Ione Municipal Code Ch. 6.04 Dog Licensing and Control

Footnotes:

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Editor's note— Ord. No. 473, § I, adopted September 1, 2015, amended Chapter 6.04 in its entirety to read as herein set out. Former Chapter 6.04, §§ 6.04.010—6.04.050, pertained to similar material, and derived from Ord. No. 55, 1959; Ord. No. 139, 1969; Ord. No. 251, 1984 and Ord. No. 379, 2003.

As used in this chapter, "animal control officer" or "officer" means any Ione Peace Officer or other officers as designated by the city manager with the concurrence of the city council.

(Ord. No. 473, § I, 9-1-2015)

Any animal control officer is authorized to enter upon any premises upon which any animal is kept, with the proper lawful procedures, for the purpose of ascertaining whether such animal is licensed, as provided in this chapter, or for the purpose of inspecting the premises to ascertain whether any law of the City of Ione or State of California relating to the care, treatment, or impounding of animals is being violated, or for the purpose of taking up, seizing or impounding any animal found running at large, or staked, herded or grazed thereon, contrary to the provisions of this chapter.

(Ord. No. 473, § I, 9-1-2015)

No owner of any animal, wild or domestic, shall permit or allow said animal to do any of the following things within the City of Ione:

A. No person owning or having the care, custody, control or possession of any dog shall allow the dog to remain outside of a secured building or dwelling on the premises of the person unless the dog is within a fenced enclosure which is adequate to contain the dog, or unless the dog is securely tethered so as to prevent the dog from leaving the premises. Any dog so tethered shall be secured in a manner as to be unable to cross the property line on such premises. It shall be further restrained not to enter on any sidewalk, street or any such place designated for the public.

B. The owner of any animal shall not allow any animal to deposit fecal matter upon any private property, public street, or other public place and the immediate area without removing and properly disposing of the fecal matter.

*Note—Any violation of this subsection within any 12-month period shall constitute a civil infraction punishable by a fine in the amount of $100.00 for the first violation; $250.00 for the second violation; and $500.00 for the third and subsequent violations.

C. Habitually make loud noise for a period of 15 consecutive minutes or longer, or act in such a manner so as to constitute a public nuisance.

*Note—Any violation of this subsection within any 12-month period shall constitute a civil infraction punishable by a fine in the amount of $100.00 for the first violation; $250.00 for the second violation; and $500.00 for the third and subsequent violations.

(Ord. No. 473, § I, 9-1-2015)

It is the intention of the City of Ione to enforce a dog leash requirement in Ione in conjunction with the rules and regulations of the animal care and control authority in this title.

A. Definitions. In construing the provisions of this chapter, except where otherwise plainly declared or clearly apparent from the context, words used in this chapter shall be given their common and ordinary meaning; in addition, the following definitions shall apply:

"At large" means to be off the premises of the owner and not under control of the owner by leash; provided, that an animal within an automobile or other vehicle of its owner shall be deemed to be upon the owner's premises.

"Dog park" means any public land set aside for the recreation of dog and owner, which land is protected by fencing sufficient to keep the animals within the boundaries of said park.

"Lawful training" means to be off the premises of the owner or on the land of another by permission, or upon public land set aside for training or is open for hunting or trapping; provided, that the dog is accompanied afield by the owner or trainer. A "no shooting area" shall not be interpreted to mean a "no training" area.

"Leash" includes a cord, thong or chain not more than 15 feet in length by which an animal is physically controlled by the person accompanying it.

B. Dogs At Large Prohibited. It is unlawful for owners to allow their dogs to be at large, unleashed or without restraint on any public lands, parks or facilities, except that this section shall not apply when the dogs are engaged in lawful obedience training, lawful hunting activity, lawful competition sanctioned by a nationally recognized body or a local chapter thereof, or lawful training in preparation for such hunting or competition, or are working dogs engaged in the herding of livestock, or are working dogs engaged in sanctioned search and rescue activities, or in city-designated off-leash areas or dog parks.

C. Prohibited Areas. It is unlawful, whether controlled by leash or at-large, for a dog to be on property designated by the city as a recreational/game area such as a baseball field, soccer field or any area routinely used by individuals and youth for the purpose of sporting activities.

(Ord. No. 499, 7-17-2018)

A violation of Section 6.04.031 of Chapter 6.04 of Title 6 of the Ione Municipal Code shall result in a fine of $50.00 for first citation, $100.00 for second citation, and $500.00 for third citation.

(Ord. No. 499, 7-17-2018)

The animal control officer, upon receiving a complaint from any person who has been bitten by a dog or from any person who has witnessed or reported such occurrence, which affidavit or declaration is sufficiently specific to particularly identify the dog in question, shall notify the owner of the dog in writing of the report of occurrence, and shall direct the owner to keep such dog at all times on the property or premises where such owner resides or on the property or premises of the person to whom the owner has given the custody of such dog, or to securely hold the dog by a leash or other device or means so as to prevent the dog from wandering, straying or getting beyond the control of its custodian, for a quarantine period of no less than ten consecutive days. "Quarantine" means the confinement of an animal upon the premises of the owner or elsewhere as approved by the county health officer or animal control officer.

