Chapter 6.04
DOGS
Sections:
6.04.020 License and registration required.
6.04.030 Tag and collar required.
6.04.050 Running at large prohibited.
6.04.080 Redemption of impounded dog.
6.04.090 Adoption and disposition of dogs.
6.04.100 Disposal of certain dogs.
6.04.110 Rabies – Muzzling and vaccination.
6.04.010 Definitions.
As used in this chapter, unless the context indicates otherwise:
A. “Animal control officer” means any police officer of the city or any other person acting under the direction or authority of the mayor of the city.
B. “At large” means off the premises of the owner, and not under the control of the owner or a member of his immediate family either by leash, cord, chain or otherwise.
C. “Competent person” means any person who, by reason of age and physical ability, and/or training, is capable of maintaining control of a dog to the extent required by this chapter.
D. “Dog” means both male and female.
E. “Owner” means any person or persons, firm, association or corporation owning, keeping or harboring a dog.
F. “Under control” means:
1. Attached to a leash or chain of sufficient strength to restrain the dog and not more than eight feet in length, when the leash or chain is held by a person competent to restrain and control the dog off the owner’s premises;
2. Properly restrained within a motor vehicle or housed in a veterinary hospital;
3. Accompanied by and at “heel” beside, or controlled within 10 feet of, the owner or a competent, responsible person;
4. If left unattended on the owner’s premises, it or they shall be so confined, tied or restrained as to be unable to range beyond the owner’s premises.
G. “Vicious” means the propensity to do any act that might endanger the safety of any person, animal or property of another. (Ord. 1055 § 1, 2019; Ord. 1053 § 1, 2019; Ord. 430, 1984)
6.04.020 License and registration required.
A. All dogs kept, harbored or maintained by their owners in the city shall be licensed each year on a calendar year basis and registered if over four months of age. Annual dog licenses shall be issued by the city clerk-treasurer upon payment of a license fee as set by council resolution.
B. In the event the owner fails to license their dog on or before March 1st, or within two months of the arrival of the dog within the city, there will be a late penalty of double the license fee.
C. The owner shall state, at the time application is made for such license, his name and address, the name, breed, color and sex of each dog owned or kept by him, and show proof of spaying or neutering, and proof of vaccination as required in this chapter.
D. The provisions of this section shall not be intended to apply to dogs brought into the city for the purpose of participating in any dog show, nor to Seeing Eye dogs properly trained to assist blind persons when such dogs are actually being used by blind persons for the purpose of aiding them in going from place to place. (Ord. 1055 § 1, 2019; Ord. 1053 § 1, 2019; Ord. 665, 1993; Ord. 430, 1984)
6.04.030 Tag and collar required.
Upon payment of the license fee, and supplying proof of vaccination as required in this chapter, the clerk-treasurer shall issue to the owner a numbered metallic tag for each dog so licensed. The nature of the tag shall be changed every year and shall have stamped thereon the year for which it was issued and the number corresponding with the number on the city register. Every owner shall be required to provide each dog with a collar to which the license tag must be affixed, and shall see that the collar and tag are constantly worn. In case a dog tag is lost or destroyed, a duplicate will be issued by the clerk-treasurer upon presentation of a receipt showing payment of the license fee for the current year and the payment of $1.00 for the duplicate. Dog tags shall not be transferable from one dog to another, and no refunds shall be made on any dog license fee because of death of the dog or the owner’s leaving the city before expiration of the license period. (Ord. 1055 § 1, 2019; Ord. 1053 § 1, 2019; Ord. 430, 1984)
6.04.040 Vaccinations.
All dogs located within the city limits shall be vaccinated for distemper, rabies and parvo. Proof of current vaccinations shall be held for all dogs licensed in the city. (Ord. 1055 § 1, 2019; Ord. 1053 § 1, 2019; Ord. 430, 1984)
6.04.050 Running at large prohibited.
It is unlawful for any person being the owner or having the care and control of any dog to permit the dog to run at large in the city. (Ord. 1055 § 1, 2019; Ord. 1053 § 1, 2019; Ord. 430, 1984)
6.04.060 Leashes required.
All dogs in the city outside of the owner’s home must be on a proper leash. (Ord. 1055 § 1, 2019; Ord. 1053 § 1, 2019; Ord. 430, 1984)
6.04.070 Enforcement.
A. Any dog found in violation of any section of this chapter may be seized and impounded by any police officer or animal control officer of the city. Dogs so impounded shall be fed and treated in a humane manner and the cost and expense of the care of all impounded dogs not redeemed by their owners shall be paid by the city as all other bills are paid.
B. In addition to, or in lieu of, impounding an animal found at large, the animal control officer or police officer may issue the owner or agent of the owner of such animal a notice of infraction for violation of this chapter.
C. Violations not witnessed by a police officer or animal control officer may be reported by any competent person by filing a complaint with the clerk of the municipal court. At the discretion of the prosecutor of the city, a summons or notice of infraction shall be issued to the owner or agent of the owner. (Ord. 1055 § 1, 2019; Ord. 1053 § 1, 2019; Ord. 430, 1984)
6.04.080 Redemption of impounded dog.
A. Neither the city nor any officer or agent of the city shall be responsible for notifying the owner of the impounding of any dog under this chapter; provided, however, that where a dog is wearing a current license tag, the officer or department impounding the dog shall attempt to notify the owner of the dog as shown by the license records of the city. It shall, however, be the entire responsibility of the owner to ascertain that his dog has been impounded and to take such measures necessary for redeeming the dog.
