Chapter 6.20
LICENSING AND VACCINATION

Sections:

6.20.010    Vaccination of dogs and cats.

6.20.020    Vaccination certificate.

6.20.030    License required.

6.20.040    Issuance of license.

6.20.050    License fees.

6.20.060    License period.

6.20.070    Metal tag.

6.20.080    Presentation of license on request.

6.20.090    License record.

6.20.010 Vaccination of dogs and cats.

(a)    Every person who owns, maintains or boards a dog, three months of age or older, or cat, four months of age or older, must cause that dog or cat to be vaccinated and revaccinated with a state-approved antirabies vaccine within the time periods prescribed by state law or regulation.

(b)    A veterinarian must certify the vaccination in accordance with Section 6.20.020.

(c)    Compliance with the provisions of this title is a condition precedent to the issuance or renewal of any dog or cat license pursuant to this chapter. (Ord. 16-2018 § 1, 6-5-18; Ord. 10-2022 § 5, 10-4-22.)

6.20.020 Vaccination certificate.

(a)    A veterinarian who vaccinates any dog or cat, for whom a license is required, must complete and sign a rabies vaccination certificate that the dog or cat has been vaccinated.

(b)    The rabies vaccination certificate must include all information required by state law, including:

(1)    The name, address and telephone number of the owner of the dog or cat;

(2)    A description of the dog or cat, including its breed, color, age, sex and spay or neuter status;

(3)    The date of the vaccination;

(4)    The type of rabies vaccine administered; and

(5)    The expiration date of the vaccination and lot number.

(c)    If the veterinarian who vaccinates the dog or cat is located within the city of Fremont, the veterinarian must submit a current and valid rabies vaccination certificate to the animal services manager within 30 days from the date that the dog or cat was vaccinated.

(d)    If the dog or cat that is subject to the licensing requirements is vaccinated for rabies by a veterinarian located outside the city of Fremont, the owner or person with a right to control the dog or cat must submit a copy of the vaccination certificate to the animal services manager within 30 days from the date that a dog or cat is vaccinated or brought into the city. (Ord. 16-2018 § 1, 6-5-18.)

6.20.030 License required.

(a)    It is unlawful for any person to own, maintain, or board any dog or cat four months or older that has not been licensed pursuant to the provisions of this chapter, except that a license is not required for a dog or cat owned, maintained by or under the control of a nonresident of the city which is kept in the city for 30 or fewer days in any 12-month period.

(b)    Any dog or cat that is not properly licensed in accordance with this chapter is rebuttably presumed to be an unvaccinated, stray animal and may be subject to the seizure and impoundment procedures set forth in Chapter 6.30.

(c)    Animal hospitals, animal shelters, animal rescuers, commercial kennels and pet shops are exempt from the requirement of this section to obtain a license for each dog or cat within the facility unless the dog or cat is owned by a person who owns or works at the facility.

(d)    Police dogs are exempt from the requirement of this section. (Ord. 16-2018 § 1, 6-5-18.)

6.20.040 Issuance of license.

(a)    An application for a dog or cat license or a renewal of a dog or cat license, together with any required license fees and a current and valid rabies vaccination certificate, must be filed with the animal services manager.

(b)    The animal services manager may only issue a dog or cat license upon payment of the required license fees and the submission of a current and valid rabies certificate.

(c)    The dog or cat license receipt must state:

(1)    The name and address of the person to whom the license is to be issued;

(2)    The amount paid for the license;

(3)    The date of issuance and the date the license expires;

(4)    The date that the rabies vaccination expires;

(5)    A description of the dog or cat for which the license is issued; and

(6)    The identification number on the metallic tag accompanying the license receipt. (Ord. 16-2018 § 1, 6-5-18.)

6.20.050 License fees.

(a)    All fees authorized by this section must be set forth in a resolution adopted by the city council.

(b)    The license fee may be imposed for the issuance of a dog or cat license.

(c)    A reduced license fee may be imposed for a dog or cat that has been spayed or neutered. A certificate certifying that the dog or cat has been surgically spayed or neutered must be submitted to the animal services manager before a license can be issued at a reduced fee.

(d)    A late fee may be imposed for any dog or cat license that is expired more than 30 days.

(e)    Fees imposed by this title may be nonrefundable in whole or in part.

(f)    Senior citizens who are over the age of 60 may be charged a reduced license fee rate.

(g)    A license fee may not be required for service dogs.

(h)    When the dog or cat that is spayed or neutered is owned by or in the care of any person that qualifies for low income rates as determined by either AT&T or Pacific Gas and Electric, the license fee is waived with proof of the qualification.

(i)    A reduced license fee may be imposed for a dog or cat that is currently licensed in another jurisdiction and moves to Fremont. However, the owner must provide proof of the current licensing and the reduced fee will only extend for the duration of the previous license. (Ord. 16-2018 § 1, 6-5-18; Ord. 19-2018 § 1, 9-18-18.)

6.20.060 License period.

(a)    The term of any dog or cat license is from the date that the license is issued as shown on the receipt and expires after one, two or three years according to the expiration of the rabies vaccination. Rabies vaccinations are valid for one or three years depending on the age of the dog or cat and if prior vaccination history is known. The owner of the dog or cat cannot purchase a license for a term that extends past the expiration of the current rabies vaccination.

(b)    For purposes of license renewal, a dog or cat license is not considered late until the end of the following month past the renewal date.

(c)    If any information provided to the animal services manager in the application changes during the license period, the owner of the dog or cat shall provide the new information to the animal services manager. (Ord. 16-2018 § 1, 6-5-18; Ord. 19-2018 § 2, 9-18-18.)

6.20.070 Metal tag.

(a)    The animal services manager will issue a metal tag bearing an identification number with each dog and cat license.

(b)    Any person who owns, maintains, or has control of a dog or cat must cause the dog or cat to wear the metal tag at all times. In lieu of the requirement that a cat wear a metal tag, a cat may receive a microchip; provided, that access to all of the information on the metal tag is accessible and the owner or person with a right to control the cat bears the cost and expense of the microchip.

(c)    The metal tag issued pursuant to this chapter to any dog or cat may not be transferred to or passed down to a dog or cat other than the dog or cat for which the tag was issued.

(d)    If the metal tag is lost or destroyed, the owner shall have 30 days to procure a new metal tag from the city for a fee established by resolution of the city council. (Ord. 16-2018 § 1, 6-5-18.)

6.20.080 Presentation of license on request.

The owner of the dog or cat and any person with a right to control the dog or cat must present the license for that dog or cat upon the request of any person authorized to enforce this title. (Ord. 16-2018 § 1, 6-5-18.)

6.20.090 License record.

The animal services manager will keep a record of all licenses issued pursuant to this chapter, together with a description of the dog or cat for which the license was issued. (Ord. 16-2018 § 1, 6-5-18.)