Chapter 7.08 LICENSES AND LICENSING REQUIREMENTS

Chapter 7.08
LICENSES AND LICENSING REQUIREMENTS

Sections:

7.08.030 COMMERCIAL PET FACILITIES, GROOMING PARLORS AND ANIMAL WELFARE FACILITIES.

7.08.040 UNLAWFUL - VIOLATIONS AND PENALTIES.

7.08.010 CAT AND DOG LICENSES.

(a) License. All dogs and cats shall be licensed within thirty (30) calendar days from the date the owner acquires the animal or takes up residence in the City of Bremerton.

(b) License Expiration.

(1) Annual licenses shall expire one (1) calendar year from the date of issuance.

(2) Lifetime or permanent licenses shall expire upon death of the cat or dog, or upon change of ownership of the animal.

(d) Additional License Fee. Annual licenses not renewed by the designated renewal date shall be assessed an additional license fee as set forth in Chapter 3.01 BMC; provided, there shall be no additional license fee where:

(1) The applicant has owned the cat or dog for less than thirty (30) calendar days; or

(2) The applicant has resided in the City for less than thirty (30) calendar days; or

(3) At the discretion of the City Clerk, amnesty may be granted to all residents for an announced period of time not to exceed ninety (90) days in duration, and no more frequently than once per calendar year.

(e) Exemptions from License Fees. The following are exempt from license fees:

(1) Cats and dogs in the temporary custody of a veterinarian or animal welfare organization whose owners are unknown;

(2) Cats and dogs owned, and available for retail sale, by the owner or operator of a licensed commercial pet facility; or

(3) Service dogs.

(f) Maximum Number of Household Pets. Not more than the accumulative total of four (4) of the following animals may be kept in conjunction with each permitted dwelling:

(1) Dogs, cats and ferrets over the age of six (6) months.

(2) Rabbits and similar animals over the age of three (3) months.

(3) Pigeons over the age of three (3) months. (Ord. 5294 §1 (part), 2016: Ord. 5064 §1, 2008: Ord. 4949 §1 (part), 2005: Ord. 4807, Repealed & Replaced, 06/28/2002)

7.08.020 CAT AND DOG LICENSE PROCEDURE.

(a) Issuance of Licenses. The City Treasurer, animal control authority, or the authorized agents thereof shall issue licenses pursuant to BMC 7.08.010, as specified in this section.

(b) Contents of License. The license shall contain the following:

(1) Date of issuance and date of expiration, if applicable;

(2) A serial number;

(3) Type of animal, its name, age, color(s), sex, breed/mix, distinguishing characteristics, and whether the animal is spayed or neutered;

(4) The name, address, and telephone number of the owner of the animal;

(5) Permanent identification number or marking, such as microchip implant, if applicable.

(1) With each license, the owner shall receive a license tag that shall contain the serial number that corresponds to the serial number on the license and the date of license expiration.

(2) The license tag shall be worn at all times except that the license tag need not be worn by the licensed cat or dog in a sanctioned cat or dog show or while engaged in formal, recognized training. A microchip implant may replace a license tag; provided, the license is valid and the owner informs the licensing agent of change of address or phone number.

(d) Licenses Not Transferable. Licenses are not transferable from one (1) cat or dog to another or from one (1) owner to another.

(e) Lost Tags. Lost license tags may be replaced by a substitute license or tag upon application to the City Treasurer, the animal control authority, or their authorized agents thereof and payment of a replacement charge, as set forth in Chapter 3.01 BMC. (Ord. 5294 §1 (part), 2016: Ord. 4949 §1 (part), 2005: Ord. 4807, Repealed & Replaced, 06/28/2002)

7.08.030 COMMERCIAL PET FACILITIES, GROOMING PARLORS AND ANIMAL WELFARE FACILITIES.

(a) License Required. Commercial pet facilities, grooming parlors, and animal welfare facilities shall be licensed pursuant to Chapters 3.01 and 5.02 BMC.

(b) Operation Requirements for Commercial Pet Facilities and Animal Welfare Facilities.

(1) Adequate food and water for each species, pursuant to BMC 7.04.020(a), and proper habitat and medical attention, if needed, shall be provided during normal business hours and when the facilities are not open for business;

(2) Food shall be stored in a fashion that prevents contamination or infestation;

(3) The facilities shall be maintained and operated in a healthful and sanitary manner, free from disease, infestation, and foul odors;

(4) Sick animals shall be isolated from healthy ones in quarters adequately ventilated to prevent contamination of healthy animals;

(5) Sick or injured animals shall receive appropriate medical treatment by or under the auspices of a licensed veterinarian. Records shall be maintained reflecting treatment, care, dates of veterinary visits, and the name of the veterinarian and veterinary clinic providing treatment. Sick or injured animals shall not be sold, bartered, or otherwise transferred from a commercial pet facility or animal welfare facility to a new owner until the illness or injury is substantially healed, unless such transfer is to an animal welfare organization that assumed all responsibility for providing the appropriate medical treatment;

