Chapter 7.12
LICENSING AND KEEPING OF DOGS AND CATS
Sections:
7.12.020 Maximum number of dogs, cats or litters.
7.12.040 Dogs – Restraint required – Exceptions – Control by responsible person.
7.12.060 Dogs – License required.
7.12.080 License – Vaccination required.
7.12.100 License – Annual fee imposed.
7.12.120 Dog license fee – Exemptions.
7.12.140 License – Application – Issuance of certificate.
7.12.160 License tag – Attachment required – Exceptions.
7.12.180 License tag – Duplicate.
7.12.200 Dog licenses – Record keeping by city.
7.12.020 Maximum number of dogs, cats or litters.
A. No person shall keep or maintain on any premises more dogs or cats than set forth in Section 17.42.040 of the Cotati Municipal Code except: (1) premises maintained by a veterinarian licensed by the state for the practice of veterinary medicine, (2) premises with a kennel license and any required land use permit for a commercial kennel or pet shop, (3) premises upon which a licensed animal shelter is located.
B. No person shall allow the parturition and rearing of more than two litters of dogs or cats in any one calendar year from the total number of females owned by him or her or maintained on his or her premises without a valid kennel license and any required land use permit for a commercial kennel. (Ord. 788 § 1(part), 2006).
7.12.040 Dogs – Restraint required – Exceptions – Control by responsible person.
A. Every owner or person in possession of a dog shall keep such dog or dogs confined to his or her own premises or shall keep such dog or dogs under physical restraint by means of a leash not to exceed six feet in length except:
1. Assistance dogs while performing their duties;
2. Dogs participating in field or obedience trials or exhibitions;
3. Dogs assisting their owner or handler in legal hunting or in the herding of livestock;
4. Dogs assisting a security guard or assisting a peace officer engaged in law enforcement activities;
5. Dogs being trained for any of the purposes set forth in this section on private land with permission of the land owner, so long as such dogs are under direct control of such individuals to assure that they do not violate any other provision of this title or other law.
B. No person shall keep a dog under the physical restraint of a leash unless such person is capable of controlling and directing said dog. Any dog which is not subject to such control and direction may be seized and impounded.
C. Every owner or person in possession, custody or control of a dog shall at all times prevent such dog from biting or physically harassing any person engaged in a lawful act and from interfering with the lawful use of public or private property.
D. Every owner or person in possession, custody or control of a dog shall at all times prevent such dog from causing injury to another animal while such animal is lawfully upon public or private property and which results in veterinarian treatment or death.
E. Every owner or person in possession, custody or control of a dog shall desist from commanding or provoking such dog to attack, sic or threaten a person when such person is peaceably and lawfully upon public or private property. (Ord. 788 § 1(part), 2006).
7.12.060 Dogs – License required.
Every owner of a dog which is four months of age or older, and which is kept in the city, shall obtain a license tag and annual license for such dog from the city and shall pay the annual fee imposed by resolution of the city council. No person shall maintain or board any dog four months of age or older which has not been licensed, except:
A. A license shall not be required for a dog owned or under the control of a nonresident of the city and which is to be kept in the city for less than thirty days.
B. A license shall not be required for dogs temporarily brought into the city for entry into an event, show or exhibition scheduled not more than ten days thereafter.
No person shall refuse to exhibit a dog license when so directed by a police officer or animal control officer. (Ord. 788 § 1(part), 2006).
7.12.080 License – Vaccination required.
No license shall be issued for any dog, which is four months of age or older, pursuant to this chapter unless and until the owner presents to the city a valid certificate of vaccination signed by a veterinarian and certifying that the dog has been vaccinated with an approved rabies vaccine and showing that the period of time from the date of vaccination to the date of expiration of the vaccination does not exceed the time interval prescribed by the State Department of Health. In no case shall a license be issued with an expiration date greater than the rabies vaccination expiration date. Where a certificate of vaccination shows that a dog should not be vaccinated due to infirmity or other disability, the nature of the infirmity and/or other disability and the estimated date of termination thereof shall be shown. (Ord. 788 § 1(part), 2006).
7.12.100 License – Annual fee imposed.
An annual dog license fee set by resolution of the city council is imposed upon every dog four months and older, which is kept in the city by any person. Such license fee shall be reduced as established by resolution for spayed or neutered dogs. The license fee is due and payable thirty days following the day upon which the dog is four months old, or thirty days following the day upon which the dog, if over the age of four months, is first owned by a resident of the city and thereafter on the first day of each year. The fee is an annual fee and shall not in any case be prorated. (Ord. 788 § 1(part), 2006).
7.12.120 Dog license fee – Exemptions.
License fees shall be waived for:
A. Assistance dogs which are used primarily for the purpose of guiding or assisting persons who are blind, deaf or otherwise disabled;
B. Service dogs used in law enforcement by a governmental agency;
C. One dog kept in a household where the owner of the dog is over the age of fifty-five years. (Ord. 788 § 1(part), 2006).
7.12.140 License – Application – Issuance of certificate.
Upon each application for a license, the owner shall furnish to the city, in writing, his or her name, the address where the dog is kept, the name, breed, age, sex and color of the dog, and proof of current vaccination. The city shall furnish application forms for such purpose. (Ord. 788 § 1(part), 2006).
7.12.160 License tag – Attachment required – Exceptions.
A. With each dog license issued, the director shall issue a metal tag bearing an identifying number and the words and letters “Cotati Police Dept.” Said dog license tag shall be securely affixed to a collar, harness, or other device and shall be worn by the dog for which the license was issued at all times that said dog is in the city, except when said dog is confined in a commercial kennel, pet shop or veterinary facility, or it is being exhibited at a show, field trial or other competition. The license tag shall be shown by the owner at any time upon demand by the animal control officer or police officer.
B. It is unlawful for any person to attach a metal tag issued pursuant to this section to any dog other than the dog for which it was issued. (Ord. 788 § 1(part), 2006).
7.12.180 License tag – Duplicate.
If a license tag is lost or destroyed, a duplicate or other tag in lieu thereof shall be procured from the city within thirty days after loss or destruction. Upon receiving payment of a replacement fee, the city shall issue a replacement tag to the owner. The replacement fee shall be fixed by resolution duly adopted by the city council which may be amended as necessary. (Ord. 788 § 1(part), 2006).
7.12.200 Dog licenses – Record keeping by city.
The director shall keep a record of all licenses issued by him or her, together with a description of the dog for which such license is issued. (Ord. 788 § 1(part), 2006).