this chapter, as adopted from time to time by resolution of the city council. A rabies vaccination must be obtained for the animal and proof of such vaccination shall be sent to the poundmaster within thirty days of the purchase of the license before the license tag is issued. If rabies vaccination has not been completed within this period of time, a delinquent penalty shall be paid to the poundmaster before the license tag is issued and the animal may be subject to impoundment by the poundmaster until proof of rabies vaccination is provided to the poundmaster.

(Ord. No. 717, § 2, 1-13-2026)

A. An owner of a dog or cat shall secure a license for their dog or cat within thirty days after they acquire ownership of the dog or cat. However, if a dog or cat is less than four months of age when the owner acquires it, the owner shall secure a license for the dog or cat within thirty days after the animal reaches four months of age.

B. Any person who enters the city intending to reside in the city beyond a period of thirty days, and who has brought a dog or cat with them from outside the city, shall secure a license for the dog or cat within thirty days after the person first enters the city.

(Ord. No. 717, § 2, 1-13-2026)

A. It is unlawful for any person owning, harboring, or having the care, custody or possession of any dog or cat over the age of four months to keep or maintain such animal in any place in the city, or except as provided in by state or local law, unless such dog or cat has been vaccinated as provided herein.

B. The poundmaster shall not issue a license for a dog or cat unless the owner of the dog or cat presents for filing a certificate signed by a veterinarian showing that said dog or cat has been vaccinated against rabies which indicates that the period of time elapsing from the date of the vaccination to the date of expiration of the license does not exceed thirty-six months. Animals will be considered to be properly vaccinated for the purposes of Section 121690, California Health and Safety Code, when injected at three months of age or older with a rabies vaccine approved by the California Department of Health. Animals over one year of age that have had a previous vaccine, may be vaccinated for thirty-six months.

C. The vaccination shall be performed by a duly licensed veterinarian, and after vaccinating any dog or cat owned by a resident of Exeter, shall sign a certificate in triplicate containing the following information:

1. The type of vaccination used;

2. The date of the vaccination;

3. The breed, age, color and sex of the vaccinated dog or cat;

4. The manufacturer and serial number of the vaccine used;

5. The name and address of the owner of the dog or cat;

6. Name of the animal; and

7. If spayed or neutered and the date.

D. The veterinarian shall immediately present two copies of the original vaccination certificate, containing two copies, to the owner of the dog or cat, and shall deliver within thirty days, the third copy to the poundmaster.

(Ord. No. 717, § 2, 1-13-2026)

Dog and cat licenses shall be issued on each succeeding anniversary date of the original license. A license shall expire one year from the date of issue, except when the performance of the rabies vaccination expires prior to that date. A new license anniversary date will begin upon renewal of the rabies vaccination.

(Ord. No. 717, § 2, 1-13-2026)

The poundmaster shall collect a fee for dog and cat licensing.

A. This subsection applies only to dogs or cats which have not been spayed or neutered.

1. The annual license fee for each dog or cat so described in subsection A. of this section shall be set by resolution of the city council on an annual basis in an amount to be recommended by the poundmaster.

2. The owner of an unaltered dog or cat will have the option of paying the altered license fee if they place a deposit for the estimated cost of spaying or neutering with the poundmaster at the time they obtain a license. This deposit shall be forfeited if the operation is not performed within thirty days unless an extension of time is granted by the poundmaster.

B. This subsection applies only to dogs or cats which have been spayed or neutered, or which are unable to bear or produce offspring for physical or medical reasons.

1. A certificate from a licensed veterinarian that the dog or cat comes within one of the provisions in subsection B. of this section shall accompany the license form along with the fees set forth in this section.

2. The annual license fee for each dog or cat so described in subsection B. of this section shall be set by resolution of the city council on an annual basis in an amount to be recommended by the poundmaster.

(Ord. No. 717, § 2, 1-13-2026)

A. Any other provision of this chapter notwithstanding, no charge shall be made for licenses issued for the following:

1. Dogs trained to aide blind, deaf or disabled;

2. Dogs used by any governmental agency for the purpose of law enforcement; and

3. All dogs raised and/or trained for the above purposes.

B. Proof of such use or training shall be provided by the applicant at the time of license application in a form satisfactory to the poundmaster.

(Ord. No. 717, § 2, 1-13-2026)

In addition to any fees described in this chapter, the poundmaster shall collect a delinquent penalty in an amount set by resolution of the city council on an annual basis to be recommended by the poundmaster, under the following circumstances:

A. A license is not renewed within thirty days of the expiration date;

B. Puppies or kittens are not licensed within thirty days after reaching four months of age;

C. Any dog or cat brought into this city, except those temporarily located in the city as described in Section 6.12.040, which is not licensed within thirty days;

D. A person acquiring possession of a dog or cat over four months of age does not license it within thirty days of taking possession.

