Chapter 6.20 — KENNELS

Every person who owns or controls a kennel or other place in the city where more than four dogs or cats over the age of four months are kept for any purpose shall obtain a kennel license during the month of July of each year or within thirty days after the kennel is established. Fees for kennel licenses shall be fixed and determined by council resolution. Any kennel owner failing to obtain a kennel license shall be subject to an additional fee as prescribed by council resolution.

(Prior code § 2-68)

Application for kennel licenses shall be made at either the office of the director of animal control or such other office or location as shall be designated by him. Each application for a permit under this chapter shall be in writing upon a form to be furnished by the director of animal control and shall contain such information as the director of animal control by rule or regulation shall require.

A.

All permits issued by the city as required by this chapter shall expire one year from the date of issuance, unless sooner revoked or suspended, or unless the holder of such permit changes the location of his place of business, or sells, assigns, transfers or otherwise disposes of such business or his interest in it for a period of thirty days.

B.

Upon the expiration of any permit and within thirty days thereafter, the permittee shall apply for and secure a renewal of the permit in the manner provided for in this article upon paying the proper fees. Upon failure to make application for renewal of such permit within the time provided in this article, the applicant shall pay, in addition to the regular permit fee, a penalty as established by the city council by resolution.

C.

All permits issued under this chapter shall be kept posted in a conspicuous place.

D.

Upon the filing of each application under this article, either for an original permit or a renewal thereof, the director of animal control shall make such investigation as he deems proper. He shall then issue a permit to the applicant if he finds that:

The keeping of animals, or the conduct or operation of the business for which the permit is requested, and at the place set forth in the application, will not violate any law or ordinance of this city, or any law of the state; and

The keeping of the animals, or the conduct or operation of the business for which the permit is requested will not constitute a menace to the health, peace or safety of the community; and

The premises and establishment where animals are to be kept is maintained in a clean and sanitary condition and the animals will not be subject to needless suffering; unnecessary cruelty or abuse; and

The applicant has not had a permit revoked within one year prior to the application.

(Prior code § 2-69)

Any permit issued under this article may be revoked or suspended under the procedure outlined in this chapter, if, after due investigation, the director of animal control finds:

A.

That the permittee, his agent, or employee, has been convicted of any offense involving the violation of Section 597 of the Penal Code of the state, or any provision of this title; or

B.

That the permittee, his agent, or employee, has at the place for which the permit was issued, failed to provide for animal, fowl or reptile in his possession, care or control, with proper and sufficient food, drink,

shelter, or protection, or subjected any such animal, fowl, reptile to needless suffering, unnecessary cruelty, or abuse; or

C.

That the permittee, his agent, or employee, has failed to maintain the premises in a clean and sanitary condition; or

D.

That the permittee, his agent, or employee, has violated any rule or regulation of the director of animal control.

(Prior code § 2-70)

A.

Any person dissatisfied with the ruling of the director of animal control may within ten days thereafter, appeal the decision to the city council; such appeal may be a simple statement in writing setting forth in common terms the basis of the appeal. A public hearing may be requested by the party aggrieved by the director of animal control's decision.

B.

If a hearing is requested, the city council shall set a time for the hearing. The request for hearing shall be accompanied by the appropriate fee in an amount as established by council resolution. At least fifteen days notice of hearing shall be given.

C.

The decision of the city council shall be final.

(Prior code § 2-71)

No dog license shall be issued unless proof has been presented that all dogs owned by the kennel owner or operator in the kennel have been vaccinated against rabies in the manner prescribed in this title, nor shall any kennel license be issued until the director of animal control or his authorized representative has first made a determination that a kennel is allowed in the zone and that the kennel is operated in a sanitary and proper manner so as not to constitute a nuisance to the neighborhood.

(Prior code § 2-72)