Chapter 7.12
LICENSES
Sections:
7.12.010 Dog licenses required.
7.12.015 Cat licenses required.
7.12.030 Animal license due date.
7.12.040 Issuance of animal licenses.
7.12.050 Animal licenses nontransferable.
7.12.070 Unlicensed dogs or cats impounded.
7.12.080 Proof of licensed dog.
7.12.090 Animal ownership restrictions – Variance.
7.12.110 Violation – Penalty – Civil infraction.
7.12.010 Dog licenses required.
It is unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to own, keep or have custody or control of any dog over the age of six months in the city unless said person, firm or corporation procures a license therefor as hereinafter provided. Dogs becoming six months of age during the year shall be licensed as herein provided. Where a dog may be kept, or how it may be kept, shall not affect the licensing requirements. (Ord. 1750 § 6, 1999).
7.12.015 Cat licenses required.
It is unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to own, keep or have custody or control of any cat over the age of six months in the city unless said person, firm or corporation procures a license therefor as hereinafter provided. Cats becoming six months of age during the year shall be licensed as herein provided. Where a cat may be kept, or how it may be kept, shall not affect the licensing requirements. (Ord. 1750 § 6, 1999).
7.12.020 Animal license fee.
(1) There shall be no fee for licensing of neutered male or spayed female dogs or cats. A certificate or other signed statement of a licensed veterinarian shall be required to establish that a female dog or cat has been spayed or a male dog or cat has been neutered.
(2) The license fee for each non-neutered male dog or cat and for each nonspayed female dog or cat shall be a one-time $75.00 charge.
(3) Canines that are trained and serving as a seeing eye, guide, or service dogs, or actively working police dogs, shall be licensed at no fee. (Ord. 1750 § 6, 1999).
7.12.030 Animal license due date.
(1) All dog and cat licenses issued under this chapter shall be due and payable upon the dog or cat becoming six months of age and shall be valid for the lifetime of the dog or cat.
(2) If the owner or keeper, firm, or corporation fails to obtain a dog or cat license as required in POMC 7.12.010 or 7.12.015, in addition to the regular fee as stated above, shall pay a penalty fee of $25.00 for each dog license; provided, the owner or keeper, firm or corporation shall not pay the penalty fee if:
(a) The owner/keeper has been a resident of the city 30 days or less; and
(b) The owner/keeper has owned, kept, been in control of, or had custody of the dog or cat for 30 days or less; and
(c) The dog or cat, at the time of application for license, is seven months of age or less; this allows 30 days after due date. (Ord. 1750 § 6, 1999).
7.12.040 Issuance of animal licenses.
It shall be the duty of the city clerk, their appointee or their authorized agent to issue licenses to persons applying therefor, upon payment of the license fee, if required, as herein provided, and a tag for each dog or cat licensed. The license shall be dated and numbered and shall bear the name of Port Orchard, Washington, the name and address of the owner or keeper of the dog or cat licensed, the name of the dog or cat and a description of the dog or cat, including its age and sex. The tag shall bear the name of Port Orchard, Washington, a serial number corresponding with the name on the license. It shall be a violation of this chapter for any owner or keeper of a dog to not have a substantial collar on the dog and attached firmly thereto the license tag. (Ord. 017-23 § 1 (Exh. A); Ord. 1750 § 6, 1999).
7.12.050 Animal licenses nontransferable.
Dog or cat licenses as provided herein shall not be transferable from one dog or cat to another. (Ord. 1750 § 6, 1999).
7.12.060 Lost animal tags.
Lost tags may be replaced by a substitute identification tag upon payment of $2.00 to the city clerk, or authorized agent. (Ord. 1750 § 6, 1999).
7.12.070 Unlicensed dogs or cats impounded.
All dogs and cats not licensed hereunder are nuisances and may be seized and impounded; provided, that the provisions of this section shall not apply to dogs brought into the city for the purpose of participating in a dog show, nor to “seeing-eye” dogs properly trained to assist blind persons, when such dogs are actually being used by blind persons for the purpose of aiding them in going from place to place. (Ord. 1750 § 6, 1999).
7.12.080 Proof of licensed dog.
Proof of licensing and compliance of POMC 7.12.010 shall be the responsibility of the owner of the dog or cat. Any dog or cat that does not have a proper current license will be presumed to be unlicensed. (Ord. 1750 § 6, 1999).
7.12.090 Animal ownership restrictions – Variance.
(1) The number of dogs or cats at a single-family dwelling unit shall be restricted to a total of three dogs and/or cats, except this restriction shall not apply to owners or operators of a duly licensed hobby kennel.
(2) A request for variance from ownership restrictions, as stated above, may be submitted to the city council. Upon receipt of a completed variance application the city clerk shall set a date for public hearing before the city council. Notice of such public hearing shall be given to all adjacent property owners of the subject property not less than 10 days or more than 30 days prior to the date of hearing. A variance shall be granted when:
(a) The strict enforcement of the provisions of this chapter will create an undue hardship; and
(b) The variance will not create a health or safety hazard. (Ord. 009-13 § 1, 2013; Ord. 1750 § 6, 1999).
7.12.100 Date of violation.
The date of violation of the provisions of this section shall be the date on which it became known to the Port Orchard police department or to the impounding authority that such person, keeper, firm or corporation has an unlicensed dog or cat. (Ord. 1866 § 1, 2002).
7.12.110 Violation – Penalty – Civil infraction.
Any person violating any provisions of this chapter, unless otherwise identified, is guilty of a civil infraction. The fine for any infraction shall be $40.00 for the first violation, $75.00 for the second infraction committed within one year and $100.00 for the third and subsequent infractions committed within one year. Each and every day or portion thereof, in which an infraction is committed, shall constitute a separate and distinct infraction. (Ord. 1866 § 1, 2002).