Santa Maria Municipal Code Art. 3 Animal Licensing

Except as otherwise provided in Section 5-3.302, it is unlawful to own, keep or control any dog or unaltered cat unless an Altered or Unaltered Animal License has been procured therefor. Any person who violates or fails to comply with any provision of this Section is guilty of an infraction.

(a) Unaltered Animal License for Responsible Owners. Owners of unaltered dogs and cats may purchase an Unaltered Animal License from the County if a California licensed veterinarian issues a Veterinary Certificate stating in writing that the owner has discussed the objectives and purpose for owning the dog or cat with the veterinarian, and after considering the overall circumstances, including the age and health of the animal, the veterinarian authorizes the owner to purchase an Unaltered Animal License.

(1) A current Veterinary Certificate is required each time an Unaltered Animal License is purchased.

(2) A Veterinary Certificate is valid for either one year or the term of the license, whichever is longer.

(3) Every owner in the City of a dog or cat over four months of age must obtain an Unaltered Animal License for the animal, or the owner shall have the dog or cat spayed or neutered.

(b) Does Not Qualify for an Unaltered Animal License. The following owners of dogs do not qualify for an Unaltered Animal License:

(1) An owner of a dog that has been impounded and/or who has been cited for permitting a dog to run at large three times within a 12 month period.

(2) An owner of a dog who has been convicted in California for crimes against animals and/or domestic violence.

(3) An owner of a dog who has been found guilty of an infraction or misdemeanor under this Chapter after their dog has bitten, attacked, or caused injury to a human being or animal while the dog was running at large.

(c) Every owner in the City of an altered dog over four months of age must obtain an Altered Animal License for the dog.

(d) No Altered or Unaltered Animal License shall be issued unless the animal has been vaccinated against rabies by a method approved by a licensed veterinarian who shall issue to the owner or person entitled to custody of the animal to be licensed a rabies certificate which shall include information as prescribed by state law. The owner shall present the certificate to the City prior to being issued a dog license.

(e) An Unaltered Animal License shall be valid for one year.

(f) An Unaltered Animal License tag for an unaltered animal shall be worn by the animal at all times when the animal is on public property or private property without the permission of the property owner. An Altered Animal License for a dog shall also be worn by the dog at all times when the dog is on public property or private property without the permission of the property owner.

(g) Enforcement Responsibility. The Animal Services Director shall be responsible for the administration and enforcement of this chapter. Any request for review of a denial for an Unaltered Animal License shall be submitted in writing to the Animal Services Director who shall hold a hearing. The decision of the Animal Services Director shall be final.

(h) An Unaltered Animal License constitutes a breeder's license and requires for every transaction where a dog, puppy, cat or kitten is delivered to a new owner, including, but not be limited to, the sale, sale at auction, barter, exchange, gift or adoption of any dog, puppy, cat or kitten:

(1) The prominent display of the Unaltered Animal License number of the mother dog or cat in any advertisement of a puppy, a kitten, or any unaltered dog or cat; and

(2) Authorization of access to any new owner of any puppy, kitten, or unaltered dog or cat, to the animal's health and vaccination records, including the name of the licensed veterinarian who examined the animal; and

(3) Providing of a copy of this ordinance to the new owner if the new owner resides in Santa Barbara County; or the requirements of California Health and Safety Code Sections 122045—122110 and 122125—122315 if the new owner resides elsewhere in California.

(Ord. 2016-14, eff. 7/21/16; Ord. 2019-01 § 24, eff. 3/21/19)

The provisions of this article requiring the licensing of dogs and cats shall not apply to:

(a) Dogs or cats under the age of four months if kept within a sufficient enclosure; nor to

(b) Dogs or cats owned by or in custody or under the control of persons who are nonresidents of the City traveling through the City or temporarily sojourning therein for a short period not exceeding 30 days; nor to

(c) Altered cats; nor to

(d) Dogs brought to the City exclusively for the purpose of entering them in any dog show or exhibition and which are actually entered in and kept at such show or exhibition; nor to

(e) Dogs under treatment in the custody or control of animal hospitals nor to dogs on sale in duly licensed pet shops; nor to

