Tehama Municipal Code Ch. 7.08 Dogs

As used in this chapter, "director" shall mean the director of animal services and "division" shall mean the division of animal services, unless the provision or context requires otherwise.

(Ord. 1875 § 8, 2006)

A. No person shall own or keep any dog over four months of age within the unincorporated area of the county, for a period longer than thirty days unless such dog is licensed pursuant to this chapter.

B. No person shall own or keep any dog over four months of age within the unincorporated area of the county, for a period longer than thirty days, which has not been vaccinated against rabies. Every person in the unincorporated area of the county who owns, harbors, or keeps any dog over four months of age for a period longer than thirty days shall have such dog vaccinated against rabies as provided herein, by a veterinarian and such vaccination shall be renewed in accordance with the applicable laws and regulations of the State of California.

C. Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, a license shall not be required in the following circumstances:

1. A license shall not be required for any dog found within the unincorporated area of the county when its owner resides in any city within the county and such dog is wearing or has attached to it a valid license tag issued by such city.

2. A license shall not be required for any dog owned by a person who is a nonresident of the county and is traveling through the unincorporated area of the county or temporarily visiting therein for a period not exceeding thirty days, provided that such dog has been vaccinated consistent with the requirements of this title and its owner presents proof of such vaccination upon demand and further provided that such dog is confined on the premises of the person in charge of it while temporarily in the county.

3. A license shall not be required for any dog brought into the unincorporated area of the county and kept therein for a period not exceeding thirty days for the exclusive purpose of entering the same in any show, exhibition, field trial, or other competition or for breeding purposes, provided that such dog has been vaccinated consistent with the requirements of this chapter and its owner presents proof of such vaccination upon demand and further provided that such dog is confined on the premises of the person in charge of it while in the county except when being groomed, trained, bred, shown, exhibited or in competition.

4. A license shall not be required for any dog having a valid license issued by a city within the county when its owner has within the preceding year moved his or her principal place of residence from such city to the unincorporated area of the county, provided that such city similarly exempts from license requirements any dog having a valid county license and owned by a person who has moved his or her principal place of residence from the unincorporated area of the county to such city within the same time period.

(Ord. 1633 § 5(part), 1994)

(Ord. No. 2143, §§ 1, 2, 12-17-2024)

Pursuant to Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 30801) of Division 14 of the Food and Agriculture Code, the director is designated to issue dog licenses under this chapter.

(Ord. 1633 § 5(part), 1994)

A. The director shall not issue any dog license under this chapter without presentation of a certificate of vaccination signed by a veterinarian showing one of the following for the dog to be licensed:

1. That such dog has been vaccinated with an approved rabies vaccine and the period of time from the date of vaccination to the date of expiration of the license being issued does not exceed the time interval prescribed by the State Department of Health;

2. An exemption form approved by the local health officer at the request of a licensed veterinarian for which the veterinarian determines that the vaccination would endanger the dog's life because of disease or other consideration. Such form shall signed statement by the dog owner affirming that the owner understands the consequences and accepts all liability associated with owning a dog that has not received the canine anti-rabies vaccine.

B. Where an exemption is approved by the local health officer, the exempted dog may be issued a license but is considered unvaccinated. Licensure of an exempted dog may not extend beyond one year; at or before the end of the one-year license period, the dog must be vaccinated for rabies or a new request for vaccination exemption must be submitted by the veterinarian to and approved by the local health officer. The owner of the dog shall keep such dog confined to the premises indicated on the forms, or else on a six-foot leash and under the direct physical control of an adult. Additionally, the exempted pet cannot have contact with any animal that is not current with rabies vaccination.

C. Every veterinarian who vaccinates, or causes or directs to be vaccinated, any dog with anti-rabies vaccine within the County of Tehama, is required to issue a certificate or such other form approved by the county health officer. A copy of such certificate or approved form shall be submitted to the Tehama County Division of Animal Services by the fifteenth of each month for all vaccinations administered during the preceding month. Certificates shall contain all necessary information including the mailing address and physical location of the animal owner's residence, if different from mailing address.

