Los Altos Municipal Code Ch. 5.12 Dogs and Cats

No person shall maintain or board any dog four months of age or older which has not been licensed pursuant to this chapter, except that a license shall not be required for an animal owned or under the control of a nonresident of the county and which is to be kept in the county for less than thirty (30) days; and for dogs temporarily brought into the county for entry into an event or an exhibition scheduled not more than ten (10) days thereafter.

(Prior code § 5-1.103)

A.

Dog license fees, including reduced fees for spayed females or neutered males, for each dog within the city shall be fixed by resolution of the city council. Dog license fees shall not be refundable in whole or in part.

B.

The administrator may require the submission of a certificate of a licensed veterinarian stating that a dog has been spayed or neutered, or cannot be spayed or neutered for health reasons and is incapable of breeding, or is incapable of breeding, prior to the issuance of a license at a lesser fee.

C.

The city council, by resolution, shall fix an additional fee to be paid for a license purchased more than sixty (60) days after the expiration of a previously issued license or sixty (60) days after notice to the owner to obtain a license.

D.

Licenses and tags for dogs used principally for the purpose of guiding persons who are blind or deaf and for dogs used in law enforcement by governmental agencies shall be issued upon request without charge.

E.

The administrator may waive the license fee for only one dog kept in a household where the owner of the dog is over the age of sixty-five (65) years provided such owner presents or qualifies for a state Medi-Cal card.

(Prior code § 5-1.104)

A.

Prior to the issuance of any license, it shall be necessary that the dog licensed be vaccinated with anti- rabies vaccine, approved by the United States Department of Agricultural Research, effective and recent enough to provide protection against rabies for the license period.

B.

Every veterinarian who vaccinates or causes or directs to be vaccinated in the city any dog with anti-rabies vaccine shall use a form provided by the county to certify that such animal has been vaccinated.

C.

Every veterinarian practicing in the city shall submit to the county a copy of the county-approved anti- rabies vaccination form within ten (10) days of the beginning of each month for any dog which he vaccinates or directs to be vaccinated with anti-rabies vaccine during the previous month.

D.

Upon the payment of the license fee and the presentation of a valid certificate of vaccination by a duly licensed Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, the administrator shall issue a license stating the name and residence of the person to whom the license is issued, the amount paid, the date of issuance and expiration thereof, the date of expiration of the vaccination, and a description of the dog for which such license is issued, together with the number of the metallic tag accompanying the license.

(Prior code § 5-1.104.1)

A.

With each dog license, the administrator shall issue a metal tag bearing an identifying number and the words and letters "Los Altos Dog License." Each dog shall wear the metal tag issued for it at all times, except when being shown at a dog show, exhibition, or event. In the event it is necessary to issue a duplicate tag, a fee of two dollars ($2.00) shall be charged to the owner.

B.

It shall be unlawful for any person to attach a metal tag issued pursuant to this section to any dog other than the dog for which it was issued.

(Prior code § 5-1.104.2)

A.

The term of any dog license issued pursuant to this chapter shall commence on the date of the issuance of the license and shall terminate twelve (12) months after the date of issuance.

B.

Dog licenses shall be renewed upon expiration. When a license is renewed after the expiration date, the new license period shall begin on the expiration date of the previous period.

(Prior code § 5-1.104.3)

The administrator shall keep a record of all licenses issued by him, together with a description of the dogs for which such licenses are issued.

(Prior code § 5-1.104.4)

Upon the request of any authorized animal control employee or any peace officer, the owner or person having control of a dog shall present the dog's license to that person.

(Prior code § 5-1.104.5)

The administrator shall make registration certificates available to the owners of cats. A registration certificate shall be issued stating the name and address of the person to whom the certificate is issued, the date of issuance, a description of the cat for which the certificate is issued, and the number of the metal tag accompanying the certificate. The city council, by resolution, shall fix the cat registration fee.

(Prior code s 5-1.105)

With each registration certificate, the administrator shall issue a metal tag bearing an identifying number and the words and letters "Los Altos Cat Registration." In the event it is necessary to issue a duplicate tag, a fee of two dollars ($2.00) shall be charged to the owner.

(Prior code § 5-1.105.1)

The administrator shall maintain a registry of all cat registration certificates, together with a description of the cats for which such certificates are issued.

(Prior code § 5-1.105.2)

An animal control officer shall not seize or impound a dog for running at large pursuant to the provisions of this chapter when the dog has not strayed from and is upon the private property of the dog owner or the person who has a right to control the dog or upon private property to which the dog owner or person who has a right to control the dog has a right of possession, nor shall the animal control officer seize or impound a dog which has strayed from but then returned to the private property of his owner or the person who has a right to control the dog, but, in such case, a citation may be issued; provided, however, if the owner or person who has the right to control the dog is not at home, the dog may be impounded, but the officer shall post a notice of such impoundment on the front door of the residence of the owner or person who has a right to control the dog. The notice shall state the following: That the dog has been impounded, where the dog is being held, the name, address, and telephone number of the agency or person to be contacted regarding the release of the dog, and an indication of the ultimate disposition of the dog if on action to

regain it is taken within a specified period of time by its owner or by the person who has a right to control the dog.

(Prior code § 5-1.108)

No person or establishment, other than a licensed kennel or city of Palo Alto-operated animal shelter, shall sell, exchange, or barter any cat or dog under eight weeks of age. Proof of the age of the dog or cat may be required by the administrator. Proof of age may include, but not be limited to, a certification by a licensed veterinarian attesting to the animal's age.

(Prior code § 5-1.401)

All cats or dogs over eight weeks of age, before they are sold, shall be immunized against common disease; in the case of dogs, against distemper; and in the case of cats, against panleucopenia. The seller of a dog or cat shall provide to the buyer at the time of the sale a signed statement from the seller attesting to the date of vaccination and the seller's knowledge of the animal's health. Such statement shall also include the animal's immunization history and the record of any known disease, sickness, or internal parasites the animal is afflicted with at the time of the transfer of ownership, including treatment or medication.

(Prior code § 5-1.402)

A.

Any person purchasing a dog or cat from a person or establishment required to be licensed or registered pursuant to this chapter, within five days after such purchase, may cause such animal to be examined by a veterinarian licensed by the state, and, if such examination reveals clinical signs of a contagious or infectious disease or serious congenital defects not otherwise disclosed to the purchaser as required by Section 5.12.130 of this chapter, the purchaser, within one day after the examination, may return such animal to the seller. When returned, such animal shall be accompanied by a certificate signed by the examining veterinarian stating the examination findings. Upon the return of such animal for the reasons set forth in this section, the seller shall reimburse the purchaser for the cost of the animal.

B.

If the seller refuses to reimburse the purchaser for the cost of the animal upon the purchaser's offer to return it, the purchaser may file a complaint with any judge of the Municipal Court stating a cause of action for the violation of this section.

(Prior code § 5-1.403)