Chapter 6.25
FOSTERING OF DOGS AND CATS
Sections:
6.25.030 Private animal placement permit – Citizen complaint process.
6.25.010 Individual private animal placement permit – Required – Qualifications – Limitations – Inspection, denial and revocation.
A. Any person independently engaged in the fostering of dogs and cats that routinely possesses more dogs and cats than are otherwise allowed in SMC 20.40.240 must obtain an individual private animal placement permit from the animal care and control authority. Permits shall be valid for one year from issuance and may not be transferred.
B. In order to qualify for a private animal placement permit, an applicant must:
1. Maintain and care for dogs and cats in a humane and sanitary fashion, in compliance with SMC 6.20.030.
2. Foster the dogs and cats at a location that is compatible with the surrounding neighborhood.
3. Agree to return stray or lost animals to their owners in accordance with SMC 6.40.020 before placing the animals in an adoptive home.
4. Agree to spay or neuter and license each dog or cat before placement into its new home and transfer the license of each animal to its adoptive owner.
5. Agree to coordinate their adoption process with the animal care and control authority, including reporting on the disposition of each animal, and only adopting to owners who would qualify to adopt an animal from the animal care and control authority’s animal shelter based on the adoption procedures and guidelines used by the animal care and control authority’s animal shelter.
C. Individuals or organizations holding a private animal placement permit shall be allowed to possess five foster animals above the limit that would normally apply to their property under SMC 20.40.240.
Permit holders are required to locate an adoptive home for each dog or cat within six months of acquiring the dog or cat. If, after six months, an adoptive home has not been found for a dog or cat, the animal care and control authority shall review the situation to determine if the permit holder is complying with the permit. If the manager of the animal care and control authority ascertains that a good faith effort is being made to locate adoptive homes, a six-month extension may be granted.
The presence of juvenile animals shall not necessarily place a permit holder over their limit unless the director of the animal care and control authority determines that juvenile animals are present in such large numbers as to otherwise place the permit holder out of compliance with the permit.
Holders of hobby kennel licenses shall be allowed to possess and foster five more animals than are allowed by the conditions of a hobby kennel permit.
D. The animal care and control authority may inspect the facilities of an applicant for a private animal placement permit to determine whether or not such a permit shall be issued. In addition, the animal care and control authority may periodically inspect the facilities of holders of private animal placement permits to ensure compliance with this section. The animal care and control authority may also deny or revoke permits based on any one or more of the following:
1. A failure to meet the qualifications listed in subsections A through C of this section;
2. Verified animal care and control complaints; and
3. Verified complaints by neighbors regarding the failure to comply with private animal placement permit requirements. [Ord. 595 § 2 (Att. A), 2011]
6.25.020 Organizational private animal placement permit – Required – Qualifications – Limitations – Inspection, denial and revocation.
A. Any organization engaged in the fostering of dogs and cats whose members routinely or from time to time have in their possession up to five more dogs and cats than are otherwise allowed in SMC 20.40.240 must obtain private animal placement permits from the animal care and control authority for each of those members. Organizations may purchase up to five permits, or up to 20 permits per year. However, the director of the animal care and control authority may issue more than 20 permits to an organization when to do so would further the goals of the animal care and control authority and be in the public interest. Permits shall be valid for one year from issuance and may be transferred between members of the organization.
B. In order to qualify to distribute private animal placement permits to its members an organization must:
1. Be of a reputable nature and engaged in the fostering of animals solely for the benefit of the animals involved, and not as a commercial enterprise;
2. Agree to furnish the animal care and control authority with the names, addresses and phone numbers of each of the holders of its permits, including immediately furnishing this information when a transfer takes place; and
3. Agree that, to the best of their ability, they shall only distribute permits to individuals who shall comply with the requirements of SMC 6.25.010. [Ord. 595 § 2 (Att. A), 2011]
6.25.030 Private animal placement permit – Citizen complaint process.
A. Upon receiving a citizen complaint involving the maintenance of an individual or organizational private animal placement permit, the director of the animal care and control authority shall cause the following to be performed:
1. Issue a notice of complaint to the holder of the permit, and the organization which issued the permit, if applicable, advising such person of the allegation(s) made in the complaint.
2. Require the permit holder, and organization, if applicable, to respond, in writing, to the allegation(s) in the notice of complaint within 10 days of receipt of the notice of complaint.
3. Investigate the allegation(s) in the written complaint and the response submitted by the permit holder, and organization, if applicable.
4. Make a finding as to the validity of the allegation(s) in the complaint. If it is found to be a valid complaint, the director shall revoke the permit pursuant to the qualifications described in SMC 6.10.010 and 6.25.010.
B. Failure to respond, in writing, to a notice of complaint within 10 days shall constitute a waiver of the permit holder’s or organization’s, if applicable, right to contest the allegation(s) in the complaint and shall be prima facie evidence that the allegation(s) are valid, and the permit shall be revoked. [Ord. 595 § 2 (Att. A), 2011]