Lassen County Municipal Code Ch. 8.12 Dogs

Every person who owns, possesses, harbors, or controls any dog over the age of four months shall obtain a license for such dog. Within thirty days after any unlicensed dog over the age of four months is acquired or brought into the county, its owner shall obtain a license.

However, subject to the provisions of Section 8.12.050, a kennel operator shall not be required to obtain an individual license for each dog in the kennel.

(Ord. 533 § 4, 1997; Ord. 533-A § 4, 2000; Ord. 2022-10 § 2)

Each application for a dog license shall be on a form furnished by the animal control unit. An application for a license shall not be accepted unless a valid certificate of rabies vaccination by a licensed veterinarian covering the license period accompanies the application.

(Ord. 533 § 4, 1997; Ord. 533-A § 4, 2000; Ord. 2022-10 § 2)

(a) Upon proper application and payment of the license fee, a serially numbered license tag, stamped with the name of the county and the year of issue, shall be issued for a dog which has been properly vaccinated in accordance with Section 8.14.060. The owner shall provide the dog with a suitable collar or other device to which the license tag shall be attached. The tag shall be worn by the dog at all times.

(b) Whenever a license tag is lost or damaged, the owner or possessor shall obtain a replacement from animal control within thirty days.

(Ord. 533 § 4, 1997; Ord. 533-A § 4, 2000; Ord. 2022-10 § 2)

(a) License Period. A license fee shall be paid for each dog four months of age or over which is not covered by a kennel license. The license period shall be for twenty-four months or less, commencing on the first day of July in any year. The license renewal fee shall be due and payable on the first day of July on the first day in the year the license expires. See fee schedule.

(b) License Fee—Delinquent. The license fee is delinquent thirty days after it becomes due and payable and an additional late payment penalty shall be imposed by the supervisor prior to the issuance of the license. The additional fee may be waived by the supervisor, but only on a showing of good cause and only if the dog is not being held as a stray.

(c) Exemption—Certified Assistance Dog. A certificate assistance dog shall be licensed without charge.

(d) Exemption—Dogs Used for Law Enforcement. Dogs owned by the county, a city, or other public agency and which are used for law enforcement purposes shall be licensed without charge.

(e) Spayed or Neutered Dogs—License Fee. The fee for dogs certified by a veterinarian as being spayed or neutered shall be one-half or less of the regular fee.

(f) Dangerous Dogs. Dogs which have been declared dangerous pursuant to the provisions of Section 8.08.020(c), shall be assessed an additional licensing fee. They shall be issued an extra tag stamped with the words "dangerous dog," which must be worn by the dog at all times. The annual fee for dangerous dog tags shall be fifty dollars and have the same requirements and expiration date as regular dog licenses.

(Ord. 533 § 4, 1997; Ord. 533-A § 4, 2000; Ord. 2022-10 § 2)

(a) Every person who owns or controls a kennel must obtain a kennel license. Licenses for the individual dogs need not be obtained if all dogs six months or older are covered by the kennel license. Dogs covered by the kennel license are exempt from the requirements in Section 8.12.030 requiring dogs to wear their tags at all times.

(b) Animal control may issue a kennel license upon the filing of an application and payment of the annual fee, or the animal control supervisor may require a pre-licensing inspection of the premises prior to issuing the kennel license. The license period shall be for one year commencing the first day of July in each year. Licenses shall be renewed before July 1st of each year. A late payment penalty charge may be added to the renewal fee if the license is not renewed before September 1st. Licenses not renewed by October 1st of each year become invalid and a new application must be made. An original kennel license shall not be issued unless the location of the kennel complies with the county zoning plan and any required use permit or zoning amendment or both having first been obtained. Any kennel operator whose kennel existed before June 9, 1998 shall be entitled to obtain a kennel license upon compliance with this section.

(c) Kennels owned or operated by applicants and kennel license holders are subject to inspection by animal control during reasonable hours and without prior notice to the applicant or licensee.

(d) A kennel licensee shall keep available for inspection on the premises a record showing the name, current address, and telephone number of the owner of each animal at the kennel and the description of the animal, including its age, breed, sex and color. A current valid rabies certificate or a copy of it shall be maintained for every dog at the kennel over four months of age.

(e) No kennel license shall be issued unless the kennel is sanitary and provides adequate food, water, shelter, and space for each animal.

