Chapter 6.16 — DOGS

• Editor's Note: Prior ordinance history: Prior code §§ 18.20 - 18.31, as originally adopted by Ordinance No. 1278, and as amended by Ordinance No. 1693, June 25, 1956 and Ordinance No. 2078, June 11, 1962. Amendment also effected by Initiative Ordinance No. 1616, May 10, 1955 [See § 6.16.100].

No person shall keep or cause to be kept any dog that is over the age of four months within the city for more than ten days unless the dog is licensed as provided in this title and has around its neck a collar to which is attached a plate or tag as provided by this title.

(Ord. 2601 § 1, 1971: Ord. 2395 § 1 (part), 1967)

(a) Application for a dog license shall be made to the city treasurer or his designated representative on the form provided by such officer and shall be accompanied by a certificate of anti-rabies vaccination for the dog to be licensed.

(b) The term of any dog license issued under this chapter commences on the date of the issuance of the license and terminates on or before the expiration date of the certificate of anti-rabies vaccination accompanying the application for the dog license.

(c) All dog licenses issued under this chapter shall be numbered and shall be in such form as provided by the city treasurer.

(d) Upon approval of the application, payment of the applicable license fee, and payment of any applicable late fee, the city treasurer or his designated representative shall issue the dog license in the name of the owner or possessor of the dog to be licensed. Such license shall not be transferable to another owner or possessor and shall not be valid for another dog.

(Ord. 2650 § 1, 1972: Ord. 2601 § 2, 1971: Ord. 2566 § 7, 1970: Ord. 2395 § 1 (part), 1967)

(a) The fee for a dog license issued under this chapter, except as provided in subsections (b), (c) and (d) below, shall be as set forth in the municipal fee schedule.

(b) The license fee for spayed female dogs and neutered male dogs shall be one-half of the fee listed in the municipal schedule for subsection (a).

(c) No person having impaired hearing or eyesight shall be required to pay any license fee for any dog specially trained and principally used for the purpose of leading or guiding such person.

(d) Licenses for police dogs as defined in Section 6.20.180 of the Palo Alto Municipal Code shall be issued without charge.

(e) If a person fails to obtain a dog license within ten days after service of a written notice on him that such license is required, or thirty days after the expiration of a dog license or ten days after acquiring a dog or moving into the city limits with a dog, then a late fee as set forth in the municipal fee schedule shall be charged in addition to the applicable license fee.

(Ord. 3826 § 1, 1988: Ord. 3257 § 4 (part), 1981: Ord. 2960 § 39, 1976: Ord 2937 § 2, 1976: Ord. 2863 § 6, 1975: Ord. 2669 § 8, 1972: Ord. 2650 § 2, 1972: Ord. 2601 § 3, 1971: Ord. 2395 § 1 (part), 1967)

A plate or tag with an identification number inscribed thereon shall be furnished to the owner or possessor of the dog to be licensed with each initial dog license. Such identification number shall not be transferable to another dog. The superintendent shall keep a record of identification numbers, licenses issued, a general description of each dog for which an identification number and license are issued, and the name, address and telephone number of the owner or possessor of each dog for which an identification number and license are issued. It shall be the responsibility of every dog owner to ensure that the superintendent of the animal center has on file the current address and telephone number for any licensed dog.

(Ord. 3257 § 4 (part), 1981: Ord. 2669 § 9, 1972: Ord. 2601 § 4, 1971: Ord. 2395 § 1 (part), 1967)

Every dog not wearing a collar to which is attached a valid plate or tag provided under this title, found or being within the city, shall be taken by an animal control officer or the police and impounded in the animal center where it may be redeemed by the owner or person entitled to its possession within three days after impounding on payment to the city of all accrued charges and costs. If not redeemed, such dog shall be destroyed by the superintendent; provided, however, that the superintendent is authorized to keep valuable dogs and sell them, and his receipt for the sale thereof shall be a valid title to the purchaser.

Any dog which has been within the city for ten days or less and which is held continuously under a leash not more than six feet in length by an able-bodied person or confined within a vehicle shall not be taken by an animal control officer or the police and impounded in the animal center.

(Ord. 3257 § 4 (part), 1981: Ord. 2669 § 10, 1972: Ord. 2601 § 6, 1971: Ord. 2395 § 1 (part), 1967)

Whenever any plate or tag as provided in this chapter is lost or stolen, the city treasurer may issue a duplicate upon application therefor and upon the payment of a fee as set forth in the municipal fee schedule and the filing of an affidavit by the owner or possessor of said dog to the effect that such tag or plate was lost or stolen.

