(a) A person may not own, keep, or harbor a dog or cat four months or older in violation of this section. An owner or custodian of an unaltered dog or cat must have the dog or cat spayed or neutered or obtain an unaltered dog or cat license in accordance with the requirements of this chapter.
(b) The owner or custodian of a dog or cat that cannot be spayed or neutered without a likelihood of serious bodily harm or death due to age or illness must obtain written confirmation from a licensed veterinarian. The confirmation must also state when the dog or cat may be safely spayed or neutered. If the dog or cat cannot be spayed or neutered within thirty (30) days of the issuance of the written confirmation of a likelihood of serious bodily harm or death, the owner or custodian must apply for an unaltered dog or cat license.
(c) Unaltered dog license requirements. An owner or custodian of an unaltered dog four months or older must obtain an annual unaltered dog license. The license will be issued if the code enforcement officer has determined that all of the following conditions are met:
(1) The dog is one of the following: a competition dog; a dog used by a law enforcement agency for law enforcement purposes; a qualified service or assistance dog; or a dog that is unable to be spayed or neutered for the reasons stated in subsection (b);
(2) The owner or custodian has submitted the required application and has paid the fee in Section 3.36.160; and
(3) The unaltered dog will be maintained as required by this chapter and applicable state animal care and control laws.
(d) Unaltered cat license requirements. An owner or custodian of an unaltered cat four (4) months or older must obtain an annual unaltered cat license. The license will be issued if the code enforcement officer has determined that all of the following conditions are met:
(1) The cat is one of the following: a competition cat as defined in Section 10.08.085(B) or a cat which is unable to be spayed or neutered for the reasons stated in subsection (b);
(2) The owner or custodian has submitted the required application and has paid the fee required by Section 3.36.160;
(3) The unaltered cat will be maintained as required by the Los Angeles County Code and applicable state animal care and control laws; and
(4) The unaltered cat will be kept indoors or in an outdoor enclosure that prevents other cats from entering.
(e) Denial or revocation of unaltered dog or cat license. The code enforcement officer may deny or revoke an unaltered dog or cat license for any of the following reasons:
(1) The applicant or licensee has not complied with the requirements of subsection (b);
(2) The code enforcement division has received at least one complaint, signed under penalty of perjury, stating that the applicant, custodian, or licensee of an unaltered dog or cat has allowed it to run loose or escape, or has neglected it or another animal;
(3) The applicant or licensee has been cited for violating the La Puente Municipal Code or state law relating to the care and control of animals;
(4) A court or an agency of appropriate jurisdiction has determined that the dog or cat is a nuisance, or that the dog is a potentially dangerous dog or a vicious dog, under the La Puente Municipal Code or state law;
(5) Another unaltered dog or cat license held by the applicant has been revoked;
(6) An unaltered female dog or cat has had more than one litter per year, or five or more litters in her lifetime; or
(7) The license application contains a material misrepresentation of fact.
(f) Re-application for unaltered dog or cat license:
(1) When an unaltered dog or cat license is denied, the applicant may re-apply for a license if the requirements of subsection (b) have been met. The city will refund one-half of the license fee when an application is denied. The applicant must pay the full fee upon re-application.
(2) When an unaltered dog or cat license is revoked, the owner or custodian of the dog or cat may apply for a new license after thirty (30) days if the requirements of subsection (b) have been met. No part of an unaltered dog or cat license fee is refundable when a license is revoked. The applicant must pay the full fee upon re-application.
(g) Appeal of denial or revocation of unaltered dog or cat license.
(1) Notice and request for hearing. The code enforcement officer will mail a written notice to the owner or custodian of the code enforcement officer's intent to deny or revoke the unaltered dog or cat license stating the reason(s) for the denial or revocation. The owner or custodian may request a hearing to appeal the denial or revocation. The request to appeal must be made in writing within ten (10) days after the notice of intent to deny or revoke is mailed. An owner or custodian waives the right to appeal if he or she does not mail or deliver a written request to appeal to the code enforcement officer within ten (10) days after the notice of intent is mailed.
(2) Notice and conduct of hearing. The code enforcement officer will mail a written notice of the date, time, and place for the hearing to the owner or custodian at least ten (10) days before the hearing date. The hearing will be conducted by the code enforcement officer. The hearing will take place within thirty (30) days after the code enforcement division receives the request for a hearing. An owner or custodian who does not appear at the hearing waives the right to a hearing. The hearing will be informal and the rules of evidence will not be strictly observed. The code enforcement officer will mail a written decision to the owner or custodian within ten (10) days after the hearing. The decision of the hearing officer is the final administrative decision.
(h) Transfer, sale and breeding of unaltered dog or cat.
(1) Offer to transfer, sell, or breed unaltered dog or cat. An owner or custodian who offers an unaltered dog or cat for transfer, sale or breeding must include a valid unaltered dog or cat license number with the offer or otherwise confirm compliance with subsection(b).
(2) Transfer of unaltered dog or cat. The owner or custodian of an unaltered dog or cat four months or older, which is not a competition dog or cat as defined in subsection (b), must demonstrate to the Code Enforcement Officer compliance with subsection (b) prior to the transfer, and must notify the code enforcement officer of the name and address of the transferee within ten (10) days after the transfer. The license and microchip numbers must appear on a document transferring the dog or cat to the new owner.
(3) Notification of litter and sale or transfer of puppies and kittens. Within thirty (30) days after a litter is born to a female dog or cat, the owner or custodian of the female dog or cat must advise the code enforcement officer in writing of the number of live born puppies or kittens. When a puppy or kitten younger than four months is sold or otherwise transferred to another person, the owner or custodian must advise the code enforcement officer of the name and address of the new owner or custodian, and the microchip number of the puppy or kitten, if applicable, within ten (10) days after the transfer.
(i) Impoundment of unaltered dog or cat.
(1) The owner or custodian of an impounded unaltered dog or cat may reclaim the unaltered dog or cat if:
(A) The dog or cat is spayed or neutered by a city-designated veterinarian at the owner or custodian's expense; or
(B) The dog or cat is spayed or neutered by another code enforcement officer-approved veterinarian at the owner or custodian's expense. The owner or custodian must pay the city's transportation costs to deliver the dog to the chosen veterinarian. The veterinarian must sign and return a certificate of sterility to the code enforcement officer within ten (10) days after the surgery; or
(C) At the discretion of the code enforcement officer, the owner or custodian agrees to have the dog or cat altered and to submit a certificate of sterility signed by a veterinarian within ten (10) days after the surgery; or
(D) The owner or custodian otherwise demonstrates compliance with subsection (b).
(2) Costs of impoundment.
(A) The owner or custodian of an unaltered dog or cat will be charged for the costs of impoundment, including daily board and care costs.
(B) The costs of impoundment are a lien on the dog or cat. The dog or cat will not be returned to its owner or custodian until the costs are paid. The dog or cat will be deemed abandoned if the owner or custodian does not pay the lien amount within fourteen (14) days after the notice of the lien is personally delivered or mailed to the owner or custodian. (Ord. 961, § 2, 2019)