South Lake Tahoe Municipal Code Art. III Vaccination and Licensing of Dogs

Every owner of a dog, which dog is over four months of age, shall cause such dog to be vaccinated with a rabies vaccine approved by the state and administered by a veterinarian. Revaccination shall be made after one year if the prior vaccination was with tissue pheolized vaccine or after two years if the prior vaccination was with chick embryo vaccine.

(Ord. 433 § 1; Code 1997 § 6-12)

A dog license tax shall be charged in accordance with the provisions of SLTCC § 4.05.080.

(Ord. 433 § 1; Ord. 692 § 1; Code 1997 § 6-13)

Dog licenses shall expire two years from the date of issuance. Dog licenses shall be renewed within 30 days of the date of expiration.

The license period of a dog licensed for the first time may commence at any time during the year.

(Ord. 433 § 1; Ord. 515 § 5; Code 1997 § 6-14)

Whenever the State Department of Public Health determines that a rabies epidemic exists in the county, a special additional dog license tax, as provided in Sections 1912, 1913 and 1914 of the California Health and Safety Code, shall be imposed as provided herein.

(Ord. 433 § 1; Code 1997 § 6-15)

The following are exempt from the terms of SLTCC § 4.05.140:

A. Dogs less than 120 days old;

B. Dogs licensed and vaccinated in another jurisdiction for the valid period of such license;

C. Dogs on sale in a duly licensed pet shop or being kept in a dog kennel where they are enclosed at all times;

D. Dogs honorably discharged or released from the services of the armed forces of the United States, dogs principally used for the purpose of leading persons with defective eyesight and dogs used in law enforcement agencies shall be licensed but without charge.

(Ord. 433 § 1; Code 1997 § 6-16)

Prior to the issuance of any license, it shall be necessary that the dog licensed be vaccinated with anti-rabies vaccine as provided in SLTCC § 4.05.130, which vaccination shall have been recent enough to provide protection against rabies for the license period. The Humane Society may collect vaccination fees and issue a certificate authorizing subsequent vaccination. Failure to obtain vaccination and/or to return the certificate to the Humane Society within 15 days of certificate issuance shall be punishable as an infraction.

(Ord. 438 § 1; Ord. 515 § 6; Code 1997 § 6-17)

Upon payment of the license tax to the animal control officer and the presentation of a certificate of vaccination by a veterinarian, the animal control officer shall issue a license stating the name, residence, mailing address and telephone number of the person to whom the license is issued, the amount paid, the date of issuance and expiration thereof, the date of expiration of the vaccination, and the description of the dog for which such license is issued, together with the number of the metallic tag accompanying the same.

(Ord. 433 § 1; Code 1997 § 6-18)

With each dog license, the animal control officer shall issue a metal tag bearing an identifying license number and having the words "Dog License" imprinted thereon. The animal control officer shall enter in a register kept for that purpose the name, address and telephone number of the owner of the dog and, if different, the name, address and telephone number of the person to whom the license was issued. It shall be unlawful for any person owning a dog, or having the custody and control of such dog, to cause, allow or permit such dog to be any where except upon private property of which such person has ownership or control, without such license tag being firmly affixed to a collar upon such dog. Any dog found without a license so affixed shall be impounded.

(Ord. 433 § 1; Ord. 548 § 3; Code 1997 § 6-19)

The animal control officer shall keep a record of all licenses issued together with a description of the dog for which such license is issued. A copy of the record of all such licenses issued shall be forwarded to the director of health services.

(Ord. 433 § 1; Code 1997 § 6-20)

No person shall have, harbor or keep any unlicensed dog in the city, or permit or allow any unlicensed dog to remain on any premises under the control or in the possession of such person, contrary to the provisions of this article.

(Ord. 433 § 1; Code 1997 § 6-21)