(Ord. No. 717, § 2, 1-13-2026)

A. If a dog or cat is too ill to be vaccinated against rabies at the time that the time limits set forth in Sections 6.12.050 or 6.12.060 expire, then the date for securing the dog or cat license is extended until thirty days after the date on which the animal is well enough to be vaccinated, and no delinquent penalties shall be charged for issuance of the animal license during said thirty day period. However, an extension of time shall not be granted pursuant to this section unless the application for the license is accompanied by a certificate signed by a veterinarian setting forth facts which show that the dog or cat comes within the provisions of this section.

B. The poundmaster shall not license any dog or cat if the owner presents a certificate from a licensed veterinarian, issued within the preceding sixty days, stating that in their opinion, the rabies vaccination would be likely to seriously injure the dog or cat. Any dog or cat so excepted from rabies vaccination shall be restricted to the house or enclosed property of the owner or person in possession of the animal except when held under control or restraint by such person. Any violation thereof by the owner or person in possession of such dog or cat is unlawful.

(Ord. No. 717, § 2, 1-13-2026)

Whenever a tag issued for the then current year has been stolen or lost, the owner of the animal for which the tag was issued may, upon the payment of a fee in an amount which shall be set by resolution of the city council, obtain a replacement tag for the animal. Fees for replacement tags shall be set on an annual basis upon recommended by the poundmaster.

(Ord. No. 717, § 2, 1-13-2026)

The license and tag issued pursuant to this chapter may be transferred when the ownership of the dog or cat is transferred. The new owner or the previous owner of the dog or cat shall notify the poundmaster in writing of the change in ownership of the dog or cat, and the name and address of the new owner. If such written notice is not given, the poundmaster shall send all required notices concerning said dog or cat to the person whose name and address are on file with the poundmaster.

(Ord. No. 717, § 2, 1-13-2026)

A current license tag issued pursuant to this chapter shall be securely fastened to a collar or harness which must be worn at all times.

(Ord. No. 717, § 2, 1-13-2026)

It is unlawful for any person to attach a license tag required by this chapter to the collar of any animal except the animal for which it was issued.

(Ord. No. 717, § 2, 1-13-2026)

It is unlawful for any person to remove from a dog or cat, without authority from the owner, and except in cases of medical emergency involving that animal, any collar, harness, or other device to which is attached a license tag or to remove such tag therefrom.

(Ord. No. 717, § 2, 1-13-2026)

It is unlawful for any person to refuse to show the poundmaster, any animal control officer, or any peace officer, on request, the license certificate and the tag for any dog or cat kept or remaining within their home or upon any enclosed premises under their immediate control.

(Ord. No. 717, § 2, 1-13-2026)

A. The poundmaster shall not release an unlicensed animal to its owner or sell an unlicensed animal to any person who resides in the city, unless the owner or purchaser, respectively, secures the required license, and pays any fees and penalties required. The poundmaster shall not release an animal from the animal care center that is not microchipped to its owner or transfer ownership of an animal to any person until a microchip has been implanted in the animal. The owner of the animal is solely responsible for all costs associated with microchip implantation.

B. The poundmaster shall not release to the owner or purchaser any dog whose license has been revoked after a hearing pursuant to Section 6.16.010 to 6.16.090, except in those instances when the hearing officer has determined the bite, attack, or injury was the result of improper or negligent training, handling, or maintenance, and the owner of the dog is in compliance with the conditions required by the hearing officer.

(Ord. No. 717, § 2, 1-13-2026)

A. A spay or neuter deposit will be required upon the purchase of any unaltered dog or cat from the city animal care center pursuant to Food and Agriculture Code 30503. Said fee shall be deposited by city into a fund to provide low cost spay or neuter surgery of future shelter animals. The fee shall be refunded if the owner provides proof the animal was altered within thirty business days from the date the animal is redeemed or adopted or as otherwise allowed below in subsection B., otherwise the fee becomes non-refundable.

B. Any dog or cat, over four months of age, that is redeemed or adopted from the city animal care center shall be spayed or neutered prior to release from the facility. For animals less than four months old, they shall be required to be spayed or neutered within thirty days of reaching four months of age. An extension of time to perform surgery may be granted by the poundmaster if a veterinarian provides a medical determination that the surgery cannot be performed as scheduled and must be postponed.

(Ord. No. 717, § 2, 1-13-2026)