(f) It is unlawful for a kennel operator to own or possess a greater number of dogs than is designated on his/her kennel license. If a kennel operator is found to be in violation of this section, he/she will have ten days to bring his/her kennel into compliance. If the kennel operator is still not in compliance with this section after ten days, the animal control supervisor has the authority to impound the excess number of dogs.

(g) Notwithstanding any zoning exemption ("grandfathering") applicable to a kennel operator who operated a kennel as a non-conforming zoning use pursuant to Lassen County Ordinance 467-V (June 9, 1998), such kennel operator shall be subject to all kennel licensing requirements and regulations as set forth in Title 8 of the Lassen County Code, and shall apply for a kennel license within six months of the operative date of this ordinance. Failure to secure a kennel license within the six-month period shall result in the non-conforming use being deemed to be an illegal non-conforming use and subject to all current zoning regulations, including abatement.

(Ord. 533 § 4, 1997; Ord. 533-A § 4, 2000; Ord. 2022-10 § 2)

(a) A rescue service shelter is intended for the temporary shelter of abandoned, abused, or homeless dogs of a specific breed.

(b) Rescue service shelters must be licensed by animal control to be recognized as such. There shall be no licensing fee imposed to license a rescue service shelter.

(c) A licensed rescue service shelter may harbor up to eight dogs referred to it by individuals, animal control, or the humane society. With good cause and the written permission of the animal control supervisor, a licensed rescue service shelter may temporarily harbor more than eight dogs.

(d) Each dog being harbored under the rescue service shelter license shall be placed in a permanent home within sixty days. The sixty-day limit may be extended for good cause and with the written authorization of the animal control supervisor.

(e) Each dog being harbored under the rescue service shelter license shall be spayed or neutered before it is placed in a permanent home. No dog being harbored under the rescue service shelter license may be allowed to be bred or to be used for stud service. Violation of this subsection shall be cause for immediate revocation of the rescue service shelter license.

(f) Each dog being harbored under the rescue service shelter license shall be vaccinated for rabies within ten days of acquiring the animal.

(g) If a licensed kennel also obtains a rescue service shelter license, it may temporarily exceed the number of animals authorized under its kennel license for the purposes of acting as a rescue service shelter. In no case may the number of animals being owned and/or harbored exceed the number of animals authorized under the total of its kennel license and its rescue service shelter license.

(Ord. 533 § 4, 1997; Ord. 533-A § 4, 2000; Ord. 2022-10 § 2)

(a) A kennel license or rescue service shelter license may be suspended or revoked if animal control finds either of the following:

(1) The license holder, his/her agent, or employee has been convicted of violating Section 597.1 of the California Penal Code relating to animal cruelty or is in violation of the zoning, health, safety, or building ordinances relating to the keeping of animals; or

(2) The licensee, his/her agent, or employee has violated any provision of this chapter or any rule or regulation adopted, or any condition of licensing imposed by the supervisor for the operation of kennels or rescue service shelters.

(b) If the supervisor determines that a license should be suspended or revoked, the supervisor shall notify the licensee at least fifteen days prior to the effective date of the action of his/her intention to do so and the specific reasons therefor. Prior to the date of the proposed suspension or revocation, the licensee may present to the supervisor any relevant information or evidence. If the license is suspended or revoked, the former licensee may, within ten days, file a written request for a review hearing by the hearing officer may affirm, reverse, or modify the action of the supervisor.

(Ord. 533 § 4, 1997; Ord. 533-A § 4, 2000; Ord. 2022-10 § 2)

No person, shall place any sentry dog on a premises, unless the premises is posted to warn of the dog's presence and the sentry dog is securely fenced within the premises or confined within a secure building. Signs shall be placed at fifty-foot intervals around the perimeter of the area guarded by the sentry dog and at all entrances and exits to the area. The signs shall have minimum dimensions of ten inches by fourteen inches and shall contain black lettering on a white background stating "WARNING—SENTRY DOG ON DUTY" and shall also depict the head of a dog with bared fangs. The sign shall also set forth the name, address, and telephone number of the sentry dog company furnishing the dog for hire, if any, and the telephone number of the owner or caretaker of the premises. Each sentry dog shall be registered and tagged in accordance with Sections 25980, 25981, and 25984 of the California Health and Safety Code.

(Ord. 533 § 4, 1997; Ord. 533-A § 4, 2000; Ord. 2022-10 § 2)