(Ord. 2960 § 40, 1976: Ord. 2395 § 1 (part), 1967)

Whenever a dog is redeemed, the party redeeming must execute a receipt for the dog. If a license fee has not been paid for the then-current year for any impounded dog, the party redeeming must, before redemption, pay in advance all charges for rabies vaccination and will receive a citation or notice to comply with the licensing ordinance within ten days.

(Ord. 3257 § 4 (part), 1981: Ord. 2669 § 11, 1972: Ord. 2601 § 6, 1971: Ord. 2395 § 1 (part), 1967)

(a) No person shall keep or maintain more than three dogs at any street address within the city unless the person, family, or group of persons keeping or maintaining such dogs is operating a bona fide animal clinic or hospital or a duly licensed pet shop, dog kennel, circus, carnival, traveling show, menagerie, or dog exhibition at such street address.

(b) No person shall keep or maintain more than one unspayed female dog at any street address within the city unless the person, family, or group of persons keeping or maintaining such dogs is operating a bona fide animal hospital or a duly licensed pet shop, dog kennel, circus, carnival, traveling show, menagerie, or dog exhibition at such street address.

(Ord. 4453 § 35, 1997: Ord. 3257 § 4 (part), 1981: Ord. 2601 § 7, 1971: Ord. 2395 § 1 (part), 1967)

Each owner or operator of any dog kennel, animal hospital or pet shop, and any person engaged in the business of breeding dogs or as a veterinarian who sells, gives away or in any manner causes the ownership or permanent possession of any dog, whether over four months of age or not, to be transferred to any person, shall notify the superintendent in writing of that fact within five days after the date of such sale or transfer. Such notice shall state the kind of dog, the name of the dog, if any, and the name and address of the person to whom the dog has been sold or transferred.

(Ord. 2669 § 12, 1972: Ord. 2601 § 8, 1971: Ord. 2395 § 1 (part), 1967)

No person owning or harboring any dog shall allow or permit such dog, whether licensed or not, to be upon a public street, sidewalk, park, school ground, public place or upon any unenclosed lot or land except when held under leash by an able-bodied person. Violation of this section shall be an infraction.

(Ord. 4453 § 34, 1997: Ord. 2395 § 1 (part), 1967)

• Editor's Note: This section was originally adopted by Initiative Ordinance No. 1616, May 10, 1955.

Every licensed veterinarian in the city who vaccinates or causes or directs to be vaccinated any dog, residing in the city, with anti-rabies vaccine shall certify that such animal has been vaccinated. Every veterinarian shall submit to Palo Alto Animal Services as the licensing authority, a copy of the anti-rabies vaccination certificate, within ten days of the beginning of each month, for any dog which he/she vaccinates or directs to be vaccinated with the anti-rabies vaccine during the previous month. An animal control officer or superintendent of animal services or designee shall have the right to inspect records of rabies vaccinations during the veterinarian's normal business hours.

(Ord. 5248 § 2, 2014)

An animal control officer shall not seize or impound a dog for violation of an ordinance requiring a dog to be leashed or issue citations for violation of such ordinance when the dog has not strayed from and is upon private property owned by 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. A dog that has strayed from but then returned to the private property of his owner or the person who has a right to control the dog shall not be seized or impounded, but in such a case, a citation may be issued; provided, however, that if in such a situation the owner or person who has a right to control the dog is not home, the dog may be impounded. The animal control officer shall post a notice of such impounding on the front door of the living unit of the owner or person who has a right to control the dog. Such 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 release of the dog, and an indication of the ultimate disposition of the dog if no 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.

(Ord. 3257 § 4 (part), 1981)

A juvenile citation may be issued to any person under eighteen years of age for violations of the ordinances codified in this chapter. A juvenile hearing shall result from issuance of a juvenile citation, requiring an appearance with one parent before the superintendent of the animal center. Failure to appear may result in citation being referred to the Palo Alto police juvenile bureau and/or the Santa Clara County juvenile probation department.

(Ord. 3257 § 4 (part), 1981)

It is unlawful and constitutes an infraction for any person to violate, or fail to comply with any provision of this chapter.

(Ord. 2770 § 2, 1974)