Hawthorne Municipal Code Ch. 6.12 Animal Registration

The following words and phrases, whenever used in this chapter, shall be construed as defined in this section:

"Kennel"

means and includes any lot, building, structure, enclosure or premises wherein or whereon four or more dogs are kept for any purpose.

"Owner"

means and includes any person keeping any dog for fifteen consecutive days.

"Unlicensed dog"

means and includes any dog for which a registration fee has not been paid for the current year, or to which a metal tag has not been attached as required by this chapter.

(Prior code § 9-300; Ord. 1102 § 2, 1975)

No person owning or having custody or control of any dog over the age of four months shall keep such dog unless the dog or the kennel in which he is kept is validly registered with the city as provided by this chapter; provided, however, that the provisions of this chapter shall not apply to any dog owned by or in the care or charge of a nonresident of the city who is traveling through the city or temporarily sojourning therein for a period not exceeding thirty days, nor to any dog temporarily brought into the city for the exclusive purpose of being entered in a bench show or dog exhibition, provided such dog is so entered and not kept elsewhere in the city, nor to any "Seeing Eye" dog while being kept in training or after being acquired by the blind. Dogs in a registered kennel must be kept exclusively in such kennel; otherwise they must be registered as provided in this chapter.

(Prior code § 9-301; Ord. 1102 § 2, 1975)

Dogs which are duly registered under this chapter, or excepted therefrom, shall not be counted in computing the number of dogs in a kennel, provided an affidavit is furnished with the application for the registration of such kennel stating the number of registered or excepted dogs in the kennel and the registration number or description of each. The affidavit shall be furnished to the bureau of animal services.

(Prior code § 9-302; Ord. 1102 § 2, 1975; Ord. 1730 § 1, 2002)

No registration fee need be paid for any dog which has been honorably discharged or released from service in the armed forces of the United States or any police dog retired from any local agency. The owner or person having custody or control of any such dog shall present to the bureau of animal services or the director of licensing and code enforcement satisfactory proof of such honorable discharge or release from the service or retired from a local agency, and the bureau of animal services or the director of licensing and code enforcement shall issue, without charge, a dog registration and metal tag which shall be in fore and effect during the lifetime of such dog. In case the ownership of any such dog changes, the registration shall be transferred without charge upon the submission of satisfactory proof of such change in ownership. Exemption from the registration fee as herein provided shall not be construed as exemption the owner or person having custody or control of any such dog from the other requirements of this chapter.

(Prior code § 9-303; Ord. 1102 § 2, 1975; Ord. 1730 § 1, 2002)

A one time registration fee of five dollars will be required to be paid for any seeing eye dog, guide dog, signal dog trained to assist the hearing impaired and any special services dog trained to perform to assist any physically challenged individual. The owner or person having custody or control of any such dog shall present to the bureau of animal services or the director of licensing and code enforcement satisfactory proof that the subject dog meets the requirements of this section. In case the ownership of any such dog changes, the registration shall be transferred without charge upon the submission of satisfactory proof of such change in ownership. The one time registration fee shall not be construed as exempting the owner or person having custody or control of any such dog from the other requirements of this chapter.

(Ord. 1735 § 1, 2002)

With each dog registration there shall be issued a metal tag bearing an identification number and the year for which issued, together with the words "Hawthorne Dog License" plainly inscribed thereon. Such metal tag shall be securely fixed to a collar, harness or device to be worn at all times by the dog for whom the registration is issued, except while such dog remains indoors or in an enclosed yard or pen.

(Prior code § 9-304; Ord. 1102 § 2, 1975)

It is unlawful for any unauthorized person to remove from any dog any collar, harness or other device to which is attached a registration tag for the current year, or to remove such tag therefrom.

(Prior code § 9-305; Ord. 1102 § 2, 1975)

No person shall attach to, or keep upon, any dog, any metal tag other than the tag issued for such dog under the provisions of this chapter, nor shall any person make or have in his possession any counterfeit or imitation of the metal tag provided for in this chapter.

