Chapter 6.12
DOGS
Sections:
6.12.010 Licenses—Required—Fees.
6.12.020 Licenses—Certificates and tags.
6.12.030 Vaccination required.
6.12.050 Revocation of kennel license.
6.12.010 Licenses—Required—Fees.
A. All dogs kept, harbored or maintained in the city shall be licensed and registered if over three months of age. The applicant shall state at the time application is made for each license his name and address, and the name, breed, color and sex of each dog owned or kept by him and shall provide proof of vaccination required by Section 6.12.030. Dog licenses shall be issued for a period of one year and shall run from the first of January in each calendar year to the thirty-first of December next following. For dogs requiring licensing later in the year, the license tax shall be the same as for a full year. The foregoing notwithstanding, upon proper application and presentation of proof of age, dog owners sixty years of age or older shall be exempt from payment of all license taxes. License fees shall be established by resolution of the city council.
B. Persons who have been granted a kennel license or conditional use license, which has not been canceled, suspended or revoked, need not pay the individual dog license tax; however, a license tag must be obtained for each dog described on the kennel license. The tags will be provided at no extra charge. This provision shall not allow operators of a kennel to license customers’ dogs in or passing through the kennel.
C. If the license required for a dog under this chapter is not obtained by the owner during the month of January of each year, or within thirty days of the first possession of any dog or of its becoming three months old, or within thirty days from the arrival of the dog in the city, the license payment shall be deemed delinquent and shall constitute a violation of the provisions of this chapter. (Ord. 18-01 § 3 (part): Ord. 07-07 § 4; prior code § 4-21)
6.12.020 Licenses—Certificates and tags.
Upon payment of the license fee therefor, there shall be issued to the owner of a dog a receipt of payment for such license and a tag for each dog so licensed. The tag shall have thereon the year for which it was issued. Every owner shall provide each dog with a collar or a harness to which the license tag shall be affixed and shall see that the collar or harness and tag are constantly worn. In case a dog tag is lost or destroyed another will be issued upon payment of one dollar. Dog tags are not transferable from one dog to another. It is unlawful for a person to counterfeit or attempt to counterfeit a dog tag, receipt of payment for license or certificate of vaccination, or to take from a dog a tag legally placed upon it, or place a dog tag upon a dog unless the tag was specifically issued for that particular dog. (Ord. 18-01 § 3 (part): prior code § 4-22)
6.12.030 Vaccination required.
Every owner of a dog within the city shall have such dog vaccinated against rabies, hepatitis, distemper and parvo virus. Upon making an application for a license for any dog, the owner shall furnish a certificate from a licensed veterinarian as proof of rabies vaccination. Notwithstanding the above, if the animal control officer shall determine that vaccine and veterinary services are not reasonably available, the animal control officer may issue any dog license without the furnishing of such certificate. Provided further, that the owner of any dog so licensed shall furnish proof of such vaccination to the issuing authority, within thirty days after the date of issuance of such license, or such license shall be deemed void and the owner in violation of this chapter. (Ord. 18-01 § 3 (part): prior code § 4-24. Formerly 6.12.040)
6.12.040 Kennel license.
A. No person shall own, operate or have a kennel without first obtaining a license as provided in this chapter. No license shall be issued for a kennel until an inspection has been made, zoning approval has been obtained, and the chief has approved the license.
1. Kennel. A kennel license is required for a facility operated by a person engaged in the commercial buying, selling, training, keeping, boarding, or grooming of dogs for profit, or a facility or mobile unit designed for the keeping or harboring of six or more dogs that are over three months old.
2. Inspection. The animal control officer or his designee shall inspect the proposed kennel, if in existence. If the proposed kennel is not in existence, the animal control officer shall review the construction plans and make a site evaluation. In either event, the animal control officer shall report on compliance with each of the following:
a. That a health hazard does not exist nor will be created by the proposed kennel;
b. That a nuisance does not exist nor will be created for the occupants of land in the vicinity;
c. That all dogs have been or shall be properly vaccinated and licensed;
d. That adequate provisions have been made or shall be made to shelter the animals from the elements;
e. That adequate provisions have been made or shall be made for keeping the animals confined on the kennel premises;
f. That adequate provisions have been made or shall be made to keep the premises in a sanitary condition;
g. That each animal can be allotted a minimum of one hundred twenty-five square feet of living space, provided that the total living space shall not exceed ten percent of the maximum lot coverage. In cases where applicant owns two or more adjoining residential lots, the ten percent limit can only be applied to one lot for the purpose of determining the number of dogs allowed;
h. That the kennel will be fenced and screened from public view by buildings, natural cover or artificial barriers (e.g., curtains, fences, walls, etc.).
B. Upon an inspection or plan review and site evaluation required pursuant to this section, the animal control officer or his designee shall submit a copy of his report and a recommendation to the planning and zoning commission. The planning and zoning commission shall then hold a public hearing to receive input regarding land use and zoning matters relating to the issuance of a license under this chapter, and shall issue a report with recommendations to the chief.
C. The chief shall make the final determination as to whether the license will be granted or denied after full and complete consideration of the contents of the animal control officer’s report and the report and recommendations from the planning and zoning commission. No license shall be granted absent an express finding by the planning and zoning commission that all code requirements for the particular type of kennel license sought have been complied with or, based on the construction plans, will be complied with upon completion of the project. A conditional license may be granted to a proposed kennel prior to its construction but such conditional license and occupancy of the kennel shall be conditioned on the animal control officer’s post-construction inspection and report of compliance. If, after the animal control officer’s inspection, the chief determines that the kennel, as constructed, is in full compliance with these code requirements, a license shall be issued. In the event the kennel is not found to be in compliance, the chief may suspend or revoke the license or conditional license pursuant to Section 6.12.050.
D. A kennel license granted under this section shall indicate on the license the maximum number of dogs that shall be legally permitted. The boarding and keeping of more dogs than permitted by the license shall be in violation of this code.
E. License fees shall be established by resolution of the city council. The license will be valid for one year from date of issue. (Ord. 18-01 § 3 (part): Ord. 07-07 § 5; prior code § 4-25. Formerly 6.12.050)
6.12.050 Revocation of kennel license.
The animal control officer or his designee, on his own initiative may, or after receiving a complaint that a kennel is in violation of this code, shall inspect or cause to have inspected the premises of the kennel to ensure compliance with the code requirements. If the kennel is found to be in violation of this chapter or conditions of the license, the animal control officer shall submit a report, in writing, to the chief. The chief shall give the owner, operator or keeper of the kennel an opportunity to be heard within five days of receipt of the animal control officer’s report. If after the hearing the chief finds a violation of this chapter or conditions of the license, the chief may suspend the license for not more than thirty days, and if the violation has not been remedied within that time period, the license shall be revoked. Actions of the chief in revoking a license may be appealed to the city manager by written notice within ten days of the chief’s actions. In the event of an adverse decision by the city manager, appeal may be taken to the city council by written notice submitted within ten days following action by the city manager. The city council may thereafter require the personal appearance of the appellant for the purposes of hearing and examining into the cause, and taking appropriate action thereon. The decision of the city council shall be final. (Ord. 18-01 § 3 (part): prior code § 4-26. Formerly 6.12.060)
6.12.060 Animal census.
The animal control officer or his designee may conduct an animal census at such intervals as he deems appropriate. The chief may authorize those who take the census to accept applications for, and to issue, licenses under Section 6.12.010. (Ord. 18-01 § 3 (part): prior code § 4-27. Formerly 6.12.070)