Fillmore Municipal Code Ch. 9.08 License Tag

Every person who owns, harbors or keeps any dog over the age of four months for thirty days or longer shall obtain a current license and license tag issued under the provisions of this chapter. The license tag shall be attached to a substantial collar or harness and shall be worn by the dog at all times except as provided in Section 9.08.020. Every person who violates any of the provisions of this section is guilty of an infraction. An animal control officer may also issue an administrative citation assessing a civil penalty to any person violating this section and such person may be subject to administrative enforcement provisions set forth in Chapter 1.09 of this Code or Division 4, Chapter 4, Article 8 of the Ventura County Code. Additionally, any dog found without a current license tag or for which there is no current license may be taken up and impounded by the animal services director or any peace officer.

(Ord. 622 § 1 (part), 1989)

(Ord. No. 22-940, § 4, 5-24-2022)

The license tag need not be worn by the dog:

(a) When the dog is within an enclosure sufficient to securely confine the dog to the premises of a county or city shelter, animal hospital, licensed dog kennel, an animal rescue entity organized and existing under Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3), or of the person owning, harboring or controlling the dog; or

(b) When the dog is participating in or training for sporting events, field trials, dog shows or herding livestock, provided such dog is not allowed to run at large; or

(c) When the dog is used by a law enforcement agency to perform official law enforcement duties.

(Ord. 622 § 1 (part), 1989)

(Ord. No. 22-940, § 5, 5-24-2022)

The license and license tag required by this chapter may be obtained by displaying an acceptable rabies vaccination certificate, furnishing the information required by this chapter and paying the proper fee to the animal control department. Such information shall include the name, sex, breed, age and color of the dog for which application is made, and shall include the address and, when available, the telephone number of the person owning, harboring or keeping such dog. The official receiving such information shall record it on the receipt to be given for payment of the license fee. The expiration date of the rabies vaccination shall be recorded on the receipt and shall not extend pass the vaccination expiration date. No license shall be issued to any person under the age of eighteen years.

(Ord. 622 § 1 (part), 1989)

(Ord. No. 22-940, § 6, 5-24-2022)

The license period for any license issued pursuant to this chapter shall be the period of time specified on the license application pursuant to which such license is issued. The license period specified on any given license application shall be whatever period the animal services director may select for that particular license application; provided, however, that such period shall not extend beyond the expiration date of the applicable rabies vaccination. A license shall expire, and such license and corresponding license tag shall cease to be "current," upon the expiration of the applicable license period.

(Ord. 622 § 1 (part), 1989)

(Ord. No. 22-940, § 7, 5-24-2022)

The fee for the license required by this chapter shall be as prescribed by resolution of the council or county board of supervisors. The fee prescribed for a dog which has been spayed or neutered, as verified by a veterinarian's certificate, shall be not more than fifty percent of the fee for a dog of the same sex which has not been spayed or neutered. In addition, if a letter from a licensed veterinarian certifies that arrangements have been made to spay or neuter the dog within sixty days from the date that the dog reaches the age of four months, and the dog is spayed or neutered within that sixty-day period, the owner shall qualify for the lower license fee for a dog that has been spayed or neutered.

(Ord. 622 § 1 (part), 1989)

(Ord. No. 22-940, § 8, 5-24-2022)

A dog license shall be issued free of charge in the following instances:

(1) When the license is for a dog which will be used as a guide dog for a blind person. An affidavit attesting to the fact that the dog will be used as a guide dog shall be given to the official issuing the same;

(2) When the license is for a dog which has been honorably discharged from the armed services of the United States. Such discharge shall be established by showing to the official issuing the license the discharge papers issued for such dog; or

(3) When the license is for a dog actively used by or retired from service from a governmental agency for law enforcement, search and rescue, or fire detection purposes.

(Ord. 622 § 1 (part), 1989)

(Ord. No. 22-940, § 11, 5-24-2022)

The information and fee required by this chapter are due on the thirtieth day after the day on which:

(1) The previous license, if any, expires;

(2) The dog is acquired by the person owning, harboring or keeping it;

(3) The dog is brought into the county; or

(4) The dog attains the age of four months,

Whichever shall last occur. Any person purchasing a license after the due date shall pay, in addition to the license fee, a late license penalty in an amount equal to one hundred percent of the license fee which would be applicable if the license period were one year, regardless of the actual license period for which such license period is issued. Such penalty shall be in addition to any other penalty or sanction which may be imposed pursuant to this title for failure to have a license.

(Ord. 622 § 1 (part), 1989)

Upon receipt of the required information, accompanied by payment of the proper fee and display of an acceptable rabies vaccination certificate, the dog shall be licensed, a written receipt shall be issued to the applicant, and a metal license tag shall be mailed to the applicant's address. Each tag shall be serially numbered and stamped within the words "Ventura County," or such other words as the poundmaster shall direct, and shall be stamped with the year in which is was issued. The animal control department shall maintain a record of the licenses so issued, which record shall be kept on file in the office of the animal control department, open to reasonable public inspection, until the expiration of the license period for which such licenses are issued.

(Ord. 622 § 1 (part), 1989)

If a license tag issued under the provisions of this chapter is lost, a duplicate tag may be obtained from the division upon paying a fee in the amount prescribed by resolution of the council or county board of supervisors.

(Ord. 622 § 1 (part), 1989)

(Ord. No. 22-940, § 10, 5-24-2022)

In the event that there is a change in ownership of a dog licensed pursuant to this chapter during the license period for which such license is issued, the new owner may have the current license transferred to his name upon the payment of a transfer fee in the amount prescribed by resolution of the council or county board of supervisors. A license for a dog that is not spayed or neutered is not transferable.

(Ord. 622 § 1 (part), 1989)

(Ord. No. 22-940, § 11, 5-24-2022)

The division may appoint animal license inspectors for the purpose of inspecting animals required to be licensed hereunder to ascertain if such animals are properly licensed, issuing the licenses required hereunder, and collecting the required license fees.

(Ord. 622 § 1 (part), 1989)

(Ord. No. 22-940, § 12, 5-24-2022)

Every person who counterfeits a dog license tag, or who attaches a license tag issued under the provisions of this chapter to any dog other than the one for which such tag was issued, or who obtains a dog license tag or dog kennel license and, in doing so, states as true any material matter which he or she knows to be false, is guilty of an infraction. Additionally, an animal control officer may issue an administrative citation assessing a civil penalty to such person in accordance with, and the person shall be subject to the administrative enforcement provisions set forth in Chapter 1.09 of this Code or Division 4, Chapter 4, Article 8 of the Ventura County Code.

(Ord. 622 § 1 (part), 1989)

(Ord. No. 22-940, § 13, 5-24-2022)