(6) Cats and dogs shall receive age-appropriate vaccines and anthelmintics. Records of such shall be maintained for each animal and made available to the animal control authority and the Bremerton-Kitsap County Health District, including the name and address of the attending veterinarian, if applicable;

(7) A copy of all medical records including, but not limited to, the records described in subsections (b)(5) and (6) of this section shall be provided to new owners at the time the ownership of the animal is transferred, or to the animal control authority upon request;

(8) A pet shop may offer for sale only those cats and dogs that the pet shop has obtained from or displays in cooperation with an animal welfare organization;

(9) A pet shop shall not offer for sale a cat or dog that is younger than eight (8) weeks old;

(10) A pet shop shall maintain records stating the name and address of the animal welfare organization that each cat and dog was obtained from for at least two (2) years following the date of acquisition. Such records shall be provided to new owners at the time the ownership of the animal is transferred, and to the animal control authority upon request. Each pet shop shall display on each cage a label stating the name and address of the animal welfare organization of each cat or dog kept in a cage; and

(11) Commercial pet facilities, grooming parlors, and animal welfare facilities shall comply with the veterinary certification requirements of WAC 16-54-170 when importing dogs, cats, and ferrets from outside Washington. Records documenting compliance with WAC 16-54-170 shall be maintained for at least two (2) years following the date of acquisition of the animal and such records shall be provided to new owners at the time the ownership of the animal is transferred, and to the animal control authority upon request.

(c) Facility and individual housing and habitat requirements for commercial pet facilities and animal welfare facilities:

(1) Indoor and outdoor animal housing facilities shall be in good repair, protect the animals from injury, and shall provide sufficient security to contain the animals while preventing entry by unwanted animals. Also, the habitat shall provide species-specific requirements including, but not limited to, temperature, humidity, and light.

(2) Indoor facilities shall:

(i) Provide the animal with adequate space for movement and ability to sit, lie, stand, and stretch without touching the sides or top of housing;

(ii) Be heated or cooled to protect the animals from temperatures to which they are not acclimated;

(iii) Be adequately ventilated;

(iv) Have interior walls, ceilings, and floors that are sealed and are resistant to absorption of moisture or odors;

(v) Have flooring with a surface that can be sanitized and treated to minimize growth of harmful bacteria;

(vi) Have a waste collection and removal system that facilitates cleaning and permits maintaining the facility in a sanitary condition; and

(vii) Have available a washroom with sink for hot and cold running water.

(3) Outdoor facilities shall:

(i) Provide adequate shelter and protection from adverse weather;

(ii) Provide sufficient room for adequate exercise and movement; and

(iii) When no indoor facility is available, outdoor facilities shall also:

(iv) Have flooring with a surface that can be sanitized and treated to minimize growth of harmful bacteria;

(v) Have a waste collection and removal system that facilitates cleaning and permits maintaining the facility in a sanitary condition; and

(vi) Have available a washroom with sink for hot and cold running water.

(d) Operation and Facility Requirements for Grooming Parlors. Grooming parlors shall:

(1) Not board animals;

(2) Provide restraining straps for animals to prevent injury while being groomed;

(3) Sterilize grooming equipment after each use;

(4) Not leave animals unattended when placed before a dryer;

(5) Not prescribe or administer treatment or medicine or otherwise engage in veterinary practice as defined in RCW 18.92.010;

(6) Not confine more than one (1) animal in the same cage unless so requested by the owner of the animals;

(7) Be structurally sound and in good repair, designed to protect the animals from injury, and provide sufficient security to contain the animals while preventing entry by unwanted animals;

(8) Have grooming and animal containment areas with walls, ceilings and floors that are sealed and resistant to absorption of moisture and odors; and

(9) Be cleaned and sanitized on a regular basis.

(e) Inspections. The animal control authority shall inspect existing or proposed commercial pet facilities, animal welfare facilities, and grooming parlors in connection with its licensing investigation and when inspections are necessary to ensure compliance with this title. Such inspections shall be made during regular business hours. (Ord. 5334 §1, 2017; Ord. 5140 §2, 2011; Ord. 4949 §1 (part), 2005: Ord. 4807, Repealed & Replaced, 06/28/2002)

7.08.040 UNLAWFUL - VIOLATIONS AND PENALTIES.

(a) It shall be unlawful:

(1) For a person other than the owner, keeper, or other authorized person to remove the license tag from an animal required or permitted to be licensed pursuant to this chapter;

(2) To operate a commercial pet facility, animal welfare facility, or grooming parlor without a valid license;

(3) To operate a commercial pet facility, animal welfare facility, or grooming parlor in a fashion contrary to that required by BMC 7.08.030.

(b) Any violation of this chapter as set forth in this section shall constitute a misdemeanor pursuant to BMC 1.12.020(2). Further, any person, firm or corporation violating the provisions of this chapter shall be deemed guilty of a separate offense for each and every day or portion thereof during which any violation of this section is committed, continued or permitted. (Ord. 4949 §1 (part), 2005)