Paramount Municipal Code Ch. 6.12 Dog Licenses

No person owning, having an interest in, or having control, custody or possession of any dog shall fail, neglect or refuse to license and register such dog if over four months of age, in compliance with the terms of this title.

(Prior code § 5-4)

No person shall fail or refuse to exhibit the registration of any animal required to be licensed by this Code when required to do so by the Director or any police officer.

(Prior code § 5-4.1)

A. A metallic tag and license certificate with corresponding numbers shall be furnished by the City official or one of his or her authorized agents, to any person required by this chapter to obtain a license upon payment of the appropriate fee prescribed in this chapter.

B. The City official shall keep a record of the name, address and telephone number of the owner of the dog or person making payment of said license fee, and to whom a certificate and tag is issued, and the number and date of such certificate. Such metal tag issued for the current license year shall be securely fastened to the collar or harness of the dog and shall be worn by such dog at all times other than those periods when confined to the owner's house, enclosed yard or pen. A duplicate of a lost license tag may be procured from the City official upon proof of loss and payment of the required fee.

(Prior code § 5-4.2)

A. Any owner of a dog, four months of age or older in the City shall obtain an annual dog license and pay an original or renewal license fee as established by resolution.

B. License fees shall be due and payable within 30 days after any dog is acquired and comes into the care, custody and control of any person in said City.

(Prior code § 5-4.3)

A. Any person who fails to pay the required dog license fee, as set forth in Section 6.12.040, each year thereafter shall pay, in addition to the original license fee, a penalty of 50% of the original license fee.

B. Any person who fails to obtain an original license within 30 days after his or her owning any dog or any dog coming into his or her care, custody and control in this City shall pay, in addition to the original license fee, a penalty fee of 50% of the original license fee.

(Prior code § 5-4.4)

No license fee shall be required for the following:

A. Seeing-eye dogs.

B. Dogs honorably discharged from the Armed Forces of the United States.

C. Dogs in the care, custody and control of nonresidents who are traveling through the City, or temporarily staying in the City for a period not exceeding 30 days or dogs temporarily brought into the City for the exclusive purpose of being entered in a bench show or dog exhibition, provided such dogs are so entered and not kept elsewhere in the City.

D. Dogs which are owned by any governmental agency.

(Prior code § 5-4.5)

No person shall fail or refuse to show to the Director or any police officer, the license certificate and the tag for any duly registered dog kept or remaining within any home or upon any enclosed premises under his or her immediate control.

(Prior code § 5-4.6)

No unauthorized person shall remove from any dog, any collar, harness, or other device to which is attached a registration tag for the current year or to remove such tag therefrom.

(Prior code § 5-4.7)

No person shall imitate or counterfeit the tags required by this chapter, or shall use any imitation or counterfeit of such tag.

(Prior code § 5-4.8)

No dog license is transferable.

(Prior code § 5-4.9)

Every person applying for a dog license must exhibit a certificate issued by a person licensed by the State of California, or by any 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 6.16.010 and 6.16.020; or (2) 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. Said certificate of vaccination must be valid throughout the entire licensing period.

(Prior code § 5-4.10)

The amount of any license fees imposed by this chapter shall be deemed a debt to the City and any person keeping any animal without having obtained a license and registration certificate from the City shall be liable to an action in the name of the City in any court of competent jurisdiction for the amount of the license fees and penalties imposed and required by this chapter to be paid for the privilege of keeping such animal and it shall be the duty of the Director to cause a complaint to be filed against any person violating any of the provisions of this chapter. Such action shall be cumulative and shall not be deemed a bar to, or a waiver of, the right of the City to prosecute any person for a violation of this chapter or any other applicable provision of this chapter.

(Prior code § 5-4.11)

In order to provide a method for identifying cats, a license may be obtained as prescribed in this chapter. This section shall not require the licensing of cats, but merely provide for their optional licensing.

(Prior code § 5-11)