Chapter 6.08
REGULATIONS PERTAINING TO DOGS
Sections:
6.08.010 License required for dogs.
6.08.020 License – Display of tag.
6.08.030 Unauthorized removal of tag prohibited.
6.08.040 Counterfeit or imitation tag prohibited.
6.08.050 Dogs – Running at large prohibited.
6.08.060 Dog nuisances prohibited.
6.08.070 Dogs on beach or in ocean prohibited.
6.08.010 License required for dogs.
A. Except as provided in this section, it is unlawful for any person to have, keep, maintain or harbor any dog within the city for more than thirty consecutive days unless such person obtains from the county of Los Angeles department of animal care and control (hereafter referred to as “county”), a license for such dog. The license shall be valid for one year from the date of issuance and shall thereafter be renewed annually so long as such person has, keeps, maintains or harbors such dog.
B. To obtain a license, the owner of the dog shall submit an application to the county stating the age, sex, color, and breed of the dog for which the license is desired and the address of the owner, and shall provide a certificate issued by a person licensed by the state, or any other state or nation, to practice veterinary medicine, which shows that the dog for which the license is sought either:
1. Has been vaccinated with an approved rabies vaccine and the period elapsing from the date of the vaccination to the date of expiration of the license being issued does not exceed the time as established by the state; or
2. Should not be vaccinated with a rabies vaccine by reason of infirmity or other disability, which disability and estimated date of termination thereof are shown on the face of such certificate and, to the satisfaction of the county, to be in effect at the time of the license application.
If a license is issued for a dog which has not been vaccinated, that shall be noted in the county’s records and the dog shall be vaccinated at the earliest time possible, consistent with the dog’s infirmity or disability, and no license for such dog may be renewed until either such dog has been vaccinated with an approved rabies vaccine, or a new certificate meeting subsection (B)(2) of this section has been provided to the county.
C. If during a license period a dog is sold or title to the dog is otherwise transferred to a new owner, such new owner may apply to the county for a transfer of such dog’s tag and license. Upon receipt of such application and fee, the county shall record the name and address of the new owner.
D. The fees for a new dog license, the renewal of a dog license, or the transfer of a dog license, and the penalty for delinquency in renewing a dog license, shall be in amounts established by resolution of the city council.
E. The county shall provide for the issuance of serially numbered metallic dog licenses. The dog licenses shall be stamped with the name of the county and the year of issue. The number of the license tag issued shall be endorsed upon the application for the license.
F. A license pursuant to this section shall not be required for the following:
1. A dog under the age of four months;
2. A dog owned by or in the charge of a person who is a nonresident of the city and is traveling through the city or residing in the city for a period not in excess of thirty days; or
3. A dog brought into the city from any point outside of the city for the exclusive purpose of receiving veterinary care in any dog hospital; provided, that such dog is kept at all times strictly confined within such hospital. (Ord. 707 § 2, 2013; Ord. 701 § 2 (Exh. 1), 2012; Ord. 678 § 2, 2007)
6.08.020 License – Display of tag.
A. The owner or person having the care, control, or custody of any dog shall securely fasten the license tag required by PVEMC 6.08.010 upon a suitable collar or harness and securely fasten such collar or harness, with such tag thereto, upon the dog to which the license is issued.
B. A duplicate license tag may be issued by the county to the applicant upon payment of an amount set by resolution of the city council. (Ord. 707 § 2, 2013; Ord. 701 § 2 (Exh. 1), 2012; Ord. 678 § 2, 2007)
6.08.030 Unauthorized removal of tag prohibited.
An unauthorized person shall not remove from any dog any collar or harness or other device to which is attached a license tag, or remove such tag or other identification therefrom. (Ord. 701 § 2 (Exh. 1), 2012; Ord. 678 § 2, 2007)
6.08.040 Counterfeit or imitation tag prohibited.
A person shall not attach to or keep upon any dog, or cause or permit to be attached to or kept upon any dog, any counterfeit or imitation of any license tag provided for in this chapter, or make or cause or permit to be made, or have in his or her possession, any counterfeit or imitation of any license tag provided for in this chapter. (Ord. 701 § 2 (Exh. 1), 2012; Ord. 678 § 2, 2007)
6.08.050 Dogs – Running at large prohibited.
A. No person owning or having charge, care, custody, or control of any dog shall cause, permit, or allow the same to be or to run at large upon any street, sidewalk, parkland, or other public place, or upon any private property or premises other than that of the person owning or having charge, care, custody, or control of such dog, unless such dog be restrained by a substantial chain or leash not exceeding six feet in length and is in the charge, care, custody, or control of a competent person.
B. In addition to the provisions of subsection A of this section, no person owning or having charge, care, custody, or control of any dog which has been trained to attack persons or animals, or an attack dog that behaves in a threatening or menacing manner, shall cause, permit, or allow the same to be or run at large upon any private property or premises, including those of the person owning or having charge, care, or custody of such dog, except within such portion of such property or premises which is enclosed by a structure, fence, or wall not less than five feet in height, which is otherwise in compliance with the provisions of this code. (Ord. 701 § 2 (Exh. 1), 2012; Ord. 678 § 2, 2007)
6.08.060 Dog nuisances prohibited.
A. Except as expressly authorized by subsection B of this section, no person having custody of any dog shall permit such dog to commit any nuisance upon any lawn, yard, or other public or private property unless the permission of the property owner is first obtained.
B. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection A of this section, a person having custody of a dog may permit such dog to commit a nuisance upon that portion of the sidewalk which consists of unpaved property (commonly referred to as the parkway) or paved street, or upon any property owned by the city and designated as parkland; provided, that such person shall immediately remove all feces deposited by the dog in a sanitary method and shall dispose of such feces in a sanitary manner by placing the same in a sealed container and depositing such container in a trash receptacle. Failure to undertake such removal or such disposal shall be deemed a violation of this section.
C. Any person who has charge or control of a dog outside of an enclosed structure or vehicle and in a location other than on the property of such person or the property of the owner of the dog shall have in his or her possession a suitable wrapper, bag or container for the purpose of complying with the requirements of subsection B of this section. Such wrapper, bag or container shall be carried in such a manner that it can be observed in plain view.
D. For the purposes of this section, the following definitions shall apply:
1. A “nuisance” committed by a dog shall mean defecation by such dog.
2. A person “permits” a dog to commit a nuisance if that person either willfully permits such act or fails to exercise due care or control of the dog.
E. The provisions of this section shall not apply to a blind person, visually handicapped person, deaf person, or other physically disabled person accompanied by a guide dog, signal dog, or service dog.
F. Any violation of this section is an infraction. (Ord. 701 § 2 (Exh. 1), 2012; Ord. 678 § 2, 2007)
6.08.070 Dogs on beach or in ocean prohibited.
No person shall bring onto any beach or into the waters of the Pacific Ocean adjacent to any beach any dog. “Beach,” as used in this section, is defined as follows: that portion of Lot F, Tract 10624, between the water’s edge and the base of the bluffs. (Ord. 701 § 2 (Exh. 1), 2012; Ord. 678 § 2, 2007)