9.44.410 Wild animals-Permit-Approval of application.

   Upon receipt of an application for an initial permit by the animal care services manager, the application shall be forwarded to the building inspections division of the city, the superintendent of the city zoo, and the public health department of the county and designated employees of these departments shall ascertain whether or not the applicant's plan is in conformity with all laws governing their respective departments.

   If the applicant's plan is in conformity with the law governing such departments, departmental approval shall be indicated on the face of the application. If the applicant's plan is not in conformity with the law governing the departments, the face of the application shall be marked "Not Approved" and the reason for nonapproval noted thereon, along with any revisions or changes in the applicant's plan which if made would result in approval by the department in question.

   Upon approval by the departments of an application for an initial permit or upon the receipt of an application for a renewal permit, the animal care services manager shall make any investigation he or she deems proper. He or she shall approve an application if he or she finds all of the following:

   A.   The keeping of the wild animal at the location specified in the application will not violate any law or ordinance of the city or any law of the state;

   B.   The keeping and maintenance of the wild animal will not endanger the peace, health, or safety of persons in the immediate vicinity, or in the city as a whole;

   C.   The premises and housing where the wild animal is to be kept are in a clean and sanitary condition, and any wild animal will not be subject to suffering, cruelty or abuse;

   D.   The applicant has not had a permit provided for herein revoked within a year prior to the date of application;

   E.   The keeping and maintenance of the wild animal does not constitute a public nuisance. (Ord. 2010-021 § 12; prior code § 6.08.093)

9.44.420 Wild animals-Permit-Revocation and suspension.

   Any permit issued pursuant to this article may be revoked or suspended as herein provided if, after investigation, the animal care services manager finds any of the following to be true:

   A.   The owner, his or her agent or employee has been convicted of any offense involving the violation of Section 597 of the Penal Code of the state of California, or any provisions of this article, or is in violation of the zoning, health, and safety or building ordinances relating to the keeping of wild animals; or

   B.   The owner has failed to keep and maintain the premises or housing for the wild animals in a clean and sanitary condition; or

   C.   The owner has, at the place for which the permit is issued, failed to provide any wild animal with proper food, water, shelter or attention; or

   D.   The owner has violated any rules, regulations or conditions adopted by the animal care services manager as necessary to insure that the wild animal will not endanger the safety of any person or property. (Ord. 2010-021 § 12; prior code § 6.08.094)

Article IV. Cat Licenses

9.44.430 License-Required.

   A.   It is unlawful for any person to own, harbor or keep within the limits of the city a cat, over the age of four months, without first obtaining from the city a license authorizing the keeping of such cat within the city.

   B.   It is unlawful for any person to breed an unaltered cat within the limits of the city while the cat is unlicensed.

   C.   It is unlawful for any person to own, harbor or keep within the city any cat over the age of four months that has not been sterilized, unless such person holds an unaltered license, unaltered license with reduced fee, or is otherwise exempted as set forth in subsection G of this section.

   D.   A valid license issued pursuant to this section to one owner may be transferred to a new owner for a transfer fee in the amount established by resolution of the city council.

   E.   Whenever a license tag is lost, stolen or damaged, the owner shall apply for and obtain a replacement license from animal care services upon payment of the replacement fee.

   F.   Any owner of an unaltered cat that meets all of the following criteria for each unaltered cat shall annually pay a reduced unaltered license fee upon written proof on an annual basis that the owner meets the following criteria:

      1.   Register each cat with the International Cat Association, the Cat Fanciers Association, or other valid registry approved by the animal care services division;

      2.   Be a registered participant in at least one event sanctioned by a national registry and approved by the animal care services division within the previous twelve (12) month period from the date of issuance of the license or a showing that the cat has achieved at any time a title from a purebred cat registry. In the event that an owner can not show proof that the animal has been shown in the previous twelve (12) month period, the department shall have the discretion to determine whether this subsection has been met; and

      3.   Does not breed the cat during the time the animal holds a reduced unaltered license. It is unlawful for the owner or any person to breed the cat during the time the animal holds a reduced unaltered license. This does not preclude the owner from obtaining an unaltered license at the full rate for the year the owner intends to breed the animal.

   G.   The following are exempt as specified: Cats that are certified in writing by a licensed veterinarian as not being suitable subjects for sterilizing due to health or age reasons will be assessed the altered license fee. A veterinarian shall specify in writing how long the animal is not a suitable subject for sterilization. If the animal at a later date is determined by the veterinarian to be suitable for sterilization then the appropriate fee will be assessed. (Ord. 2007-019 § 1; prior code § 6.11.136)

9.44.440 Fees-Waiver.

   A.   Fees and License Periods.

      1.   A license fee in the amount established by resolution of the city council shall be collected by the animal care services manager, other persons authorized by the animal care services manager, other authorized city department, or other persons authorized by the city manager, from the owner of each cat, male or female, over the age of four months, located within the city.

      2.   The license period is a maximum one year or three years, commencing on the first day of the month the cat receives a rabies vaccination and expiring the last day of the month immediately preceding the month during which the vaccination will become invalid.

      3.   License fees shall become due and payable on the date of expiration.

      4.   Upon presentation of proper proof of spaying or neutering certified in writing by a licensed veterinarian, the license fee for such spayed or neutered cat shall not exceed one-half of the basic fee.

      5.   A delinquency fee set by resolution of the city council shall be payable in addition to the license fee whenever a license is not renewed on or before the first business day after expiration.

      6.   Any person who acquires ownership, custody or control of any cat not currently licensed pursuant to provisions of this chapter shall be immediately liable for the payment of the license fee and shall be liable for a delinquency fee as set by the city council if the license is not obtained within thirty (30) days.

      7.   No license shall be issued for a current license period until such time as there is paid an amount equal to all delinquencies and fees outstanding for the prior license period in addition to the fee for the current period.

   B.   Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection A of this section, the animal care services manager is hereby authorized to waive delinquency fees for up to one month per year, in order to encourage citizens with unlicensed cats to obtain licenses. The animal care services manager shall cause this licensing amnesty program to be publicized throughout the city. (Ord. 2007-019 §2; prior code § 6.11.137)

9.44.450 Vaccination certificate required prior to license.

   A cat license shall not be issued for any cat unless and until the owner of the cat presents to the animal care services manager or other authorized city department a valid certificate of vaccination issued by a licensed veterinarian, or as provided through vaccination clinics, with an approved anti-rabies vaccine approved by the United States Department of Agriculture. (Ord. 2007-019 § 3; prior code § 6.11.138)

9.44.460 Application-Issuance-Identification tag to be issued.

   The person owning or having control of the cat shall furnish to the animal care services division or other authorized city department a description of the cat sufficient for identification, which description shall be entered in a record kept by the animal care services manager for that purpose. A metallic or plastic identification tag having a number corresponding with the registration upon the cat shall be issued to the owner of the cat. Upon such registration, a license certificate shall be issued to the applicant. (Ord. 2010-021 § 12; Ord. 2007-019 § 4; prior code § 6.11.139)