It shall be unlawful for any person to own a dog four months old or older in the County, unless such dog is licensed under the provisions of this article.
State law references: Similar provisions, Code of Virginia, § 3.2-6524.
A. 
Any person may obtain a dog license by making oral or written application to the treasurer, accompanied by the amount of the license tax. The treasurer shall only have the authority to license dogs of owners or custodians who reside within the boundary limits of the County and may require information to establish the location of the residence of any applicant.
B. 
It shall be unlawful for any person to make a false statement in order to secure a dog license to which he is not entitled. Violation of this section shall constitute a Class 4 misdemeanor.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
C. 
Nothing in this article shall preclude compliance with all provisions of Chapter 325, Zoning.
State law references: Similar provisions, Code of Virginia, §§ 3.2-6526, 3.2-6527, 3.2-6587 (penalty).
A. 
An annual license fee is hereby imposed on dogs required to be licensed under this article. The amount of the license tax shall be as follows:
[Amended 6-18-2024]
(1) 
Unneutered or unspayed dog: $10.
(2) 
Neutered or spayed dog: $10.
(3) 
Kennel license: $50.
B. 
No license fee shall be imposed under this section on any dog that is trained and serves as a guide dog for a blind person or that is trained and serves as a hearing dog for a deaf or hearing-impaired person; or that is a search and rescue dog; or that is trained and serves as a service dog for a mobility-impaired person. As used herein, the term "hearing dog" means a dog trained to alert its owner, by touch, to sounds of danger and sounds to which the owner should respond; and "service dog" means a dog trained to accompany its owner for the purpose of carrying items, retrieving objects, pulling a wheelchair or other such activities or service or support.
C. 
All money collected by the treasurer pursuant to this section shall be deposited into the general fund of the County.
State law references: Similar provisions, Code of Virginia, § 3.2-6528.
The license tax imposed on dogs by § 11-28 shall be due and payable as follows:
A. 
On or before the first day of January and not later than the 31st day of January of each year, the owner of any dog four months old or older shall pay such tax.
B. 
If a dog shall become four months of age or if a dog over four months of age unlicensed by this County shall come into the possession of any person between the first day of January and the 31st day of October of any year, the license tax for the current calendar year shall be paid by the owner forthwith.
C. 
If a dog shall become four months of age or if a dog over four months of age unlicensed by this County shall come into the possession of any person between the first day of November and the 31st day of December of any year, the license tax for the succeeding calendar year shall be paid forthwith by the owner and such license shall protect the dog from the date of payment of the license tax to the end of the succeeding calendar year.
State law references: Similar provisions, Code of Virginia, § 3.2-6530.
It shall be unlawful for the owner of any dog to fail to pay the license tax imposed by this article before February 1 for the year in which it is due. In addition to any fine imposed hereunder, the court may order the confiscation and the proper disposition of any dog for which the license fee has not been paid. Payment of the license tax subsequent to a summons to appear before a court for failure to do so within the time required by this article shall not operate to relieve such owner from the penalties provided for such failure.
State law references: Similar provisions, Code of Virginia, §§ 3.2-6536, 3.2-6587 (penalty).
A. 
Upon receipt of a proper application and the prescribed license tax, the treasurer shall issue a dog license, provided that no such license shall be issued for any dog unless there is presented to the treasurer a current certificate of vaccination or inoculation issued for the dog pursuant to § 11-37, valid for the entire license year or years. When the license is issued, such certificate shall be marked and returned to the dog's owner. It shall be unlawful for any person to present a certificate for a dog other than that for which it was issued.
B. 
Each dog license shall consist of a license tax receipt and a metal tag. Such receipt shall have recorded thereon the amount of the tax paid, the name and address of the owner or custodian of the dog, the date of payment, the year for which the license is issued, the serial number of the tag and whether the license is for a male, female or unsexed female dog or for a kennel. The metal tag issued hereunder shall be stamped or otherwise permanently marked to show the name of the County, the sex of the dog and the calendar year for which issued and a serial number.
State law references: Similar provisions, Code of Virginia, §§ 3.2-6526, 3.2-6527.
A. 
A dog license receipt shall be carefully preserved by the person to whom it is issued and exhibited promptly on request for inspection by the animal control officer or any other officer of the County. Dog license tags shall be securely fastened to a substantial collar by the owner and worn by such dog. The owner of the dog may remove the collar and license tag required by this section when the dog is engaged in lawful hunting; when the dog is competing in a dog show, supervised obedience training, or supervised field trial; when the dog has a skin condition which would be exacerbated by the wearing of a collar; when the dog is confined; or when the dog is under the immediate control of its owner.
B. 
Any dog not wearing a collar bearing a license tag of the proper calendar year shall prima facie be deemed to be unlicensed, and in any proceedings under this article, the burden of proof of the fact that such dog has been licensed or is otherwise not required to bear a tag at the time shall be on the owner of the dog.
State law references: Similar provisions, Code of Virginia, §§ 3.2-6531, 3.2-6533.
It shall be unlawful for any person, other than the owner, to remove a license tag from a dog without the permission of the owner.
State law references: Similar provisions, Code of Virginia, § 3.2-6587.
If a dog license tag shall become lost, destroyed or stolen, the owner shall at once apply to the Treasurer for a duplicate license tag. Upon presenting the original license receipt and an affidavit that the original license tag has been lost, destroyed or stolen, the treasurer shall issue a duplicate license tag, which the owner shall immediately affix to the collar of the dog. The Treasurer shall endorse the number of the duplicate and the date issued on the face of the original license receipt. The fee for a duplicate tag shall be established by resolution adopted by the Board of Supervisors.
State law references: Similar provisions, Code of Virginia, § 3.2-6532.
It shall be unlawful for any person to conceal or harbor any dog upon which the license tax imposed by this article has not been paid.
State law references: Similar provisions, Code of Virginia, § 3.2-6587.
[Added 3-21-2018]
A. 
Notwithstanding any other provision of this article, effective in lieu of the annual license required under §§ 11-28 and 11-29, any dog owner may opt to purchase a permanent license, valid for the lifetime of the dog for which it has been issued. The fee for issuance of such a lifetime license shall be $50 for a dog regardless of if it being spayed/neutered. As provided by § 11-29, either an annual license or a lifetime license shall be required for every dog on and after the date the dog reaches the age of four months, or 30 days after a dog is brought into the County, whichever is later. Kennel licenses shall continue to be required and issued on an annual basis, as stated in § 11-28.
[Amended 6-18-2024]
B. 
Dog owners applying for such a lifetime license shall present a certificate of a current rabies vaccination. Thereafter the owner shall maintain such vaccination in current status as required by § 11-37. If a dog previously granted a lifetime license is determined by the animal control officer not to have a currently valid vaccination or certificate thereof, the lifetime license shall be deemed void, and in addition to any other penalty or consequence provided by law, the owner shall be required to apply for a new license for such dog once a valid vaccination has been obtained.