(Ord. No. 473, § I, 9-1-2015)

After the receipt by the owner of a dog of a notice referred to in Section 6.04.030 of this chapter, the owner shall at all times keep the dog on the property or premises where such person resides or on the property or premises of the person to whom the owner has given the custody of such dog, or to securely hold the dog by a leash or other device or means so as to prevent the dog from wandering, straying or getting beyond the control of its custodian.

(Ord. No. 473, § I, 9-1-2015)

Any animal which is, to the knowledge of the animal control officer, engaged in an activity or existing in a condition prohibited by this title or any other activity or condition otherwise prohibited by state law or regulation, shall be taken and impounded at the Amador County animal shelter or at such other place as may be approved by the City of Ione.

(Ord. No. 473, § I, 9-1-2015)

Notwithstanding any other provision of this title to the contrary, an impounded animal that is determined by the animal control officer, the Amador County Animal Control director (or his/her designee) to constitute a public health hazard, may be destroyed, quarantined, or otherwise disposed of as ordered by the animal control officer.

Animals that are claimed must pay the City of Ione a $25.00 surcharge, which provides for the care and transport of the animal to the Amador County Animal Control office.

(Ord. No. 473, § I, 9-1-2015)

All dogs that reside in the City of Ione must be licensed.

License tags are available from Amador County Animal Control at a cost that is approved by the board of supervisors. For persons purchasing license tags from the City of Ione, a $10.00 surcharge will be levied to offset personnel costs for licensing. License tags obtained at Amador County Animal Control are valid for animals that live within the City of Ione.

The animal control officer shall procure and issue serial-numbered license tags stamped with the name of the county. The tags shall only be issued upon the application of owners who have complied with the vaccination and fee provisions of this title.

(Ord. No. 473, § I, 9-1-2015)

Every dog shall at all times wear a suitable collar or other device to which the dog license tag shall be attached.

(Ord. No. 473, § I, 9-1-2015)

Dogs over six months of age shall be subject to license fees. The fees shall be due and payable upon the dog reaching the age of four months, being brought into the City of Ione initially, or upon the expiration of the current license. A penalty, equal to the amount of the license fee levied by the city or county, shall be imposed on every dog owner who fails to license his or her dog within 30 calendar days after the date license fees are due and payable. The animal control officer shall not deliver a license tag for any dog until all license fees and any applicable penalties have been paid in full. This penalty is in addition to, and not in lieu of, any other penalty imposed by this chapter.

(Ord. No. 473, § I, 9-1-2015)

In addition to the dog licensing requirement set forth in Section 6.04.080 of this chapter, any breeder who owns or breeds dogs for the purpose of selling or giving away the dogs shall pay an annual breeder's license fee of $50.00 to the City of Ione. This fee shall be waived by the animal control officer upon being provided with satisfactory proof that the dog subject to the fee has been neutered or spayed within 30 days after notice is given of the spaying/neutering of the affected animal.

(Ord. No. 473, § I, 9-1-2015)

Dogs owned by the City of Ione, County of Amador, or any city in the county, or any special district located in the county, and service dogs for medical or public protection, shall be licensed without the owner having to pay the fee established by this chapter.

(Ord. No. 473, § I, 9-1-2015)

When an owner brings into the county a dog which has been licensed in another county or city within the state, such license shall be valid until its expiration.

(Ord. No. 473, § I, 9-1-2015)

Any veterinarian who vaccinates a dog for rabies, whether or not in the office of the veterinarian or elsewhere, shall submit a report of all dogs vaccinated for rabies, which report shall include (1) the date of vaccination, (2) the name and address of the dog's owner or the person who was in control of the dog when it was vaccinated, (3) a description of the dog, and (4) the term for which the vaccination was given (e.g., one year, two years, etc.).

(Ord. No. 473, § I, 9-1-2015)

Every owner of a dog which does not have a current vaccination certificate for rabies as provided for in this title shall be in violation of this title except as otherwise provided herein.

(Ord. No. 473, § I, 9-1-2015)

No person shall prevent, oppose, resist, or otherwise interfere with the animal control officer in the performance of his or her duties as provided in this title.

(Ord. No. 473, § I, 9-1-2015)

Any violation of this chapter not otherwise designated as a misdemeanor within any 12-month period shall constitute a civil infraction punishable by a fine in the amount of $50.00 for the first violation; $100.00 for the second violation; and $250.00 for the third and subsequent violations.

(Ord. No. 473, § I, 9-1-2015)

Every person violating any provision of this title is guilty of a separate offense for each day or portion thereof during which such violation continues, and is punishable therefor as provided in Section 6.04.170 unless otherwise specified as in Section 6.04.030 or 6.04.100.

(Ord. No. 473, § I, 9-1-2015)