Fort Jones Municipal Code Ch. 6.16 Dog Care, Control and Management

(a) Vaccination required. Any person residing within the incorporated area of the town owning, keeping, harboring, having custody or control of a dog four months of age or older within the town shall, at intervals of not more than one or not more than three years (depending on whether the vaccination is a one-year or three-year vaccination), have the dog vaccinated with an anti-rabies vaccine by a licensed veterinarian. The first vaccination shall occur within 30 days of the date the person acquires or becomes responsible for the dog or the date the dog attains the age of four months.

(b) Vaccination tag to be attached to dog's collar, etc. The dog's rabies vaccination tag, issued by the veterinarian to the owner of the dog, shall be securely attached to a collar, harness or other device permanently worn by the dog for which the tag was issued.

(c) Certificate to be retained. The dog owner shall retain the vaccination certificate issued by the veterinarian as a permanent record for the length of time that the vaccination is valid.

(d) Tag to be displayed upon official request. No person keeping or harboring a dog for which licensing or vaccination is required pursuant to this title shall fail or refuse to exhibit the tags required by the provisions of this title upon the demand of any official designated to carry out the provisions of this title.

(e) Medical exception. No dog shall be required to be vaccinated while such dog is afflicted with an illness or other condition which, in the written opinion of a licensed veterinarian, would be detrimental to the dog, subject to the following:

(1) Persons requesting to be excused from the vaccination requirement when applying for or renewing an annual dog license must provide a written explanation issued by a licensed veterinarian disclosing the reason that vaccination is contraindicated or otherwise not possible.

(2) A dog subject to an exemption under this subsection shall be strictly confined to the premises of or kept under physical restraint by the owner for the duration of the illness or condition. Immediately following the termination of the illness or condition, the dog shall be vaccinated in accordance with this section.

(f) Exception for dogs under four months. Dogs under the age of four months shall be strictly confined to the premises of, or kept under physical restraint by the owner, keeper or possessor. The provisions of this section shall not prevent the sale or transportation of puppies four months of age or younger.

(Ord. No. 2021-1, exh. A(6.12.010), (6.12.020), (6.12.070), 3-8-2021)

No person, dwelling or structure shall keep or maintain more than three dogs over the age of four months in a single premises and any dogs over the maximum established in this subsection shall be removed from the premises except that this restriction shall not apply to:

(1) Professional businesses, including, but not limited to, licensed dog trainers, veterinarian services and commercial kennels.

(2) Dogs that were owned, kept or harbored prior to March 9, 2021, the date of adoption of the ordinance from which this section is derived, provided that proof of qualification for exemption under this subsection (such as a rabies certificate, dog license or bill of sale), must be produced upon request to the town clerk or code enforcement or law enforcement officer.

(Ord. No. 2021-1, exh. A(6.12.080), 3-8-2021)

Any person owning or possessing a female dog during her estrus shall securely confine the dog within an enclosure, unless the dog is under the immediate physical restraint of its owner to prevent unplanned access by male dogs or attraction of male dogs in the vicinity.

(Ord. No. 2021-1, exh. A(6.12.090), 3-8-2021)

No owner shall allow his dog to enter any playground within the town or to be present on any field in any baseball or softball park within the town except when the field is being used for a non-baseball scheduled event, including, but not limited to, concerts, car shows or fairs. Violations of this section constitute an infraction punishable by a fine in the amount provided in the town bail schedule.

(Ord. No. 2021-1, exh. A(6.12.100), 3-8-2021)

(a) For purposes of this section, and as provided in 49 CFR 37.3 (a part of the Federal Americans With Disabilities Act), the term "service animal," as applied to dogs, means any guide dog or signal dog individually trained to work or perform tasks for an individual with a disability, including, but not limited to, guiding individuals with impaired vision, alerting individuals with impaired hearing to intruders or sounds, providing minimal protection or rescue work, pulling a wheelchair, or fetching dropped items. Emotional support animals, as defined under the ADA are not allowed in the above-mentioned buildings. Emotional support dogs, comfort dogs and therapy dogs are not included in the term "service animal."

(b) Dogs, except those qualified as service animals, are prohibited in the town hall and in all public works buildings.

(c) It is unlawful to falsely represent a dog as a service animal.

(d) Disabled town employees are allowed under state law to bring service dogs and emotional support animals to work except as limited pursuant to the California Fair Employment and Housing Act, Government Code § 12900 et seq.

(e) Violations of subsection (c) of this section constitutes a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $1,000.00, imprisonment for up to six months in the county jail, or both such fine and imprisonment. All other violations of this section constitute infractions punishable by a fine in the amount provided in the town bail schedule.

(Ord. No. 2021-1, exh. A(6.12.110), 3-8-2021)