Williams Municipal Code Ch. 6.16 Dog Licenses

It is unlawful for any person to maintain within the city a dog over the age of four months without first obtaining from the county a license authorizing the maintaining of such dog within the city.

(Ord. 154-07 § 3(part), 2007).

The dog license required by this chapter shall be issued upon payment of the fee in the amount established by resolution of the county and upon showing a valid certificate of rabies vaccination, or a valid certificate exempting the dog issued pursuant to Section 6.24.010 for each such dog to be licensed under this title. The dog license shall be issued for a period not to exceed thirty-six months, commencing upon the date of application. The dog license shall expire on the expiration date of the rabies certificate or, where the dog license was issued upon certification exempting the dog from vaccination, upon the expiration of the thirty-six months or expiration of the exemption certificate, whichever occurs first. The cost of the dog license may be prorated to coincide with the expiration of the rabies certificate or exemption certificate.

The issuance of any license or permit to keep an animal as provided for in this title shall be prima facie evidence that the owner has satisfied the basic licensing requirements pursuant to the provisions of this title, but 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 unless, pursuant to the issuance, official written approval has been given by the office or agency responsible for the administration of the rule, regulation or statute in question. If such approval has been given, it shall be deemed prima facie evidence that the matter approved is in conformance with the rule, regulation or statute in question.

(Ord. 154-07 § 3(part), 2007).

A. An annual license fee in the amount established by resolution of the county shall be paid by each owner of a dog, male or female, over the age of four months, located within the city, except as otherwise provided by this chapter.

B. Upon proper presentation of a certificate from a licensed veterinarian that a dog has been spayed or neutered, the license fee for the spayed or neutered dog shall be one-half of the fee for a dog that has not been spayed or neutered.

C. The license fee shall be paid on the date of application. Except as provided in subsection D of this section, the license fee shall become due on the expiration of the current license. Except as provided in subsection E of this section, any person failing to procure and pay for such license on or before the due date shall pay a late fee in the amount established by resolution of the county as a penalty for such failure. Such late fee shall be in addition to the license fee payable for such dog.

D. Any person who acquires ownership, custody or control of a dog not currently licensed pursuant to this title and any person who owns or has custody of a dog which attains the age of four months shall be immediately liable for payment of the license fee.

E. The late fee penalty provided in subsection C of this section, shall not apply in connection with the initial licensing of any dog reaching the age of four months or whose owner first brings such dog into the city or acquires ownership, custody or control of the dog.

F. The city council and/or the county may also determine a potentially dangerous dog fee in addition to the regular licensing fee to provide for the increased costs of maintaining the records of such dog.

(Ord. 154-07 § 3(part), 2007).

The animal control officer shall procure and issue serial numbered license tags stamped with the name of the county. Such tags shall only be issued upon the application of the owners who have complied with the vaccination and fee provisions of this title. The license tag will be permanently issued for each dog and shall remain with that dog.

(Ord. 154-07 § 3(part), 2007).

Every dog shall be provided by the owner with a suitable collar or other device to which a dog license shall be securely attached. Such collar or device shall be worn at all times by the dog for whom the registration is issued unless another method of identification approved in writing and indicated on the pet license form is present. Other approved methods of owner identification include, but are not limited to, a microchip which is implanted on the dog which can be read by an electronic microchip reading device.

(Ord. 154-07 § 3(part), 2007).

In the event a license tag is lost from the body of any dog for which the same was issued, the owner shall, within ten days thereafter, procure another license tag for the dog from the county for which he or she shall pay a fee in the amount established by resolution of the county. As often as any license tag is lost, the same shall be replaced in the same manner as provided in this section.

(Ord. 154-07 § 3(part), 2007).

The animal control officer shall keep a record which shall establish the license tag number, identity and address of the owner or keeper of the dog, physical characteristics of the dog, and vaccination information.

(Ord. 154-07 § 3(part), 2007).

The licensing regulations of this title are not applicable to the following:

A. Owners who use animals for diagnostic purposes or research, the use having been approved by the Board of Public Health of the state pursuant to the provisions of Section 1666 of the Health and Safety Code of the state;

B. Owners who use animals for teaching purposes in recognized educational institutions;

C. Owners of establishments which treat or board animals and which are owned or operated by veterinarians licensed by the state;

D. Owners of pet shops, circuses, animal exhibits and other enterprises maintaining animals, which have been granted a business license by the city;

E. Owners who are a nonresident or who are traveling through the city, or who are temporarily sojourning therein for a period not to exceed thirty days;

F. Owners who bring a dog or cat into the city and keep therein for a period not exceeding thirty days, for the exclusive purpose of entering the dog or cat in any bench show, dog exhibition, field trials, or competition;

G. Owners who bring or send a dog or cat into the city for the exclusive purpose of receiving veterinary care in any animal hospital.

(Ord. 154-07 § 3(part), 2007).

A fee shall not be levied for any dog license issued for a trained assistance dog including guide dogs, hearing or signal dogs, mobility assistance dogs, and seizure response dogs owned by a person requiring trained dog assistance.

(Ord. 154-07 § 3(part), 2007).