Solano County Municipal Code Art. VIII License

4-130 Legal effect of license

The issuance by animal control and the acceptance by the owner of any license or licenses to keep an animal as provided for herein is prima facie evidence that the owner agrees to comply with the terms and conditions set forth in this chapter and that the owner has satisfied the basic licensing requirements under this chapter. Such issuance shall be given no evidentiary weight to indicate that the owner has conformed to zoning regulations, building regulations, health and safety regulations or to any other applicable rule, regulation or statute.

(Ord. No. 1444, §1)

4-131 Applicability of article

The provisions of this section shall not apply to any animal owned by or in the care or charge of a nonresident of the county who is traveling through the county or temporarily sojourning therein for a period not exceeding thirty days, nor to any animal temporarily brought into the county for the exclusive purpose of being entered in a bench show or exhibition, trial, etc.; provided, that such animal is so entered and not kept elsewhere in the county.

(Ord. No. 927, §2; Ord. No. 1444, §1)

4-132 Application for license

(a) The director is hereby authorized and directed to have prepared suitable application blanks and license tags to be issued to the owners of animals required by this chapter to be licensed.

(b) Such application forms shall bear the name and address of the owner of such animal, the sex, color and breed of the animal for which such license is applied, and shall be signed by the owner or the owner’s duly authorized agent.

(Ord. No. 927, §2; Ord. No. 1444, §1)

4-133 Issuance of license and tag

(a) It is hereby made the duty of the director, or other duly authorized person, to collect, in advance of the issuance of such license, the fees required. Upon the issuance of such license, the director or other duly authorized person shall endorse upon such application the number of the license tag issued in pursuance thereof, and all such applications so endorsed shall be filed in the office of the director and shall be at all times open for public inspection.

(b) Such tags shall be metallic, and shall have a stamp thereon bearing the name of the county and the year of its issuance. They shall be numbered serially, and each tag shall have its number stamped thereon. The costs of procuring the necessary tags and application forms for such licenses are hereby declared to be a charge against the county.

(Ord. No. 927, §2; Ord. No. 1444, §1)

4-134 Display of license and tag

No person shall fail or refuse to show to the animal control director, or any duly authorized person of the county, the license certificate and/or the tag for any duly registered animal kept or remaining within any home or upon any enclosed premises under that person’s immediate control.

(Ord. No. 927, §2; Ord. No. 1444, §1)

4-135 Unauthorized removal of tag

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

(Ord. No. 927, §2; Ord. No. 1444, §1)

4-136 Issuance of duplicate tags

Whenever a tag issued for the then current year has been stolen or lost, the owner or possessor of the animal for which same has been issued may, upon payment to the county animal control director or other duly authorized person of an amount established by ordinance of the board of supervisors, receive a duplicate tag for the remaining portion of the then current year.

(Ord. No. 927, §2; Ord. No. 1101 §1; Ord. No. 1207, §1; Ord. No. 1444, §1)

4-137 Notification of change of address

It shall be the duty of the owner harboring, controlling or having the custody of any animal(s) subject to this Article to inform the director of any change of address.

(Ord. No. 927, §2; Ord. No. 1444, §1)

4-138 Compensation to issuing authority

Any person authorized by the animal control director to issue licenses under this chapter shall receive, in full compensation for all services rendered under this chapter, an amount established by resolution of and allowed by the board of supervisors upon a claim verified by the county animal control director, filed and approved as other claims against the county.

(Ord. No. 927, §2; Ord. No. 1101, §1; Ord. No. 1207, §1; Ord. No. 1444, §1)

4-139 Licensing of dogs

(a) Every person owning or having control, custody, or possession of any dog over four months of age within the county shall purchase a license within (30) days of ownership or possession.

(b) The license will be purchased only after a current rabies vaccination certificate has been issued by a licensed veterinarian. The license will be valid for one year from the date of vaccination and a full fee of twelve (12) months will be charged or prorated as appropriate.

(c) Dog owners renewing dog licenses will apply for the dog license within thirty (30) days after the expiration of the current license and a full fee of twelve (12) months will be charged or prorated as appropriate.