B. Any owner of a dog which has been impounded may redeem the same from the city or from the persons having custody of the same under the protection of the city by exhibiting evidence that a proper license for the current year has been procured and that a fee of $15.00 to cover the cost of impounding the dog has been paid; and, in addition, he shall pay the sum of $3.00 for each day or portion of a day that the dog has been kept in custody. (Ord. 1055 § 1, 2019; Ord. 1053 § 1, 2019; Ord. 430, 1984)
6.04.090 Adoption and disposition of dogs.
A. Any dog not redeemed within five days from the time of impounding may be adopted through the city for the full amount of license tax and its provision, if applicable, and an adoption fee of $35.00, of which $20.00 will be refunded in the event such adopted dog is spayed or neutered within one month of adoption and proof of same is furnished to City Hall.
B. A record of adoption will be on file in City Hall with the following information:
ADOPTION FORM
I am purchasing this dog for my own adoption and will not return the dog to its previous owner. I agree to pay the adoption fee of $35.00 to the City of Langley, $20.00 of which will be returned to me if I bring proof of spaying or neutering the dog within one (1) month of this date. I further agree that if a City of Langley License is applicable that I will register said adopted dog with the City and abide with all regulations thereof. Dated this __day of ________ (year)
C. In the event there is no person who offers to pay the amount equal to the amount of the annual license and fees for impounding and keeping such dog, then the city, at the expiration of five days, shall have the right to and shall cause such dog to be destroyed. The city shall in no instance be under obligation to obtain a purchaser for such dog. Any dog which appears to be suffering from rabies, serious mange or other infectious or dangerous disease shall not be released, but may be destroyed at the discretion of the police chief. (Ord. 1055 § 1, 2019; Ord. 1053 § 1, 2019; Ord. 481, 1985; Ord. 430, 1984)
6.04.100 Disposal of certain dogs.
It is lawful for any police officer to kill any dangerous or vicious dog found at large which cannot be safely taken up and impounded. (Ord. 1055 § 1, 2019; Ord. 1053 § 1, 2019; Ord. 430, 1984)
6.04.110 Rabies – Muzzling and vaccination.
Whenever it becomes necessary to safeguard the public from the dangers of hydrophobia, the mayor, if he/she deems it necessary, shall issue a proclamation ordering every person owning or keeping a dog to confine it securely on its premises, unless such dog shall have a muzzle of sufficient strength to prevent its biting any person. Any unmuzzled dog running at large during the time of the proclamation shall be seized and impounded and subject to all the provisions of this chapter, unless noticeably affected with rabies. All dogs noticeably affected with rabies and displaying vicious propensities may be killed by any police officer, without notice to the owner. (Ord. 1055 § 1, 2019; Ord. 1053 § 1, 2019; Ord. 430, 1984)
6.04.120 Rabies – Notice.
A. If a dog is believed to have rabies or has been bitten by a dog suspected of having rabies, such dog shall be confined by a leash or chain on the owner’s premises and shall be placed under observation of a veterinarian at the expense of the owner for a period of 10 days. The owner shall notify the police chief of the fact that his dog has been exposed to rabies, and at his discretion the police chief is empowered to have such dog removed from the owner’s premises to a veterinary hospital and there placed under observation for a period of 10 days at the expense of the owner.
B. It is unlawful for any person knowing or suspecting a dog has rabies to allow such dog to be taken off his premises or beyond the limits of the city without the written permission of the police chief. Every owner, or other person, upon ascertaining a dog is rabid, shall immediately notify the police chief, who shall either remove the dog to the pound or summarily destroy it. (Ord. 1055 § 1, 2019; Ord. 1053 § 1, 2019; Ord. 430, 1984)
6.04.130 Public nuisance.
It is unlawful to allow any dog to be a public nuisance in the city. A dog shall be deemed a public nuisance if it:
A. Molests or menaces passersby or passing vehicles;
B. Attacks other animals;
C. Is repeatedly at large;
D. Damages private or public property;
E. Barks, whines or howls in an excessive, continuous or untimely fashion;
F. Deposits fecal matter upon any private or public property without the same being removed immediately by the owner or persons having control of the dog. (Ord. 1055 § 1, 2019; Ord. 1053 § 1, 2019; Ord. 430, 1984)
6.04.140 Violation – Penalty.
Violation of or failure to comply with any of the provisions of this chapter shall be subject to a civil penalty as set forth in Chapter 1.14. When violations are of a continuing nature, the penalty shall increase each day of the violation as set forth in Section 1.14.050(E). (Ord. 1055 § 1, 2019; Ord. 1053 § 1, 2019; Ord. 832, 2003; Ord. 430, 1984)
6.04.150 Police power.
This chapter is declared to be an exercise of the police power of the city, for the preservation of the public health, safety and welfare of the city. (Ord. 1055 § 1, 2019; Ord. 1053 § 1, 2019; Ord. 430, 1984)