Watsonville Municipal Code Art. 4 Dogs and Cats

It shall be unlawful for any person to keep, or cause to be kept, any dog that is over the age of four (4) months within the City for more than thirty (30) days, unless the dog is licensed as provided in this chapter and has around its neck a collar to which is attached plate or tag as provided by this chapter.

(§ 1, Ord. 886-92 C-M, eff. April 9, 1992)

All dog licenses will be valid for one year provided that a rabies certificate is provided which is good for at least one year. If not, the license fee and valid date will be prorated for the period of the rabies certificate.

(§ 1, Ord. 886-92 C-M, eff. April 9, 1992)

(a) Applications for dog licenses shall be made to the issuing authority or designated representative on the form provided by such officer and shall be accompanied by a certificate of anti-rabies vaccination for the dog to be licensed.

(b) All dog licenses issued under this chapter shall be numbered and shall be in such form as provided by the issuing authority.

(c) Upon the approval of the application, the payment of the applicable license fee and the payment of any applicable late fee, the issuing authority or designated representative shall issue the dog license in the name of the owner of the dog to be licensed. Such license shall not be transferable to another owner and shall not be valid for another dog.

(§ 1, Ord. 886-92 C-M, eff. April 9, 1992)

The fee and late fee for a dog license issued under this chapter shall be set by resolution of the Council.

(§ 1, Ord. 886-92 C-M, eff. April 9, 1992)

A plate or tag with an identification number inscribed thereon shall be furnished to the owner of the dog to be licensed with each initial dog license. Such identification number shall not be transferable to another dog. The issuing authority shall keep a record of identification numbers, licenses issued, a general description of each dog for which an identification number and license are issued, and the name and address of the owner of each dog for which an identification number and license are issued.

(§ 1, Ord. 886-92 C-M, eff. April 9, 1992)

Every dog not wearing a collar to which is attached a valid plate or tag required under this article, found or being within the City, shall be taken by the Director of Animal Control or the police and impounded in the animal shelter, where such dog may be reclaimed by the owner as provided in Section 6-1.303 of Article 3 of this chapter. If not reclaimed, such dog shall be adopted or destroyed by the Director of Animal Control as provided in Section 6-1.301 of this chapter.

Under this Section 6-1.406, any dog which has been within the City for thirty (30) days or less and which is held under a leash not more than six (6') feet in length by an able-bodied person or confined within a vehicle shall not be taken by the Director of Animal Control or the police and impounded in the animal shelter.

(§ 1, Ord. 886-92 C-M, eff. April 9, 1992)

Whenever any plate or tag as provided for in this article is lost or stolen, the issuing authority may issue a duplicate upon an application therefor and upon the payment of the applicable fee and the filing of an affidavit by the owner of such dog to the effect that such tag or plate was lost or stolen.

(§ 1, Ord. 886-92 C-M, eff. April 9, 1992)

Upon the request of the owner, the provisions of this article requiring the payment of a license fee shall not apply to any dog that has been trained and is being used or will be used as a guide dog for the blind or a K-9 dog for law enforcement. However, all dogs shall require a license.

(§ 1, Ord. 886-92 C-M, eff. April 9, 1992)

Every owner of any dog, other than a dog hybrid, over the age of three (3) months or older, within the limits of the City shall, at intervals specified by the California State Department of Public Health, procure the vaccination of the dog by a licensed veterinarian with an approved canine antirabies vaccine and administered according to the vaccine label, unless a licensed veterinarian determines, on an annual basis, that a rabies vaccination would endanger the dog’s life due to disease or other considerations that the veterinarian can verify and document. Every owner of a dog hybrid over the age of three (3) months within the City is required to provide proof of annual rabies vaccination with an inactivated canine rabies product.

(a) A request for an exemption from the requirements of this section shall be submitted on an approved form developed by the California State Department of Public Health and shall include a signed statement by the veterinarian explaining the inadvisability of the vaccination and a 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 antirabies vaccine. The request shall be submitted to the Santa Cruz County Health Officer, who may issue an exemption from the canine antirabies vaccine.

(b) The Santa Cruz County Health Officer shall report exemptions issued pursuant to this section to the California State Department of Public Health.

(c) A dog that is exempt from the vaccination requirements of this section shall be considered unvaccinated.

(d) A dog that is exempt from the vaccination requirements of this section shall, at the discretion of the Santa Cruz County Health Officer or the Officer’s designee, be confined to the premises of the owner, keeper, or harborer, and when off the premises, shall be on a leash the length of which shall not exceed six (6) feet and shall be under the direct physical control of an adult. A dog that is exempt from the provisions of this section shall not have contact with a dog or cat that is not currently vaccinated against rabies.

(§ 1, Ord. 1363-18 (CM), eff. March 15, 2018)

It shall be unlawful for an owner to allow any female dog in season to be upon any street or public place, except upon a leash and under the control of its owner or any other person and solely and exclusively for the purpose of taking the dog from one place to another for treatment or care, nor shall any female dog when in season be allowed on any private property within the City without the consent of the owner thereof.

(§ 1, Ord. 886-92 C-M, eff. April 9, 1992)

(a) Whenever there is cause to believe that any dog or cat has bitten a person, or whenever ordered by the director of animal control, the owner of that animal shall quarantine the animal for a period of ten (10) days.

(b) Unless the biting animal’s owner has proof of a current rabies shot, and the enforcement officer determines that the owner has the proper facilities in which to confine the animal adequately, biting dogs and cats shall be immediately quarantined at the owner’s expense at the animal shelter, a veterinary facility or a boarding kennel. If a vaccination is determined to be necessary, the animal shall be vaccinated at the owner’s expense.

