Lemoore Municipal Code Art. II Dog License Requirements

Every person who owns, harbors, or keeps any dog in the city over the age of four (4) months for thirty (30) days or longer shall obtain a license receipt and license tag issued under the provisions of this chapter stamped with the license number. The license tag obtained shall be worn by the dog at all times except as provided in section 5-1-23 of this article. Any dog found without a current license tag may be taken up and impounded by the animal control officer or any peace officer. (Ord. 2002-11, 8-6-2002)

A dog license shall be issued free of charge in the following instances:

A. When the license is for a dog which will be used as a guide dog for a blind person. An affidavit attesting to the fact that the dog will be used as a guide dog shall be given to the official issuing the license.

B. When the license is for a dog which has been honorably discharged from the armed services of the United States. Such discharge shall be established by showing to the official issuing the license the discharge papers issued for such dog.

C. When the license is for a dog which is currently used for law enforcement agencies or has been retired from such services. (Ord. 2002-11, 8-6-2002)

The license tag need not be worn by the dog when the dog is contained within an enclosure or confined to the premises of an animal hospital or licensed dog kennel or state chartered benevolent organization for the care of animals, or when the dog is participating in or training for sporting events, field trials, obedience classes, dog shows or herding livestock, providing such dog is not allowed to run at large. (Ord. 2002-11, 8-6-2002)

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 control officer or any person or entity delegated by and under the supervision of the animal control officer. The information required for a license shall include a brief description of the dog as to breed, age, sex, color, rabies vaccination certificate number, date of issuance and expiration thereof, and if the animal is altered or unaltered, and shall include the name, address and telephone number of the licensee. The official receiving such information shall record it on the receipt to be given for payment of the license fee. The expiration date of the rabies vaccination shall be recorded on the receipt. The license fee shall be collected at the time the application is made and said license shall be issued to the applicant when an acceptable rabies vaccination certificate and proof of the animal having been spayed or neutered is displayed to the license collector. (Ord. 2015-03, 6-2-2015)

The license period for the license tag required by this chapter shall be one, two (2), or three (3) years from the date of issuance. The fee for a spayed or neutered dog will be set at fifteen dollars ($15.00) for a one year license in compliance with California Government Code section 38792(b) and California Food And Agricultural Code section 30804.5. (Ord. 2015-03, 6-2-2015)

As to any dog not currently licensed in the city of Lemoore, the information and fee shall be due within thirty (30) days after it is brought into the city, or when such dog attains the age of four (4) months, whichever is later. For a dog currently licensed in Lemoore, the information and fee required by this chapter are due on or before the expiration date on the license receipt. Any person purchasing a license shall do so within thirty (30) days after any applicable due date as set forth above. Any person purchasing a license more than thirty (30) days after any applicable due date shall be charged the late licensing penalty which shall be one hundred percent (100%) of the regular one year license fee, which penalty shall be in addition to any other regular license fee. (Ord. 2002-11, 8-6-2002)

Upon receipt of the required information, accompanied by payment of the proper fee and display of proof of the animal having been spayed or neutered, an acceptable rabies vaccination certificate, a license tag and a written receipt shall be issued to the applicant. Each tag shall be serially numbered and stamped. The expiration date shall be noted on the license receipt. The license collector shall endorse the number of the license tag so issued upon a copy of the receipt, and all such copies so endorsed shall be kept on file in the office of the animal control officer, open to public inspection at reasonable times. Such tag shall be attached to a collar, harness, or other device permanently worn by the dog except as provided in section 5-1-23 of this chapter. (Ord. 2015-03, 6-2-2015)

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 (2) months of age and have a weight of at least two (2) 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 (2) 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 unspayed 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), and state fees. (Ord. 2014-07, 10-21-2014)

A. It is unlawful for any person to breed dogs and/or cats for sale or profit or to advertise for the sale or adoption of such animals without first obtaining a breeder permit.

B. The fees for a breeder permit shall be set by resolution of the city council and must be submitted to the animal control officer for the breeding of dogs or cats, as well as advertising for the sale or adoption of dogs and cats that are bred within the city limits. Breeding permit requirements are as follows:

1. No offspring can be sold or adopted until eight (8) weeks of age;

2. No offspring can be sold or adopted until vaccinated against common diseases;

3. The breeder permit holder must identify his/her/its permit number when advertising the animals for sale or adoption.

C. It is unlawful for any person to advertise for the sale or adoption of a litter of dogs or cats in the city without including in the advertisement a city breeder permit number.

D. A breeder permit shall be in addition to other requirements and conditions that must be satisfied under this code in order to undertake animal breeding operations within the city (e.g., city business permit, special use permit, etc.). (Ord. 2014-07, 10-21-2014)

A. Application for all breeder permits pursuant to this chapter shall be filed with the animal control officer or city designee on a form prescribed by the city. Fees charged for these permits shall be set by resolution of the city council as recommended by the animal control officer or city designee. Permits shall be issued for the calendar year or any part thereof and are effective from January 1 of each year and expire on December 31 of that same year. If a permit is issued during a month other than January, the permit fee shall be prorated with respect to the month during which issuance occurs (e.g., the permit fee for a permit issued in February will be 11/12 of the full annual fee). Renewal and payment of the permit is due and payable on January 1 of each year. The city designee shall collect a delinquent penalty in an amount equal to the amount as established for license penalties.

B. The failure to obtain the appropriate permit is punishable as an infraction as set forth herein.

C. Any or all of the permits within this code may be immediately suspended for any violations of the conditions of this title. (Ord. 2014-07, 10-21-2014)

Every person who counterfeits a dog license tag, or who attaches a license tag issued under the provisions of this chapter to any dog other than the one for which such a tag was issued, or who obtains a dog license or dog kennel license and in doing so, states as true any material matters which he knows to be false, is guilty of an infraction. (Ord. 2002-11, 8-6-2002)