A. Requirements. An animal license fee shall be paid for every dog over the age of four months owned and harbored in this county. The license fee shall be first due when the animal reaches four months of age or within sixty days after the dog is acquired, and due on the anniversary date of the original purchase date each year thereafter; provided, however, that a three-year license may be obtained for a dog (excluding wolf-hybrids) by submitting to the dog licensing program adequate proof of a three-year rabies vaccination of the dog to be licensed and payments of the applicable fees as set forth in Section 6.04.240 of this code. New residents shall have sixty days in which to acquire such license. Persons renewing their license shall have thirty days following their due date before being delinquent and having to pay a late penalty. The fee for such license shall be as set forth in the fee schedule in this chapter. The fee paid for the licensing of spayed or neutered dogs shall be one-half of the license fee for unaltered dogs upon presentation of the proper certification. The fee paid by persons over the age of sixty shall be one-half of said license fee. Any person who shall fail to pay the license fee after fee is due, or the dog is required to be licensed shall, in addition to paying any past due license fee or fees, also pay a penalty in accordance with the fee schedule. A license shall be obtained, but no license fee shall be payable for the licensing of any dog which is being trained for guide or hearing purposes by a resident of the county or used for guide or hearing purposes by a handicapped resident of the county and which has come from a guide or hearing dog training facility, or for dogs which have served as a member of the armed forces of the United States of America, or any dog currently being used by a law enforcement agency for the purposes of crime prevention or control. Dog licenses are not transferable between owners; however, if the dog dies and the owner acquires a new dog, the license is transferable to the new dog. The license does not have to be renewed until the original purchase anniversary date. The fee paid for the dog license is not refundable. Licenses provided for in this chapter shall be signed by the director of community services. The licenses shall be numbered consecutively.

B. Exemptions. The licensing provisions in this chapter are not applicable to the following:

C. Tags. The director of community services shall procure plates or tags which bear the number of the license. He shall also keep a record of the name of the owner or possessor together with a description of the dog for which the license is issued and the number of the license, and he shall deliver the tag to such person upon payment for the license as provided by this chapter.

D. Duplicate Tags. Whenever a tag has been lost or stolen, the owner or possessor of the dog concerned may request a duplicate tag upon payment of the required fee and on making and subscribing to an affidavit of such loss and filing the same with the director of community services.

E. Wearing of Tag by Dog Required. The owner of a dog for which a license is required shall affix such tag to a suitable collar, which collar shall remain on the dog at all times.

F. Records Required for Purchased Animals. The owner or operator of any kennel, animal breeding facility, pet shop, or any place or establishment where animals are sold shall keep permanent record of the name, address and phone number of the purchaser of any dog along with the breed, color, sex and age of each dog sold or given away and shall forward such information to the animal control program within thirty days thereafter. An animal control officer shall have the right to inspect such records during normal business hours.

G. Veterinarian Responsibilities. Every veterinarian who vaccinates or causes or directs to be vaccinated in the county any dog with anti-rabies vaccine shall use a form approved by the licensing authority to certify that such animal has been vaccinated. Every veterinarian shall submit to the licensing authority a copy of the county-approved anti-rabies vaccination form within ten days of the beginning of each month for any dog during the previous month. An animal control officer or animal licensing officer shall have the right to inspect records of rabies vaccinations during normal business hours. (Ord. 532 § 1, 2002; Ord. 431 § 2 (part), 1987)