A. Licensing Required. It shall be unlawful for any person to keep, harbor or have custody of any dog over four (4) months of age within the City without such dog having a current, valid license tag issued by the City. Each dog shall have a current rabies vaccination as evidenced by a valid rabies certificate issued by the veterinarian who performed the vaccination as a requisite to licensing. A rabies vaccination certificate shall not be required if the license is obtained at the time the dog is vaccinated at a City sponsored low-cost clinic.
B. Licensing Guard/Security Dogs. While a dog is being used for security purposes within the City, it must have an City dog license; and the license tag must be securely fixed to the dog’s collar regardless of where the owner resides and whether a license has been obtained for that jurisdiction.
C. License Application. Written application for licenses, which shall include the name and address of applicant, description of the animal, the appropriate fee and rabies certificate issued by a licensed veterinarian or anti-rabies clinic showing a current vaccination, shall be made to the licensing authority.
D. Term of License. If not revoked, licenses for the keeping of dogs shall be issued for a period of three (3) months or more, not to exceed three (3) years or the expiration date of the current rabies vaccination certificate.
E. Time of License Application. Application for a dog license must be made within thirty (30) days after obtaining a dog or when the dog reaches the age of four (4) months. This requirement does not apply to a nonresident keeping a dog within the City for not longer than thirty (30) days so long as a current license from another jurisdiction is continuously attached to the dog.
F. Issuance of Tag. Upon acceptance of the license application and fee, the licensing authority shall issue a durable tag, stamped with an identifying number.
G. Tag Must be Worn. Dogs must wear identification tags or collars at all times when off the premises of the owners.
H. Record of Tags. The licensing authority shall maintain a record of the identifying numbers of all tags issued and shall make this record available pursuant to the Government Code as a public record.
I. Tags and Vaccinations. The licensing period shall run concurrently with the rabies vaccination certificate.
J. License Fees. License fees shall be established and amended by resolution of the City Council as part of the City’s Fee Schedule. Each application for a license shall be accompanied by a license fee as specified in the City’s Fee Schedule, provided such license is obtained:
1. Within thirty (30) days of the expiration date of the current license;
2. Within thirty (30) days after said dog attains the age of four (4) months;
3. Within thirty (30) days after purchase or obtaining control, care or custody of a dog which previously attained the age of four (4) months and provided further that proof of recent acquisition as indicated by the date of purchase receipt is shown at the time of application; or
4. Within fifteen (15) days after the date of establishing residency in Adelanto, if said dog has no current license from another jurisdiction.
5. Within thirty (30) days of establishing residency if said dog has a current vaccination and license from another jurisdiction. The owner must transfer the dog license to the City of Adelanto.
K. Licensing Fee. The licensing fee shall be established by the City Council to cover the reasonable cost to the City of administering its licensing program, together with the reasonable cost of providing an incentive for sterilization.
L. Use of License. No person may use any license for any animal other than the animal for which it was issued.
M. Penalty Fee. Any person who obtains a license not in conformity with any of the provisions of this Chapter shall pay a penalty fee as specified in the Adelanto Fee Schedule, which shall be adopted by resolution of the City Council, in addition to the regular license fee.
N. Renewal of License. Each Adelanto dog license shall be valid for a period of one (1), two (2) or three (3) years from the date of issuance, depending on the fee paid, and shall be renewed prior to expiration or within a period of thirty (30) days after expiration. The procedure for the renewal of such license shall be in the same manner as the issuance of the original license.
O. Duplicate License Tag. When the original license tag is lost, a duplicate tag shall be obtained upon submission to the Animal Control Department such proof as may be required. The cost of each duplicate tag shall be as specified in the Adelanto Fee Schedule.
P. Wearing of Tag. It shall be the responsibility of every City resident who owns, harbors, cares for or has in custody a licensed dog, to securely attach or fasten the license tag to the dog’s collar or harness so that such tag is worn by the dog at all times except while such dog remains indoors or in any enclosed yard or pen where the dog resides.
Q. Falsification of License Tag. It shall be unlawful for any person to place upon or attach to a dog any false, counterfeit or unauthorized tag for the purpose of evading the provisions of this Chapter.
R. Unlawful Use of Tag. It shall be unlawful to attach a license tag on a dog to which said tag was not originally issued. It shall be unlawful for an unauthorized person to remove from any dog, any collar or harness or other device to which is attached an Adelanto license tag for the current year or remove such tag therefrom.
S. Transfer of Ownership. If, during the licensing year, a licensed dog in the City is sold or title to the dog is otherwise transferred to a City resident, such new owner may apply to the City for a transfer of such dog’s license and pay a transfer fee as specified in the Adelanto Fee Schedule. Upon receipt of the application fee, the Animal Control Department shall record the transfer of the license to the new dog owner.
[Ord. No. 521, 10/23/13.]