(Prior code § 9-306; Ord. 1102 § 2, 1975)

No person owning or having custody or control of any horse shall keep such horse unless the horse is validly registered with the city as provided by this chapter; provided however, that the provisions of this chapter shall not apply to any horse temporarily brought into the city for a period of not to exceed thirty days for the exclusive purpose of being entered in a horse show or exhibition.

(Prior code § 9-307; Ord. 1102 § 2, 1975)

Every person obtaining a horse registration as provided by this chapter shall post such certificate of registration and keep the same posted at all times at or near the door, gate or other entrance to the place where the horse is usually kept.

(Prior code § 9-308; Ord. 1102 § 2, 1975)

All registrations provided for in this chapter shall be valid for the fiscal year of issue only and shall expire on the thirtieth day of June, following issuance of the registrations, unless otherwise provided.

(Prior code § 9-309; Ord. 1102 § 2, 1975)

All registration fees prescribed by this chapter shall be paid in advance on June 1st of each year. There shall be no prorating of any such fee and the full amount thereof shall be paid regardless of when the fee becomes due, except that registration fees for dogs purchased, obtained or brought into the city on or after December 15th of each year, shall be afforded a one-half proration of the regular dog license fee and the spayed/neuter dog license fee. No proration shall be granted to the already discounted senior citizen fee. All fees shall become delinquent if not paid within thirty days after becoming due. A penalty for an amount to be set by the city council, either by ordinance or resolution, shall be added to any fee which becomes delinquent and such penalty, as well as the fee, shall be paid before the registration certificate is issued.

(Ord. 1413 § 2, 1987)

Each registration required by this chapter shall state the name and residence address of the person to whom issued, the nature of the registration, the amount paid therefor, the date when issued, and the date on which the registration will expire. In the case of a dog registration, the registration shall also contain a description of the dog, and the number of the metal tag accompanying the registration certificate. In the case of a kennel registration, the registration shall also state the maximum number of dogs which may be kept in such kennel under the authority of such registration. In the case of horse registration, the registration shall also contain a description of the horse for which the registration is issued, and the address of the place where such horse is usually kept.

(Prior code § 9-311; Ord. 1102 § 2, 1975)

The director of animal services or the director of licensing and code enforcement shall keep a record of the name and address of each person to whom a registration certificate or certificate and tag are issued under this chapter, the date of issuance thereof, the number of the metal tag and a description of the dog, kennel or horse for which issued.

(Prior code § 9-312; Ord. 1102 § 2, 1975; Ord. 1730 § 1, 2000)

The amount of any registration fee imposed by this chapter shall be deemed a debt to the city, and any person keeping any dog, kennel or horse without having obtained a registration certificate so to do from the city shall be liable to an action in the name of the city in any court of competent jurisdiction for the amount of the registration fees and penalties imposed and required by this chapter to be paid for the privilege of keeping such dog, kennel or horse; and it shall be the duty of the director of animal services or the director of licensing and code enforcement to cause a complaint to be filed against any person violating any of the provisions of this chapter, or the Chapters 6.16 through 6.28 and to cause an action to be brought against any person failing to pay any registration fee or penalty required by the provisions of this chapter for the recovery of the same. Such action shall be cumulative and shall not be deemed a bar to, or a waiver of, the right of the city to prosecute any person for a violation of this chapter or any other applicable provisions of this code.

(Prior code § 9-313; Ord. 1102 § 2, 1975; Ord. 1730 § 1, 2000)

All fees and penalties (including but not limited to penalties imposed pursuant to the administrative citation procedure specified in Chapters 1.23 A and 1.23 B) shall be set from time to time by the city council, either by ordinance or resolution.

(Prior code § 9-314; Ord. 1102 § 2, 1975; Ord. 1816 § 9, 2005)