Windsor Municipal Code Art. 5 Dogs

No person shall own or keep any dog over four (4) months of age within the Town of Windsor which has not been licensed pursuant to the provisions of this article, except:

a. A license shall not be required for any dog owned by a person who is a nonresident of the Town and is traveling through the Town or temporarily visiting therein for a period not exceeding thirty (30) days, provided that such dog has been vaccinated consistent with the requirements of this section 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 Town.

b. A license shall not be required for any dog brought into the Town and kept therein for a period not exceeding thirty (30) days for the exclusive purpose of entering the same in any show, exhibition, field trail, or other competition or for breeding purposes, provided that such dog has been vaccinated consistent with the requirements of this section 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 Town except when being groomed, trained, bred, shown, exhibited, or in competition.

(Ord. No. 92-22 § 2 (part); Ord. No. 98-107 § 3)

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

(Ord. No. 92-22 § 2 (part))

a. Every owner of a dog over four (4) months of age shall cause such dog to be vaccinated with an approved rabies vaccine unless a veterinarian certifies that such dog should not be vaccinated for health reasons. Revaccination shall be made at such intervals of time as may be prescribed by the State Department of Health.

b. Compliance with the provisions of subsection a. of this section shall be a prerequisite to the issuance of dog licenses under this article and no license shall be issued without presentation of a certificate of vaccination signed by a veterinarian showing one (1) 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 interval of time prescribed by the State Department of Health.

2. That such dog should not be vaccinated with an approved rabies vaccine because such vaccination may jeopardize the health of the dog due to infirmity or other disability. Where a certificate of vaccination shows that a dog should not be vaccinated due to infirmity or other disability, the nature of the infirmity or other disability and the estimated date of termination thereof shall be shown on the face of the certificate to the satisfaction of the Animal Control Officer.

c. Every veterinarian practicing veterinary medicine within the Town shall submit to the Animal Control Officer one (1) copy of each certificate of vaccination issued by the veterinarian for dogs subject to the provisions of subsection a. of this section.

(Ord. No. 92-22 § 2 (part); Ord. No. 98-107 § 4)

Application for a dog license shall be made in writing to the Animal Control Officer by the owner of the dog to be licensed. Such application shall be on a form approved by the Animal Control Officer and shall be accompanied by a license fee, the amount of which shall be established pursuant to Section 3-4-115. Such license fee shall be waived for assistance dogs owned and used by totally or partially blind persons, deaf or hearing impaired persons, or other disabled 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 article are met. Such license fee may include a reduced rate for spayed or neutered dogs and for dogs owned by persons sixty-two (62) years of age or older if all other requirements for licensing under this article are met. The Animal Control Officer shall require such proof of qualification as the Animal Control Officer deems necessary prior to waiving or reducing the license fee for any dog. If the owner of any dog fails to make application for a dog license within thirty (30) days after receipt of notice from the Animal Control Officer to obtain a license, such owner shall pay a penalty for late licensing, the amount of which shall be established pursuant to Section 3-4-115, in addition to the license fee required in this section.

(Ord. No. 92-22 § 2 (part); Ord. No. 98-107 § 5)

Upon receipt of an application for a dog license and presentation of a valid certificate of vaccination, the Animal Control Officer shall register the dog in the records of the Animal Control Officer 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 "Town of Windsor" and such other information as the Animal Control Officer may require.

(Ord. No. 92-22 § 2 (part))

Every dog license issued pursuant to this article shall be annual, expiring twelve (12) months following the date of rabies vaccination. The procedure for renewal of a dog license shall be the same as for obtaining an original license. If the owner of any dog fails to make application for the renewal of a dog license prior to its expiration, such owner shall pay a penalty for late renewal, the amount of which shall be established pursuant to Section 3-4-115 in addition to the license fee required in Section 3-4-515.

(Ord. No. 92-22 § 2 (part); Ord. No. 98-113 § 1)

If any dog licensed pursuant to this article is sold or transferred, the new owner shall apply to the Animal Control Officer for a transfer of the dog license for such dog within thirty (30) 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 article dies or is permanently removed from the Town, the owner of such dog shall notify the Animal Control Officer of the changed conditions in writing within thirty (30) days after such change.

(Ord. No. 92-22 § 2 (part))

In case the metallic dog license tag for any dog licensed pursuant to this article is lost or destroyed, a replacement tag for such dog shall be procured from the Animal Control Officer within thirty (30) days after the loss or destruction. Upon receipt of an application and payment of a replacement fee, the amount of which shall be established pursuant to Section 3-4-115 the Animal Control Officer shall issue a replacement metallic dog license tag to the owner.

(Ord. No. 92-22 § 2 (part))

The metallic dog license tag issued to any dog licensed pursuant to this article 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. No. 92-22 § 2 (part))

Upon request of the Animal Control Officer or any Police Officer, the owner of any dog shall present the dog license for such dog to the officer for inspection.

(Ord. No. 92-22 § 2 (part))

a. Any veterinarian or other person who observes, has knowledge of, or treats any dog which has been shot or poisoned within the Town shall immediately report that fact to the Animal Control Officer.

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 requesting treatment of such dog, if known.

(Ord. No. 92-22 § 2 (part))