Chapter 6.08 — DOG LICENSES

A.

It is unlawful for any person to own or keep any dog in the town over the age of four months for a longer period than thirty days after it has attained the age of four months, and in the case of a dog that is brought into the town that is over four months of age, for a longer period than thirty days after it is brought into the town, without having obtained a license therefor, as provided in this chapter; except, that in the case where a dog brought into the town bears an unexpired license issued by any other jurisdiction, the owner shall apply for a replacement tag pursuant to Section 6.08.090.

B.

Any dog over the age of four months unlicensed and unvaccinated as provided in this title, or found to be running at large, whether licensed or not, shall be impounded in the town animal shelter, subject to sale, retention, disposition or release as provided in this title.

(Ord. 93 § 2(part), 1983: Ord. 57 § 3(A), 1982)

Pursuant to the provisions of Government Code Section 38792, the following license period and fee requirement shall apply:

A.

The license period shall be year around based on the rabies vaccination expiration date.

B.

A dog may be licensed for a period not to exceed three (3) years.

C.

Fees for licenses required by this chapter shall be fixed and determined by council resolution. Any owner failing to renew a dog license shall be subject to an additional late fee as prescribed by council resolution. The license fee for a dog certified to be spayed or neutered shall be fifty (50) percent of the fee for an unaltered dog.

D.

A puppy license shall be available for all dogs aged four (4) months to one (1) year. The license period for the puppy license shall be one (1) year. The fee for a puppy license shall be the same as for an altered dog.

(Ord. No. 544, § 1, 7-8-2014; Ord. 306 § 1, 1998: Ord. 93 § 2(part), 1983: Ord. 57 § 3(B), 1982)

Editor's note— Ord. No. 544, § 1, adopted July 8, 2014, amended § 6.08.020, formerly titled "Period— Fees," to read as herein set out, but at the time of supplementation was not yet effective. Said ordinance shall take effect Aug. 7, 2014.

Any request for a waiver of the late fee under Section 6.08.020 shall be made in writing to the supervising animal control officer, who may grant the request after one of the following determinations has been made:

A.

The licensee has moved during the last licensing period.

B.

The licensee was not in town during the renewal period.

C.

The licensee was incapacitated during the renewal period.

(Ord. 284 § 1, 1997)

A.

Application for dog licenses shall be made at either the office of the administrative services director or such other office or location as is designated by the town manager or by contract. A license tag shall be issued and delivered to an applicant upon receipt of payment of the required fee.

B.

Every person applying for a dog license must exhibit a certificate issued by a person licensed by the state to practice veterinary medicine, which certificate shall show that the dog for which the license shall be issued, either:

Has been vaccinated for rabies; or

Should not be so vaccinated by reason of age, infirmity or other disability.

Such exemption shall be valid for a period not to exceed one year. A license for any dog shall not be issued unless and until either such certificate is exhibited.

(Ord. 123 § 1(part), 1984: Ord. 93 § 2(part), 1983: Ord. 73 § 2(part), 1982: Ord. 57 § 3(C), 1982)

A.

Where ownership of a duly licensed dog is transferred, the transferring owner shall cause such license to be transferred to the new owner by making application therefor in the same manner as required by Section

council.

B.

A transferring owner who fails to comply with this section shall be presumed to still be the owner of such dog and subject to all the provisions of this title applicable to owners of dogs.

(Ord. 93 § 2(part), 1983: Ord. 57 § 3(D), 1982)

The dog license, issued pursuant to this title, shall set forth a description of the dog licensed, the year in which issued, the date of rabies vaccination, the veterinarian's certificate number or the serum number, the sex of the dog, the number of the license, and a statement showing the amount of the fee and that the same has been paid, and the name and address of the owner.

(Ord. 93 § 2(part), 1983: Ord. 57 § 3(E), 1982)

It is unlawful for any person required to have a license pursuant to this title to fail, refuse or neglect to exhibit the same, upon request, to the director of animal control or other authorized person.

(Ord. 123 § 1(part), 1984: Ord. 93 § 2(part), 1983: Ord. 57 § 3(F), 1982)

The owner of a licensed dog shall cause the license tag issued for such dog to be affixed by a permanent metal fastening to the collar or harness on the dog in such a way that the tag may be easily seen by the director of animal control or other authorized person. It shall be the duty of the owner of a licensed dog to cause the dog collar or harness on which the license tag is attached to be worn by such dog at all times. Any dog not wearing a license tag as provided in this section shall be impounded in the town animal shelter subject to retention, sale or disposition as provided in this title.

(Ord. 123 § 1(part), 1984: Ord. 93 § 2(part), 1983: Ord. 57 § 3(G), 1982)

It is unlawful for any person either to imitate or counterfeit the license tags provided for in this title or knowingly to use any imitation or counterfeit of such tags.

(Ord. 93 § 2(part), 1983: Ord. 57 § 3(H), 1982)

In the event that a current license tag is lost, the owner shall promptly apply for the issuance of a replacement tag. At the time of applying for the replacement tag, the owner shall surrender the license pertaining thereto and shall pay a fee as prescribed by town council resolution.

(Ord. 93 § 2(part), 1983: Ord. 57 § 3(I), 1982)

A.

The amount of any license tax or penalty imposed by this chapter shall be deemed a debt to the town.

B.

Any person owning, having or keeping any dog in this town without having obtained a license to do so shall be liable to an action in the name of this town in any court of competent jurisdiction for the amount of any license tax imposed by and required by this chapter to be paid for the privilege of keeping and having such dog.

C.

It shall be the duty of the director of animal control to cause a complaint to be filed against any person violating any of the provisions of this chapter and to cause an action to be brought against any person failing to pay any license tax required by the provisions of this chapter for the recovery of such tax.

D.

Such action shall be cumulative and shall not be deemed as a bar to or a waiver of the right of this town to prosecute any person for a violation of this chapter.

(Ord. 123 § 1(part), 1984)

In order to provide a method of identifying cats, a license may be obtained. The fee for such license shall be determined from time to time by the town council. This section shall not require the licensing of cats, but merely provides for their optional licensing.

(Ord. 123 § 1(part), 1984)