(f) Dogs owned, kept or controlled by any person having a permit to keep and maintain a dog kennel; provided, that such dogs are kept enclosed within such pet shop or dog kennel; nor to

(g) Dogs under the ownership, custody and control of the owner of a dog kennel duly licensed under the provisions of this article or his duly authorized employee or agent when such dogs are removed from such kennel in the bona fide operation thereof for the purpose of exercise or training; provided further, that any such dog bear an identification tag attached to a collar, harness or other device, which tag shall be of a size and type designated by the Poundkeeper, shall be furnished at the sole cost and expense of the owner of such kennel and shall set forth the name and address of such kennel. A dog bearing such tag shall be treated in all respects as a licensed dog in the event of its escape and subsequent impoundment; provided, that no unlicensed dogs shall be allowed to run at large.

(Ord. 2016-14, eff. 7/21/16)

An annual license fee, as required by Animal Services, or as provided in the Schedule of Fees and Charges within this Code if applicable, shall be paid for every dog over four months of age owned, kept or controlled in the City. Every person owning, keeping or having control of any dog within the City shall pay such license fee for the year commencing on the date of license purchase, and no later than 30 days after such dog attains the age of four months or after such dog is first brought into the City, whichever is earlier, and upon failure to do so shall pay an additional sum as required by Animal Services, or as provided in the Schedule of Fees and Charges within this Code if applicable. The license fee for altered dogs shall not exceed the amount authorized by Government Code Section 38792.

(Ord. 2016-14, eff. 7/21/16)

(a) The Poundkeeper shall be the issuing authority for dog licenses. Upon payment of the license fee provided for in Section 5-3.303 and upon presentation to the license collector of a valid vaccination certificate, as provided for in Section 5-3.403, there shall be issued a license certificate stating the year for which such license fee is paid, the date of payment, the name and resident address to whom such license is issued, the name, breed and sex of the dog licensed and the number of the license tag provided for in Section 5-3.305. Such certificate shall be delivered to the person paying such license fee, and one copy shall be retained by the Poundkeeper.

(b) All receipts and records of the Poundkeeper shall be kept in the office of the public pound as part of the records thereof during a period of at least three years.

(Ord. 2016-14, eff. 7/21/16)

The Poundkeeper shall at the time of issuance of the license certificate issue and deliver to the person paying such license fee a tag of such form and design as the Poundkeeper shall designate with the words "County of Santa Barbara" and a serial number plainly inscribed thereon. The license tag shall be securely affixed to a collar, harness or other device which shall be at all times worn by such dog.

(Ord. 2016-14, eff. 7/21/16)

It is unlawful for any person to remove any tag from any dog not owned by him or not lawfully in his possession or under his control or to place on any dog any such license tag not issued as provided for in Section 5-3.305 for that particular dog for the then-current calendar year or to make or to have in his possession or to place on a dog any counterfeit or imitation of any license tag or vaccination tag provided for in this article or Article 4 of this chapter.

(Ord. 2016-14, eff. 7/21/16)

If any license tag is lost or stolen, the person owning, possessing or having control of the dog for which the same was issued shall be entitled to receive a duplicate of such tag by presenting to the Poundkeeper the original certificate showing ownership of such tag and subscribing to an affidavit sufficiently showing that such tag was stolen or lost. The Poundkeeper, upon receipt of the amount as required by Animal Services, or provided for in the Schedule of Fees and Charges within this Code if applicable, shall issue a properly numbered duplicate tag. The Poundkeeper shall keep on file the original affidavit upon which such duplicate tag was issued.

(Ord. 2016-14, eff. 7/21/16)

Any veterinarian who vaccinates or causes or directs to be vaccinated in the County of Santa Barbara any dog with the antirabies vaccine shall provide a certificate to certify that such animal has been vaccinated and send a copy of the completed certificate to the Animal Services division of the County of Santa Barbara Public Health Department. The certificate shall contain the following information:

(a) The manufacturer, lot number and type of vaccine used;

(b) The date of the vaccination;

(c) The duration of vaccination;

(d) Description of the dog, including age, breed, sex and color;

(e) Name and address and phone number of owner of the dog; and

(f) Veterinarian's signature.

(Ord. 2019-01 § 25, eff. 3/21/19)