Chapter 9.09
LICENSING

Sections:

9.09.010    Cat and dog licenses.

9.09.020    Kennel, pet shop, cattery, or shelter permits required.

9.09.030    Grooming parlor permit required.

9.09.040    Hobby kennel or hobby cattery license required.

9.09.060    Denial of license – Appeal.

9.09.070    Revocation, suspension, refusal to renew.

9.09.010 Cat and dog licenses.

(1) It is unlawful to keep or harbor a dog or cat that has reached 21 weeks of age unless an annual license is procured for the dog or cat from the animal services authority. There is established a rebuttable presumption that the purchaser of such license is the owner of the animal identified in the license application.

(2) Dogs and cats four months old or older shall be vaccinated against rabies. Vaccinations shall be performed in accordance with the standards contained in the “Compendium of Animal Rabies Control” as amended, published by the National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians, Inc. Proof of vaccination must be shown before a license will be issued by the animal services authority.

(3) The annual license fees are set by resolution of the city council.

(4) When a license is obtained in the process of recovery of an impounded dog or cat, a fee is charged for the license.

(5) The license will be valid for a term of one year from the date of issuance, expiring on the last day of the twelfth month. Application for such license is made upon forms provided by the city. The application shall list the name, address, and phone number of the owner, the name, breed, colors, age, and sex, if any, of the dog or cat, and such other medical and vaccination information and data as may be required. Such information is kept, conveniently indexed by the animal services authority, together with the number of the license issued.

(6) (a) Eligible residents may obtain at no charge a special permanent license for the lifetime of dogs and cats that are neutered or spayed and for which they are the registered owners when the animals are maintained at the owner’s registered address. Such residents are not required to annually obtain a new license for the lifetime of such licensed animals, except that no household shall be issued more than three special permanent animal licenses for dogs or cats.

(b) Residents are eligible for the special permanent license if they are:

(i) City residents 65 years of age and older; or

(ii) City residents permanently disabled who at the time of filing are retired from regular gainful employment and are unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental permanent impairment.

(c) Applications for special permanent licenses shall be submitted in writing on forms provided by the director and certified by the applicant that, under the penalty of perjury, all information provided in the claim is true and correct.

(d) The director may require documents deemed necessary to establish proper proof of disability status of the applicant, including but not limited to a current physician’s statement or supplemental security income award letter.

(e) The director may adopt rules and regulations as are deemed necessary by the director to implement and enforce this section.

(7) A license issued is not transferable or usable by a person other than the person to whom it was originally issued, except as provided in subsection (10) of this section.

(8) It is unlawful for an applicant to withhold or provide false information on an application.

(9) Upon payment of the license fee, the animal services authority shall furnish to the person paying the same a license tag for the dog or cat for which such fee has been paid. All license tags issued shall be securely fastened to a collar or other like harness which shall be worn by the animal at all times when off the premises of the licensed owner.

(10) Whenever the ownership of a licensed dog or cat changes, the new owner shall notify the animal services authority, whereupon the animal services authority shall change the record of the animal to show the new ownership. The new owner shall obtain a new license once the current license has expired.

(11) An owner or keeper of a licensed dog or cat whose current license tag has been lost may obtain a replacement tag by the payment of a sum to be set by resolution of the city council.

(12) The above provisions of this section shall not apply to:

(a) Dogs and cats whose owners are nonresidents within the city for less than six months of a given year;

(b) The owners of dogs or cats brought into the city for the purpose of participating in a dog or cat show;

(c) The owners or users of seeing-eye, guide, or service dogs;

(d) Veterinarians in custody of dogs or cats;

(e) The owners or operators of an animal shelter;

(f) The owners or operators of a duly licensed kennel;

(g) The owners or operators of a grooming parlor or pet shop; or

(h) The owners or operators of a pet daycare.

(13) It is unlawful for a person to refuse to show at a reasonable time to an officer proof that his or her animal(s) has been properly licensed.

(Ord. No. 10-661, § 22, 6-1-10.)

9.09.020 Kennel, pet shop, pet daycare, cattery, or shelter permit required.

It is unlawful for a person to keep, maintain, or operate a kennel, pet shop, pet daycare, cattery, or shelter within the city without first obtaining a valid permit from Seattle-King County Department of Public Health pursuant to Chapter 8.03 of the King County Board of Health Code. Each permit and certificate of inspection issued pursuant to this chapter shall be in addition to any business registration required pursuant to Chapter 12.05 FWRC and shall be conspicuously displayed at the establishment to which such permit was issued.

(Ord. No. 10-661, § 22, 6-1-10.)

9.09.030 Grooming parlor permit required.

(1) It is unlawful for any person to keep or maintain any grooming parlor without a valid permit from Seattle-King County Department of Public Health. Any grooming parlor permit and any certificate of inspection issued pursuant to Chapter 8.03 of the King County Board of Health Code shall be in addition to any business registration required pursuant to Chapter 12.05 FWRC and shall be conspicuously displayed at the establishment to which such license was issued.

(2) Grooming parlors shall:

(a) Not board animals but keep such animals only for a reasonable time in order to perform the business of grooming;

(b) Provide such restraining straps for the animal while it is being groomed so that such animal shall not fall or be hanged;

(c) Sterilize all equipment after each animal has been groomed;

(d) Not leave an animal unattended before a dryer;

(e) Not prescribe treatment or medicine that is the province of a licensed veterinarian as provided in RCW 18.92.010; and

(f) Not put more than one animal in each cage.

(3) A grooming parlor license must be revoked or may be refused to be renewed if the establishment constitutes a public nuisance or for failure to comply with the requirements of this section.

(Ord. No. 10-661, § 22, 6-1-10.)

9.09.040 Hobby kennel or hobby cattery license required.

It is unlawful for any person to keep and maintain any dog or cat within the city for the purposes of a hobby kennel or hobby cattery without obtaining a license. Applications for licenses for hobby kennels or hobby catteries shall be made to the animal services authority on forms provided by the city. Hobby licenses will not be issued or renewed prior to an inspection of the premises conducted by an animal services officer. The animal services officer may establish conditions to be met by the pet owner in order to become and remain licensed. The fee set by resolution of the city council for such license shall be assessed upon the owner of such animals. In addition, each animal shall be individually licensed pursuant to the provisions of FWRC 9.09.010.

(Ord. No. 12-714, § 3, 1-17-12; Ord. No. 10-661, § 22, 6-1-10.)

9.09.060 Denial of license – Appeal.

No applicant shall be issued a hobby kennel or hobby cattery license who has had such license revoked or renewal refused and until such applicant meets all applicable requirements established by this chapter. A decision to revoke, refusal to renew, or denial of a license under this chapter may be appealed to the hearing examiner. Such appeal shall be brought within 10 days of such decision and in accordance with FWRC 12.05.200.

(Ord. No. 10-661, § 22, 6-1-10.)

9.09.070 Revocation, suspension, refusal to renew.

(1) The animal services authority may, in addition to other penalties provided in this chapter, revoke, suspend or refuse to renew any hobby kennel or hobby cattery license upon good cause or for failure to comply with any provision of this chapter; provided, however, the enforcement of such revocation, suspension or refusal shall be stayed during the pendency of an appeal filed pursuant to FWRC 12.05.200.

(2) No applicant shall be issued a hobby kennel or hobby cattery license who has previously had such license suspended or revoked or a renewal refused, for a period of one year after the date of revocation or refusal and until such applicant meets the requirements contained in the provision of this chapter to the satisfaction of the animal services authority.

(Ord. No. 10-661, § 22, 6-1-10.)