Hanford Municipal Code Ch. 6.12 Licensing of Animals

A. The maximum number of pets allowed in a household or on any premises without a multi-pet permit shall be as follows:

1. Three dogs over four months of age;

2. Three cats over four months of age;

3. Two potbellied pigs;

4. Three reptiles;

5. The combined maximum number of dogs, cats, potbellied pigs and reptiles shall be three animals;

6. The combined maximum number of all household pets other than dogs, cats, potbellied pigs and reptiles shall be three animals;

7. The combined total of all household pets shall be six animals.

B. For the purpose of this section the following factors will be considered when determining ownership of the animal.

1. The feeding on a regular basis of the animal and/or making available food/water in a manner that allows for the feeding of a more than the allowed number of animals; provided however, use of small outdoor bird feeders to feed birds other than ducks and pigeons shall not constitute the feeding of animals.

2. The animal continually resides within the boundaries of a property.

3. The animal is allowed into the residence.

4. The animal has a relationship with the tenant or owner.

5. The alleged owner having named the animal.

6. Providing shelter to the animal.

7. Other factors observed or established by the citing officer.

(Ord. 20-05 § 1, 2020)

An owner will be guilty of an infraction for a noise-related nuisance identified in Section 6.08.020; provided that said owner has been made aware of the conditions constituting the nuisance.

(Ord. 20-05 § 1, 2020)

Every person who owns a dog within the incorporated area of the city, shall secure a license from the animal shelter, animal control officer or other authority designated by the city for each such dog over four months of age kept for 30 days or longer. The license shall be worn by the dog at all times, except as provided in Section 6.12.040. Any dog found without a license tag may be taken up and impounded by the animal control officer or peace officer.

Licenses may be obtained for cats but are not required. Obtaining a license for a cat would assist in identifying lost animals. Cats must also be altered and have a rabies vaccination certification to obtain a license. All costs associated with the license are the same as a dog.

(Ord. 20-05 § 1, 2020)

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

A. A license need not be secured for a dog which is temporarily brought into the incorporated area of the city by a nonresident. If the dog remains in the city for a period longer than 30 days, it must wear a current license tag from its place of residence;

B. Dogs 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 on sale or available for adoption in duly licensed and permitted commercial animal establishments or non-profit animal establishments;

D. Dogs under the ownership, custody, or control of a commercial animal establishment or non-profit animal establishment duly licensed and permitted under the provisions of this code, when such dogs are removed from an establishment's premises for any reason, shall wear an identification tag attached to their collars, which shall bear the name and address of the establishment. A dog bearing such identification shall be treated in all respects as any other dog in the event of its escape and subsequent impoundment.

(Ord. 20-05 § 1, 2020)

The dog license required by this chapter may be obtained by submitting proof of the animal having been spayed or neutered, a current rabies vaccination certificate, furnishing the information required herein and paying the proper fee to the animal shelter, animal control officer, any person or entity delegated by and under the supervision of the city, or any division of the Kings County Superior Court. The information required for a license form shall contain a brief description of the dog including the name, age, sex, color and breed of the dog, and if the animal is altered or unaltered, and the name, address and telephone number of the owner. The license shall contain a serial number, the expiration date of the license and such other information as the animal shelter may determine. The animal shelter or the city's designee 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 animal shelter or city designee shall also issue a tag made of some durable material. Said tag shall bear the words "City of Hanford," serial number of the license, and such other information as the animal shelter or city designee may determine. The license fee shall be collected at the time the application is submitted to the animal shelter or city designee.

(Ord. 20-05 § 1, 2020)

Dog licenses shall be valid for a period of one, two or three years from the date of issuance, except when an animal's rabies vaccination expires prior to that date.

(Ord. 20-05 § 1, 2020)

The animal shelter, animal control officer, any person or entity delegated by and under the supervision of the city that processes dog license applications pursuant to Section 6.12.050 of this chapter shall collect for the city a fee for dog licensing. The city council may, by resolution, establish rates or charges for services provided or licenses issued under the provisions of this chapter.

(Ord. 20-05 § 1, 2020)

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 persons;

2. Dogs used by any governmental agency for the purpose of law enforcement or military services, or dogs retired/honorably discharged from law enforcement/military services;

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 animal shelter or city designee.

(Ord. 20-05 § 1, 2020)

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 by the city council based upon recommendations from the animal shelter or issuing authority.

(Ord. 20-05 § 1, 2020)

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

(Ord. 20-05 § 1, 2020)

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

(Ord. 20-05 § 1, 2020)

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. 20-05 § 1, 2020)

It is unlawful for any person to remove from a dog, without authority from the owner, 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. 20-05 § 1, 2020)

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

(Ord. 20-05 § 1, 2020)

A. The animal shelter, animal control officer or any city designee shall not release an unlicensed dog to its owner or sell an unlicensed dog to any person, unless the owner or purchaser, respectively, secures the required license, and pays any fees and penalties required.

B. The animal control officer or city designee shall not release to the owner or purchaser any dog whose license has been revoked after a hearing pursuant to Sections 6.16.010 to 6.16.090 unless the owner or purchaser shows proof that he or she has enrolled the dog in a class to retrain the dog or proof that he or she is qualified to retrain the dog and the owner or purchaser signs an agreement that, until the dog is retrained as evidenced by a certificate of successful completion of the training program, it will be securely confined when not under the immediate control of a responsible attendant and that he or she will secure the required license within 10 days after he or she is given possession of the dog. It is unlawful for the owner or purchaser to fail to: (1) keep the dog securely confined as agreed; and (2) to fail to secure said license within said 10 day period. Any dog which is not so confined or for which said license is not secured within the required 10 day period shall be immediately impounded by the animal control officer or city designee and, without further notice, humanely destroyed or sold to a person willing to comply with the above requirements for retraining and confinement of the dog.

(Ord. 20-05 § 1, 2020)

A. Animal services shall implant each dog and cat impounded at the animal shelter, not previously microchipped, with a microchip identification device. The owner of such dog or cat shall be obligated to pay for the cost associated with the implantation of the microchip identification device as part of the impound fee. It shall be the owner's responsibility to have correct and current information registered with the city or the city's designee at all times.

B. Except as otherwise provided herein, any dog or cat sold, given away or released by the animal shelter or city designee shall be spayed or neutered in accordance with Food and Agricultural Code Section 30503, as may be amended. Male and female animals shall be at least two months of age and have a weight of at least two pounds. An extension of time to perform surgery may be granted by the animal shelter if a veterinarian provides a medical determination that the surgery cannot be performed as scheduled and must be postponed. The facility performing the surgery may spay or neuter an animal weighing less than two pounds if by their determination it is safe to perform said surgery. The city, the animal shelter, or the city's designee may release an un-spayed or unneutered animal if the party receiving the animal possesses or obtains a breeder's permit and pays the required fees, including, without limitation, the cost of boarding, licensing (in the case of a dog), state fees.

(Ord. 20-05 § 1, 2020)