Every owner of a dog which is over the age of four months, and which is kept in the City, shall obtain an identification tag and annual license for such dog and shall pay the annual fee imposed by Section 7-12.020.
(Prior code § 3.2; Ord. 2797 § 1, 1989; Ord. 2943 § 6, 1992)
An annual dog license fee set by resolution of the City Council is imposed upon every dog over the age of four months which is kept in the City by any person who is an owner as defined in Section 7-04.010. If a certificate is presented from a licensed veterinarian that the dog has been spayed or neutered, the annual license fee imposed shall be reduced by the sum set by resolution of the City Council. The license fee is due and payable on the day upon which the dog is four months old, or the day upon which the dog, if over the age of four months, is first owned by a resident of the City, and thereafter on the annual anniversary of the rabies vaccination. If the license fee is not paid on or before the annual rabies vaccination anniversary date, the license will be considered delinquent and the owner shall pay the delinquency penalty set by resolution of the City Council in addition to the assessed dog license fee and shall pay the penalty when the license is issued. However, any dog which first becomes subject to these licensing provisions solely by reason of annexation to the City of Santa Rosa of the territory in which the owner resides, is exempt from this section for the balance of the annual period for which such dog is properly licensed by the County of Sonoma.
(Prior code § 3.3; Ord. 2797 § 2, 1989; Ord. 2943 § 6, 1992; Ord. 4006 § 1, 2013)
Upon each application for a license, the owner shall furnish to the Poundmaster in writing his or her name, the address where the dog is kept, the name, breed, age, sex and color of the dog, and proof of current vaccination. The Poundmaster shall furnish registration forms for such purpose and upon payment of the fee, and penalty, if any, shall issue a serially numbered license certificate and a metallic identification tag or device. The identification tab or device shall be issued once and serve over the life-time of the dog.
(Prior code § 3.4; Ord. 2943 § 6, 1992; Ord. 3258 § 7, 1996)
If an identification tag or device is lost, the Poundmaster may issue a duplicate or other tag in lieu thereof upon receiving proof of loss, made in writing under penalty of perjury, and a fee which shall be set by resolution of the City Council.
(Prior code § 3.7; Ord. 2943 § 6, 1992)
The identification tag shall be attached securely to a collar or harness, or the device shall be attached by other suitable means, on the dog for which issued at all times that the dog is in the City. The identification tag shall be shown by the owner at any time upon demand by the Poundmaster or his Deputies.
(Prior code § 3.8; Ord. 2943 § 6, 1992)
No person shall remove an identification tag or device from a dog without express or implied permission of the owner. No person shall counterfeit or imitate an identification tag or device or make any unauthorized substitution of such tags or devices.
(Prior code § 3.9; Ord. 2943 § 6, 1992)
(A) 
No person owning or otherwise having a dog in his or her care, charge, custody or possession shall cause, permit or allow such dog to be in or upon any public street, road, alley or other public place unless such dog is restrained and under control by leash or chain, or unless confined in a vehicle in the manner allowed by Section 7-08.120. The leash or chain shall not exceed six feet in length. This restriction shall not apply to areas within the city specifically set aside and posted for the exercise of animals.
(B) 
No person owning or otherwise having a dog in his care, charge, control, custody or possession, cause, permit or allow such dog to enter upon private property without consent of the person in possession of the property or to defecate or urinate upon, or to damage or destroy any lawns, trees, shrubs, or other plantings, or any other improvement or thing of value on, such private property.
(C) 
The restraint requirements provided in this section shall not apply to a service or assistance dog; a dog participating in field or obedience trials; animal exhibitions or training; or a dog assisting a Peace Officer engaged in law enforcement duties, so long as the owner or custodian of such a dog has been issued a written permit by an Animal Control Officer allowing the dog to be off its leash. Such permit shall be in the possession of the owner or possessor of the dog at the time the dog is off its leash and shall be displayed on request of an Animal Control Officer.
(D) 
Any animal found in any public place, or upon the private property of another without the consent of the owner or possessor of the private property, in violation of this section, may be impounded.
(Prior code § 3.11; Ord. 2943 § 6, 1992; Ord. 3258 § 10, 1996)
No person owning or otherwise having a dog in his care, charge, control, custody or possession except a service or assistance dog, shall cause, permit or allow such dog to be in or upon any public park or playground unless such dog is under restraint by leash or chain. The leash or chain shall not exceed six feet in length. Dogs are prohibited in public park or playground areas so designated and posted by the City.
(Prior code § 3.11.1; Ord. 2943 § 6, 1992)
Any unsterilized dog which is impounded a second time within a 12-month period for violation of restraint requirements shall be spayed or neutered within seven days of the redemption. Written verification from the veterinarian performing the surgery shall be provided by the owner to the poundmaster within seven days of the surgery.
(Ord. 3341 § 1, 1997)