Part 5 — LICENSING AND VACCINATION

A.

Every person who owns, maintains, or boards a dog or cat, four (4) months of age or older, must cause that dog or cat to be vaccinated and revaccinated with a state-approved anti-rabies vaccine within the time periods prescribed by state law or regulation.

B.

A veterinarian must certify the vaccination in accordance with Section 7.20.510.

C.

Compliance with the provisions of this section is a condition precedent to the issuance or renewal of any dog or cat license.

(Ord. 28079.)

A.

A veterinarian who vaccinates any dog or cat, for whom a license is required under this part, with an anti- rabies vaccine, or causes or directs such vaccination, must complete and sign a rabies vaccination certificate that can be obtained from the city to certify that the dog or cat has been vaccinated.

B.

The rabies vaccination certificate must include all information required by state law, including:

The name, address, and telephone number of the owner/guardian of the dog or cat;

A description of the dog or cat, including its breed, color, age, sex, and spay or neuter status;

The date of the vaccination;

The type of rabies vaccine administered; and

The expiration date of the vaccination and lot number.

C.

If the veterinarian who vaccinates the dog or cat is located within the city, the veterinarian must submit a current and valid rabies vaccination certificate to the administrator within thirty (30) days from the date that the dog or cat was vaccinated.

D.

If the dog or cat that is subject to the licensing requirements is vaccinated for rabies by a veterinarian located outside the city, the owner/guardian or person with a right to control the dog or cat must submit a copy of the vaccination certificate to the administrator within thirty (30) days from the date that a dog or cat is vaccinated or brought into the city, whichever date is later in time.

(Ord. 28079.)

A.

It is unlawful of any person to own, maintain, or board any adult dog or adult cat that has not been licensed pursuant to the provisions of this part, except that a license is not required for a dog or cat owned, maintained by, or under the control of a nonresident of the city which is kept in the city for thirty (30) or fewer days in any twelve (12) month period.

B.

Any dog or cat that is not properly licensed in accordance with this part is rebuttably presumed to be an unvaccinated stray animal and may be subject to the seizure and impoundment procedures set forth in Chapter 7.50 of this title.

C.

Animal shelters, animal hospitals, animal rescuers, commercial kennels, and pet shops are exempt from the requirement of this section to obtain a license for each dog or cat within the facility unless the dog or cat is owned by a person that owns or works at the facility.

D.

Annexed lands: The owner/guardian of a dog or cat that is currently licensed in a separate jurisdiction at the time the property where the animal resides is annexed to the City of San José, may exchange his or her

current license for a license from the city within sixty (60) days of the annexation provided the rabies vaccination is current for the license period. Upon expiration of the valid rabies vaccination that was in effect at the time of annexation, the owner/guardian shall thereafter license the dog or cat in San José in accordance with the established process and fees for all residents.

(Ords. 28079, 28419.)

A.

An application for a dog or cat license or a renewal of a dog or cat license, together with any required license fees and a current and valid rabies vaccination certificate must be filed with the administrator on a form provided by the administrator.

B.

The administrator may only issue a dog or cat license upon payment of the required license fees and the submission of a current and valid rabies vaccination certificate.

C.

The dog or cat license must state:

The name and address of the person to whom the license is issued;

The amount paid for the license;

The date of issuance and expiration of the license;

The date of expiration of the rabies vaccination;

A description of the dog or cat for which the license is issued; and

The identification number on the metallic tag accompanying the license.

(Ord. 28079.)

A.

All fees authorized by this section must be set forth in the schedule of fees adopted by resolution of the city council.

B.

The license fee may be imposed for the issuance of a dog license or a cat license.

C.

A reduced license fee may be imposed for a dog or cat that has been spayed or neutered. A certificate from a veterinarian duly licensed by the State of California certifying that a dog or cat has been spayed or neutered, cannot be spayed or neutered for health reasons, or is incapable of breeding must be submitted to the administrator before a license for that dog or cat is issued at the reduced fee.

D.

A late license fee may be imposed for any dog or cat license that is:

Obtained more than thirty (30) days after the date that the dog or cat became four (4) months old; or

Obtained more than thirty (30) days after the date that the adult dog or adult cat was acquired or brought into the city; or

Obtained more than thirty (30) days after the expiration of a previously issued license.

E.

A transfer fee may be imposed to update the dog and cat license information to reflect a new owner/guardian.

F.

No fees imposed by this section is refundable in whole or in part.

(Ord. 28079.)

A.

One (1) person over sixty-five (65) years of age per dwelling unit is exempt from a license fee for either one (1) spayed or neutered dog or one (1) spayed or neutered cat if he or she maintains the dog or cat in the dwelling unit.

B.

No license fee is required for service dogs covered by definition when a written request for this exemption is submitted to the administrator.

C.

No license fee is required if a licensed dog or cat dies and the owner/guardian, within thirty (30) days of the animal's death, obtains a license for a new dog or cat and requests the remainder of the license period for the deceased dog or cat be applied towards the new license.

D.

No license fee is required for police dogs when a written request for this exemption is submitted to the administrator.

(Ord. 28079.)

A.

The term of any dog or cat license is from the date that the license is issued as shown on the license and expires upon the one (1) year anniversary of the date upon which the license was issued except as provided in Section 7.20.560.D.

B.

The administrator may issue a license for a period not to exceed three (3) years for dogs or cats that have attained the age of twelve (12) months or older, and who have been vaccinated against rabies provided the license period does not extend beyond the validity for the current rabies vaccination.

C.

An application for the renewal of any license issued pursuant to this part must be filed with the administrator prior to the expiration of the license.

D.

The new license period begins on the expiration date of the previous license period, irrespective of the application date for the license renewal.

(Ord. 28079.)

A.

The administrator issues the metal tag bearing an identification number with each dog or cat license.

B.

Any person who owns, maintains, or boards a dog or cat must cause the dog or cat to wear the metal tag at all times.

C.

In lieu of the requirement that a cat wear a metal tag, the administrator may approve that a cat receive a computer microchip providing access to all of the information on the metal tag issued for the cat at the sole cost and expense of the owner/guardian or person with a right to control the cat.

D.

The metal tag issued pursuant to this part to any dog or cat may not be attached to a dog or cat other than the dog or cat for which the tag was issued.

E.

A dog participating in or preparing for an exhibition may not be required to wear a metal tag if the dog is implanted with a computer microchip providing access to all of the information on the metal tag issued for the dog and the owner/guardian and/or person with a right to control the dog carries the metal license tag on his or her person. This subsection does not exempt any person from complying with Sections 7.40.030 and 7.40.040.

(Ord. 28079.)

The owner/guardian of the dog or cat and any person with a right to control the dog or cat must present the license for that dog or cat upon the request of the administrator or any person authorized to enforce this title.

(Ord. 28079.)

The administrator keeps a record of all licenses issued pursuant to this part, together with a description of the dog or cat for which the license was issued.

(Ord. 28079.)