Manhattan Beach Municipal Code Ch. 5.04 Licensing of Dogs

Every person keeping, harboring, or having a dog over the age of four (4) months in the City shall cause such dog to be vaccinated with rabies vaccine within a period of 30 days from the date of harboring, keeping, or having said dog within the City or from the date the dog attains the age of four (4) months; provided, however, that the aforesaid provision shall not apply so as to require the vaccination of any dog which has been vaccinated with a chick embryo vaccine by a person licensed by the State or by any other state or nation to practice veterinary medicine where such vaccination has been completed within the period of time as prescribed in this section.

Dog revaccination shall be of the type and manner prescribed by California State law.

Every person practicing veterinary medicine in the City who vaccinates a dog with rabies vaccine shall issue to the person keeping, harboring, or having such dog a certificate which is signed by the veterinarian and which states thereon the name and description of said dog, the date of such vaccination, and type of vaccine used.

A. Exhibit of certificate. Every person applying for a dog license, whether to the Poundmaster or to the Animal Licensing Authority, must exhibit a certificate issued by a person licensed by the State, or any over state or nation, to practice veterinary medicine, which certificate shall show that the dog for which the license shall be issued either:

1. Has been vaccinated in accordance with the provisions of Sections 5.04.010 and 5.04.020 of this chapter; or

2. Should not be vaccinated with rabies vaccine by reason of age, infirmity or other disability, which disability is show on the face of such certificate and to the satisfaction of the person issuing the license to be in effect at the time of the license application. A license for such dog shall not be issued unless and until such a certificate is so exhibited.

A. Capture. The Animal Aid shall capture and impound any dog found within the City which is not wearing a license issued by the City or by any other municipality in the County or by the County.

B. Right of entry. Any officer or employee of the Poundmaster, or any police officer of the City or of any City in the County shall have the right to enter upon any private or public property in the City in order to examine or capture any dog thereon or therein; provided, however, that no such officer or employee shall have the right to enter a house which is in use as a residence without first having secured a search warrant therefor.

C. Conditions of release. No dog so impounded shall be released to any person except where there has been a performance of the following conditions:

1. There has been presented to the Poundmaster a current license for such dog issued by the Poundmaster or by the Animal Licensing Authority, or if the person keeping, harboring, or having such dog is not a resident of the City, such non-resident person has presented to the Poundmaster a current license conforming to this chapter for such dog issued by any other municipality in the County or by the County;

2. Where the person keeping, harboring, or having such dog is a resident of the City, there has been paid to the Poundmaster the license fee for a license as provided by Chapter 5.01 of this Code;

3. There has been paid to the Poundmaster the impounding, collection, and other fees as provided by Chapter 5.01 of this Code;

4. There has been paid to the Poundmaster a reasonable fee established under separate resolution of the City of Manhattan Beach.

D. Suspicion of rabies. If the Poundmaster suspects that any dog so impounded has rabies, he shall hold such dog for inspection by a health officer of the County. In the event that such health officer shall determine that such dog is afflicted with rabies, it shall be disposed of or confined for such time as the health officer shall direct. In the event that such health officer suspects that such dog may develop rabies, it shall be confined for such time as the health officer shall direct. Whenever such health officer shall determine that such dog does not have rabies, it shall be released in accordance with the provisions of subsection (C) of this section.