(a) Upon the transfer of ownership of any animal that has been deemed a dangerous or vicious dog, the seller of the dog shall give the buyer a transfer of ownership certificate that shall be signed and notarized by the seller. The certificate shall contain the registration number, age, sex, color and breed of the dangerous or vicious dog, the name, address and phone number of the seller, the signature of the City of Newark's Animal Control Officer verifying that the Department of Public Safety has been notified of the pending sale. Additionally, the transfer of ownership certificate shall require the seller to answer the following questions:
(1) "Has the dog ever chased or attempted to attack or bite a person? If yes, describe the incident(s) in which the behavior occurred.
(2) "Has the dog ever bitten a person? If yes, describe the incident(s) in which the behavior occurred."
(3) "Has the dog ever seriously injured or killed a person? If yes, describe the incident(s) in which the behavior occurred.
Blank forms of the certificate may be obtained from the City of Newark Office of the Public Safety Director.
(b) Prior to the transfer of ownership or possession of a nondangerous or nonvicious dog, upon the buyer's or other transferee's request, the seller or other transferor of the dog shall complete a transfer of ownership certificate described in subsection (a).
(c) Within ten days after the transfer of ownership or possession of any dog, if the seller or transferor of the dog has knowledge that the dog is a dangerous or vicious dog, such seller or transferor shall provide a copy of the completed transfer of ownership certificate to the Animal Control Officer for the district in which the buyer or other transferee resides if one exists, the dog warden of the county where the buyer or other transferee resides and the health department of the county where the buyer or other transferee resides.
(d) Anyone who violates this section shall be guilty of a minor misdemeanor.
(Ord. 07-30. Passed 7-16-07.)