Farmersville Municipal Code Art. IV Licensing

A. Any person who owns, possesses, keeps, maintains or harbors any dog, shall cause such dog to be inoculated against rabies by a licensed veterinarian, with a rabies vaccine approved by the California Department of Health Services for use in domestic dogs (canis familiaris), within thirty days after it becomes four months of age or within thirty days after obtaining or bringing any dog into the city of Farmersville. Such inoculation shall be required, regardless of whether the dog is confined at all times to an enclosed area.

B. If an animal has not been inoculated against rabies after its owner has been duly notified twice within a twelve-month period, such animal shall be impounded by an officer pending lawful disposition. The animal may be reclaimed if the owner arranges for the animal to be inoculated at the animal shelter by a licensed veterinarian. The animal owner shall be responsible for all fees incurred by the city for enforcement of this provision.

C. As a condition for the issuance of a dog license, all applicants for such license shall deliver a valid rabies certificate issued by a licensed veterinarian certifying that each dog to be licensed has been administered an anti-rabies vaccination within thirty days prior to the issuance of said license, or has received an anti-rabies vaccination sufficient to immunize said dog against rabies for the current license period.

D. The vaccination shall be repeated at intervals specified by the California Department of Health Services or a licensed veterinarian in order to maintain adequate immunity.

(Ord. 420 (part), 2006)

The certificate of vaccination must show all items required by state law, including, but not limited to, the following:

A. The name, address and telephone number of the dog's owner;

B. The description of the dog, including breed, color, age, name and sex;

C. The date of immunization;

D. The type of rabies vaccine administered;

E. Name of vaccine administered;

F. The name of the manufacturer;

G. The lot number of the vaccine used;

H. Such certificates shall bear the signature of the veterinarian administering the vaccine or a signature authorized by him/her, and in addition such certificate shall be stamped, printed, or typed with his/her name, address and telephone number for legibility.

(Ord. 420 (part), 2006)

Every dog owner applying for the altered dog reduced license fee shall produce a certificate of alteration, issued by a licensed veterinarian stating said animal has been rendered incapable of breeding prior to issuance of the microchip license.

(Ord. 420 (part), 2006)

Microchip implantation shall be required for the following:

A. Licensing;

B. Vaccination verification;

C. Owner notification upon impoundment or violation of this chapter or state codes;

D. Owner notification for emergencies.

It shall be unlawful for any person to own, keep, possess, harbor or maintain any dog over the age of four months of age within the city, unless such dog is microchip licensed. Dogs owned, kept, possessed, harbored or maintained in the city for more than thirty days shall be microchip licensed. Microchip implantation may be obtained from a veterinarian, animal shelter (upon adoption or redemption of an animal) or participating vaccination clinics.

The owner of the animal shall assume all applicable fees for said microchip implantation and licensing.

(Ord. 420 (part), 2006)

It is unlawful for any person to refuse to show any officer, upon request, the microchip certificate, the microchip license and/or a valid proof of rabies vaccination for any owned dog within the city.

(Ord. 420 (part), 2006)

In order to coincide with the rabies vaccination period, each microchip license issued shall be valid for a one or a two-year period from the date of issuance (at the option of the owner), provided that all conditions required for issuance of a license, as required by this chapter are complied with. The license shall become active upon payment of all fees, penalties and the presentation of a certificate of alteration (if applicable) and a valid rabies certificate from a licensed veterinarian stating the animal has been inoculated against rabies for the license period chosen.

(Ord. 420 (part), 2006)

At the time application is made for a microchip license, the owner shall provide his or her name, address, phone number, emergency contact number and the name, breed, age, color, sex and a copy of the microchip document for each dog to be licensed by such owner.

(Ord. 420 (part), 2006)

During any organized rabies vaccination drive, as such is ordered or authorized by the city of Farmersville and is conducted on a citywide basis, the fee for the required rabies vaccination shall be established by the Tulare County Veterinary Association. Microchip implantation may be provided at the discretion of the Tulare County Veterinary Association.

(Ord. 420 (part), 2006)

License fees are subject to modification, reduction and/or increase by resolution of the city council. The license fees for unaltered and/or altered animals within the city are as follows:

(Ord. 420 (part), 2006)

Any person sixty-five years or older shall be eligible for the senior citizen license fee, proof of age shall be mandatory. By licensing each animal, the senior citizen acknowledges his or her responsibility for the animal. Any senior citizen who provides another person, who is not a senior citizen with the senior citizen license fee discount, shall permanently forfeit his or her senior citizen license fee privilege.

(Ord. 420 (part), 2006)

A. The provisions of this title requiring payment of dog license fee shall not apply to assistance dogs actually being used by disabled persons. However, the owner shall keep the dog's rabies vaccination current.

B. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this chapter, a dog need not be vaccinated for rabies if the dog has been examined and diagnosed with an illness by a licensed veterinarian and the veterinarian certifies in writing that such vaccination should be postponed due to a specified illness. The medical exemption is only valid for the duration of illness and upon recovery the dog shall be immediately vaccinated. Old age, debility or pregnancies are not exempt from rabies vaccination. Any dog exempted from licensing shall not run at large.

C. The provisions of this title requiring dog license shall not apply to any dog owned by or in the charge or care of a nonresident of the city, traveling through the city, or temporarily sojourning therein for a period not exceeding thirty days; nor to any dog brought to the city exclusively for the purpose of entering the same in a dog show or dog exhibition and entered for and kept at any dog show or dog exhibition; nor to any dog owned by a nonresident of the city, when such dog has been regularly licensed in accordance with the laws of the place of residence of such owner and shall have a collar or leather band attached thereon on which there shall be a tag evidencing the existence of an unexpired license for such dog in the place of residence of such owner; nor to dogs less than four months old which are kept confined in or upon the owner's premises.

(Ord. 420 (part), 2006)

Notwithstanding Section 6.01.325 of this article, all fees for dog licenses shall become delinquent on July 1st of the year in which they are due and payable. A penalty of fifty dollars shall be added to each unpaid license on and after the delinquent date except where the dog has been newly acquired.

(Ord. 420 (part), 2006)

A. Whenever the ownership of a dog is to be changed, the new and original owner must complete and sign a transfer of license in person at the Farmersville City Hall within thirty days. A transfer fee of five dollars shall be charged to transfer any license.

B. The transfer of license shall state the new owners name, address, phone number and emergency contact number.

C. Any violation of this section shall be punishable by a mandatory minimum fine of two hundred fifty dollars.

(Ord. 420 (part), 2006)

Every owner of a microchip licensed animal which is sold, given away or is deceased, shall immediately notify and advise animal control of said animal's disposition. If the animal has been sold or given away, compliance with Section 6.01.370 of this chapter shall be advised.

(Ord. 420 (part), 2006)