(d) At the dog owner’s option, a two- or three-year license, with fees charged accordingly, may be purchased as long as there is a valid rabies vaccination which does not expire before the end of the licensing period.

(e) Those dog owners who obtain a dog license after thirty (30) days of ownership or possession, or after the thirty (30) day license renewal period, will obtain a license based on a full fee of 12 months plus a late penalty.

(f) New residents who are dog owners, within thirty (30) days of residing in the county, will obtain licenses for their dogs and license fees will be prorated. New dog-owning residents who possess valid licenses that expire on the same date as licenses provided herein shall apply for and be issued courtesy licenses in exchange for the aforesaid license. New dog-owning residents who possess valid licenses that expire prior to the normal expiration date for licenses provided herein will pay a pro rata share for the remaining portion of the licensing period

(g) A transfer license will be obtained if a currently licensed animal is given or transferred to another county resident.

(h) Dog owners who are senior citizens and/or physically disabled will obtain licenses for their dogs. A “senior citizen” for the purpose of this article, is sixty-five (65) years of age or older.

(i) All fees and penalties for dog licenses (including courtesy, transfer, and duplicate licenses) will be determined and set by resolution or ordinance of the board of supervisors.

(j) Puppies younger than four months of age adopted from the animal shelter will be issued a provisional identification tag. This tag will expire when the puppy receives its primary rabies vaccination at four (4) months of age.

(Ord. No. 927, §2; Ord. No. 1101, §1; Ord. No. 1160, §1; Ord. No. 1225 §1; Ord. No. 1322, §1; Ord. No. 1444, §1; Ord. No. 1528, §1; Ord. No. 1624, §8)

4-140 Same -- exceptions to fees

No license fee shall be required with respect to licenses and tags issued for dogs which have been specially trained and are principally used for the purpose of leading persons with defective eyesight or those dogs specifically trained to assist persons who are hearing impaired or disabled.

(Ord. No. 927, §2; Ord. No. 1444, §1)

4-141 Licensing of dogs-tag to be attached to collar, etc.

Any person obtaining a dog license under this chapter shall attach the license tag issued to a collar, harness or other device, to be permanently worn by the dog for which such license was issued.

(Ord. No. 927, §2; Ord. No. 1444, §1)

4-142 Licensing of cats

Every person owning or having control, custody or possession of any cat within the county may procure a license for such cat. The licensing procedure and times thereof shall be the same as for licensing of dogs, and the fee shall be determined and set by ordinance of the board of supervisors.

(Ord. No. 927, §2; Ord. No. 1101, §1; Ord. No. 1444, §1)

4-143 Same--rabies vaccination required

(a) No license shall be issued for any dog or cat until satisfactory proof of rabies vaccination has been given the issuing officer.

(b) In no instance shall a dog or cat license be issued for a period beyond the date upon which revaccination is due except, following primary immunization, license may be issued for a period beyond the revaccination date if early revaccination cannot be required in accordance with subdivision (c) of this section.

(c) Notwithstanding the rabies revaccination intervals specified in the Health and Safety Code, Section 1920(b), and Title 17, California Code of Regulations, Section 2606.4(b)(3), revaccination may be required prior to issuance of a license provided that revaccination against rabies shall not be required sooner than one year (twelve months) following a primary immunization or sooner than two years (twenty-four months) following a vaccination of dogs vaccinated over one year (twelve months) of age with a canine anti-rabies vaccine approved by, and in a manner prescribed by the California Department of Health Services.

(Ord. No. 927, §2; Ord. No. 1322, §1; Ord. No. 1444, §1)

4-144 Penalties

Any person failing to obtain a license as required in section 4-139 shall pay a penalty, the amount of which shall be determined and set by ordinance of the board of supervisors; however, such penalty shall not apply to new residents who take out such license within one month after bringing such dog into the county, or to persons who, within one month after such dog shall have arrived at the age of four months, obtain a license.

(Ord. No. 927, §2; Ord. No. 1101, §1; Ord. No. 1444, §1)