(Ord. 1633 § 5(part), 1994)

(Ord. No. 2143, §§ 3, 4, 12-17-2024)

A. Application for a dog license shall be made to the director by the owner of the dog to be licensed no later than thirty days after acquisition of the dog. Such application shall be accompanied by a license fee, the amount of which shall be established pursuant to Section 7.08.105. Such license fee shall be waived for assistance dogs owned and used by totally or partially blind persons, deaf or hearing impaired persons, or handicapped persons, and for dogs owned and used by police departments or law enforcement officers exclusively for police work if all other requirements for licensing under this chapter are met. The director shall require such proof of qualification as the director deems necessary prior to waiving or reducing the license fee for any dog. This provision does not remove the owner's responsibility to vaccinate said dogs against rabies.

B. A one-year, two-year or three-year dog license may be issued provided that the rabies vaccination will be effective for the entire period for which the license is issued. A prorated license may be issued to expire with the expiration of the vaccination certificate.

C. The owner of any dog who fails to obtain the required license within thirty days after acquisition of the dog shall be liable for an administrative penalty in the amount of fifty dollars, which may be waived by the director of animal services if such failure is voluntarily disclosed by the owner to the division of animal services prior to any complaint being made to, or any investigation or enforcement action being commenced by, any officer or employee of the County of Tehama or the State of California.

(Ord. 1798 § 2(part), 2003)

(Ord. No. 1949, § 6, 10-5-2010; Ord. No. 2143, §§ 5, 6, 12-17-2024)

Upon receipt of an application for a dog license and presentation of a valid certificate of vaccination, the director shall register the dog in the records of the director and issue a dog license to the owner. The dog license shall consist of a receipt and a serially numbered metallic dog license tag stamped with an identifying number, the year of issue, the words "County of Tehama" or similar wording, and such other information as the director may require.

(Ord. 1899 § 2, 2008)

A. The procedure for renewal of a dog license shall be the same as for obtaining an original license.

B. The owner of any dog who fails to make application for the renewal of a dog license within thirty days after its expiration, or prior thereto, shall be liable for an administrative penalty in the amount of twenty dollars.

C. If any person who failed to make application for the renewal of a dog license within the time set forth in subdivision B. of this section establishes to the satisfaction of the director of animal services that such failure was due to reasonable cause and not due to willful neglect, and the person has subsequently made such application and paid the established license fee, the director may waive the penalty for late renewal set forth in that subdivision.

(Ord. 1633 § 5(part), 1994)

(Ord. No. 1949, §§ 7, 8, 10-5-2010; Ord. No. 2017, §§ 1, 2, 10-27-2015)

If any dog licensed pursuant to this chapter is sold or transferred, the new owner shall apply to the director for a transfer of the dog license for such dog within thirty days after the change in ownership. The procedure for transfer of a dog license shall be the same as for obtaining an original license. If any dog licensed pursuant to this chapter dies or is permanently removed from the unincorporated area of the county, the owner of such dog shall notify the director of the changed conditions in writing within thirty days after such change.

(Ord. 1633 § 5(part), 1994)

In case the metallic dog license tag for any dog licensed pursuant to this chapter is lost or destroyed, a replacement tag for such dog shall be procured from the director within thirty days after the loss or destruction. Upon request for replacement tag and payment of a fee, the amount of which shall be established pursuant to Section 7.08.105, the director shall issue a replacement metallic dog license tag to the owner.

(Ord. 1633 § 5(part), 1994)

The metallic dog license tag issued to any dog licensed pursuant to this chapter shall be securely affixed to a collar, harness or other device and shall be worn by such dog at all times during the license period, except when the dog is confined in a commercial kennel, hobby kennel or veterinary facility, or is being exhibited at a show, exhibition, field trial or other competition.

(Ord. 1633 § 5(part), 1994)

Upon request of an animal regulation officer or any peace officer, the owner of any dog shall present the dog license for such dog to the officer for inspection.

(Ord. 1633 § 5(part), 1994)

A. Any veterinarian or other person who observes, has knowledge of, or treats any dog which has been shot or poisoned within the unincorporated area of the county shall immediately report that fact to the director of animal regulation.

B. Any report of the shooting or poisoning of any dog pursuant to this section shall include the name of the owner of the dog, if known, or the name of the person or persons requesting treatment of such dog, if known.