(c) If the owner of such animal fails to quarantine such animal and keep it confined for the period required, the director of animal control shall impound such animal for the required period and charge the owner for the impounding and keeping of such animal.

(§ 1, Ord. 1182-05 C-M, eff. February 10, 2005)

(a) No more than three (3) dogs may be kept or maintained at any street address within the City, unless the person, family, or group of persons keeping or maintaining such dogs is operating a bona fide animal clinic or hospital or a duly licensed pet shop, dog kennel, circus, carnival, traveling show, menagerie, or dog exhibition at such street address.

(b) The possession and retention of dogs and other animals shall be further subject to the zoning provisions set forth in Chapter 28 of Title 14 of this Code.

(§ 1, Ord. 886-92 C-M, eff. April 9, 1992)

Each owner or operator of any dog kennel, animal hospital, or pet shop, and any person engaged in the business of breeding dogs or as a veterinarian who sells, gives away, or in any manner causes the ownership or permanent possession of any dog, whether over four (4) months of age or not, to be transferred to any person, shall notify the Director of Animal Control in writing of that fact within five (5) days after the date of such sale or transfer. Such notice shall state the kind of dog, the name of the dog, if any, and the name and address of the person to whom the dog has been sold or transferred.

(§ 1, Ord. 886-92 C-M, eff. April 9, 1992)

It shall be unlawful for any person owning or harboring or having the charge, care, control, or possession of any dog to allow or permit such dog, whether licensed or not, to be upon a public street, sidewalk, park, school ground, public place, or any unenclosed lot or land, except when held under restraint by leash.

(§ 1, Ord. 886-92 C-M, eff. April 9, 1992)

It shall be unlawful to suffer or permit any dog to trespass on private or public property, and such action is declared to be a nuisance. Any dog committing such an act shall be impounded by the Director of Animal Control. Whenever it is affirmed in writing under penalty or perjury by one or more persons residing or regularly employed in the neighborhood that any dog is a public nuisance, the Director of Animal Control, if he finds such nuisance to exist, shall serve notice, or cause notice to be served, either in person or by registered/certified mail, return receipt requested, upon the owner that such nuisance shall be abated. The owner of such dog, upon the receipt of the notice of the Director of Animal Control as provided by this section, shall take such necessary action as may be required to eliminate the continuance of the nuisance noted by the Director of Animal Control. Any owner refusing to comply with an order for the abatement of the public nuisance as provided by this section shall be subject to the penalty provisions set forth in Chapter 2 of Title 1 of this Code.

(§ 1, Ord. 886-92 C-M, eff. April 9, 1992)

It shall be unlawful for any owner or person having the charge, care, control, or possession to permit a dog to defecate upon any public property, street, walk, or park, or to permit a dog to defecate upon the unenclosed private property of another person. The owner or person having the charge, care, control, or possession of a dog shall be responsible for the removal of any excreta deposited by their dog.

(§ 1, Ord. 886-92 C-M, eff. April 9, 1992)

(a) All dogs and cats over the age of four (4) months must be implanted with an identifying microchip. Nothing in this section supersedes, eliminates, or alters the licensing requirements of this chapter.

(b) Exemptions. The microchip requirements shall not apply to any of the following:

(1) A dog or cat with a high likelihood of suffering serious bodily injury if implanted with the microchip identification, due to the health conditions of the animal. The owner must obtain written confirmation of that fact from a California-licensed veterinarian. If the dog or cat is able to be safely implanted with an identifying microchip at a later date, the date must be stated in the written confirmation.

(2) A dog or cat that is kenneled or trained in the City of Watsonville, but is owned by an individual that does not reside in the City of Watsonville. The owner must keep and maintain the animal in accordance with the applicable laws and ordinances of the jurisdiction in which the owner of the animal permanently resides, including but not limited to the applicable licensing and rabies vaccination requirements of that jurisdiction.

(3) A dog that is tattooed and registered with the National Dog Registry located at 9018 E. Wilson Rd., Independence, MO 64053.

(c) Transfer, Sale of Dogs and Cats.

(1) An owner who offers any dog, over the age of four (4) months, for sale, trade, or adoption must provide the microchip identification number and the valid dog license number with the offer of sale, trade or adoption. The license and microchip numbers must appear on a document transferring the dog to the new owner.

(2) An owner who offers any cat, over the age of (4) four months, for sale, trade, or adoption must provide the microchip identification number with the offer of sale, trade or adoption. The microchip numbers must appear on a document transferring the cat to the new owner.

(d) When an impounded dog or cat is without microchip identification, in addition to satisfying applicable requirements for the release of the animal, including but not limited to payment of impound fees pursuant to this chapter, the owner shall also do one of the following:

(1) Have the dog or cat implanted with a County Animal Shelter microchip by a California-licensed veterinarian technician or veterinarian or designated personnel at the expense of the owner; or

(2) Have the dog or cat implanted with a County Animal Shelter-approved microchip by a California-licensed veterinarian. The owner may arrange for another California-licensed veterinarian to perform the implant, and shall pay to the department the cost to deliver the dog or cat to the chosen veterinarian. The veterinarian shall complete and return to the County Animal Shelter within ten (10) days a statement confirming that the microchip has been implanted, and shall release the dog or cat to the owner only after the procedure is complete.

(e) Fees for Microchip Identification Device. The fee for identifying microchip devices shall be included in the cost of adoption when adopting a dog or cat from the Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter.

(f) Allocation of Fees and Fines Collected. All costs, fees and fines collected under this section shall be paid to the County of Santa Cruz Animal Shelter for the purpose of defraying the cost of the implementation and enforcement program.

(§ 1, Ord. 1363-18 (CM), eff. March 15, 2018)