(Ord. 1875 § 10, 2006)

Whenever the services of an employee of the division of animal regulation or the division of animal services are required outside of normal working hours, and the need for those services is a result of negligence or willful wrongdoing on the part of the owner of the animal(s), all costs incurred by the division of animal regulation or the division of animal services for those services shall be charged to the owner of the animal(s). Actual costs shall include salary and benefits, mileage and any charges incurred in transporting and/or caring for the animal(s).

(Ord. 1875 § 12, 2006)

(Ord. 1896 §§ 2, 6, 2008; Ord. 1840 § 2, 2005; Ord. 1797 § 2, 2003; Ord. No. 1948, §§ 1, 2, 10-5-2010; Ord. No. 1952, §§ 1, 2, 2-15-2011; Ord. No. 1988, § 1, 2-25-2014; Ord. No. 2034, §§ 1, 2, 1-24-2017; Ord. No. 2087, § 2, 1-28-2020; Ord. No. 2117, § 2, 3-1-2022; Ord. No. 2138, § 2, 9-10-2024; Ord. No. 2145, §§ 1, 2, 12-17-2024)

A. Notwithstanding the dog license fees set forth in Section 7.08.105, the fee for the first dog license issued in this county for any dog shall be as follows:

B. The discount received by senior citizens under Section 7.08.035 shall not be applicable to the fees set forth in subsection A of this section.

C. The fees set forth in subsection A of this section shall not be prorated.

D. If any person who failed to make application for the renewal of a dog license within the time set forth in Section 7.08.050 establishes to the satisfaction of the director of animal services that such failure was due to reasonable cause and not due to willful neglect, and the person has subsequently made such application and paid the established license fee, the director may waive the penalty for late renewal set forth in Section 7.08.105(E)(1). As used herein, "reasonable cause" shall not include the failure of the person to receive any mailed renewal notice.

E. The penalty for late renewal set forth in Section 7.08.105(E)(1) shall not be assessed upon any dog license renewal applied for during the period beginning February 15, 2008 and ending March 15, 2008.

F. This section shall be operative until January 1, 2010, and on that date shall be repealed unless a later enacted ordinance extends or deletes that date.

(Ord. 1896 § 4, 2008)

Each calendar year, the director of animal services may designate no more than seven days on which the adoption fee set forth in Section 7.08.105 shall be reduced or eliminated, as determined by the director, for any person adopting an animal from the Tehama County Animal Care Center.

(Ord. No. 1949, § 10, 10-5-2010; Ord. No. 2145, §§ 3, 4, 12-17-2024)

Editor's note— Ord. No. 1949, § 10, adopted October 5, 2010, set out provisions intended for use as 7.08.106. For purposes of clarity, and at the editor's discretion, these provisions have been included as 7.08.107.

A. Any dog-wild animal hybrid which is over the age of four months and is located within the unincorporated area of the county must be registered with the division of animal services.

B. Any persons owning or having custody or control of such a dog-wild animal hybrid shall be responsible for securing such registration.

C. Registration of a dog-wild animal hybrid shall require presentation of proof of current vaccination with an inactivated canine rabies vaccine. Registration shall be renewed annually but in no case shall the registration period exceed the expiration date of the rabies vaccination.

(Ord. 1875 § 14, 2006)

The fee for the registration of a dog-wild animal hybrid shall be established in Section 7.08.105.

(Ord. 1633 § 5(part), 1994)

No person shall own or keep more than five dogs over the age of four months on any lot or premises as a private dog owner. Person(s) keeping or owning more than five dogs over four months of age on any lot or premises shall have such lot or premises designated and licensed as a kennel, as defined in Chapter 7.20 of this Code.

(Ord. 1798 § 2(part), 2003)

(Ord. No. 2143, §§ 7, 8, 12-17-2024)

Any person wishing to contest the imposition of any civil penalty under this title may obtain an informal review by the director of animal services, and may present any relevant evidence to the director. The director's decision shall be final, subject to judicial review pursuant to Government Code section 53069.4, subdivision (b). The contestant may reclaim any impounded animal pending such review by depositing the full amount set forth in Section 7.40.090. If the director disapproves the imposition of any civil penalty, that penalty amount shall be refunded to the contestant.

(Ord. No. 1949, § 12, 10-5-2010)