A. 
Except as established in section 4-07-3010(B), every Dog meeting the minimum age requirements to receive a rabies vaccination shall be subject to a Dog license fee, due and payable by its Owner or Custodian within thirty (30) calendar days of the acquisition of the Dog, or entry into the County. Thereafter, such license fee shall become due and payable on the date of expiration on any license previously issued to the Owner or Custodian for the Dog. The amount of such fee shall be established in accordance with Section 4.07.1300 of this chapter. No license shall be issued without evidence of a valid rabies vaccination.
B. 
Upon the written certification of a Veterinarian that a Dog has been surgically sterilized, the amount of the license fee shall be not more than one half the fee established for intact Dogs, in accordance with Food and Agriculture Code Section 30804.5.
C. 
No Dog license shall be issued for any Dog vaccinated with a Rabies vaccine not approved by the State of California. Should a rabies vaccination not be valid for twelve (12) months from the date of application the Owner or Custodian may elect to do either of the following:
1. 
Be issued a license at the regular one-year rate as outlined in subsection A of this section that will expire upon expiration of the vaccination and be due again in full; or
2. 
Revaccinate and be issued a license which would be valid for at least twelve (12) months.
D. 
A Dog license fee shall become delinquent thirty (30) calendar days after it becomes due and payable, and upon delinquency, an additional delinquent fee, as established by the Board, shall be added to the regular fee. An unpaid delinquent fee shall be added to the succeeding year's license fee.
E. 
Animal Services shall procure and issue serially numbered tags stamped with the name of the county. This tag is a lifetime tag, which should not be removed, and will be unique to the Animal to which it was issued. The license tag shall only be issued upon the application of Owners who have complied with the vaccination and fee provisions of this chapter.
F. 
Every Dog shall be provided by the Owner or Custodian with a suitable collar, harness, or other device to which the Dog tag can be affixed. The Dog Owner or Custodian shall ensure that the Dog wears such license tag at all times except when the Dog is being prepared for an exhibit at a Dog show.
G. 
A license tag issued for one Dog shall not be transferred or attached to any other Dog. Any change of ownership of the dog or any change in the Owner's contact information shall be noticed to Animal Services within 30 days of the change.
H. 
Whenever a license tag is lost, stolen, or damaged the Owner or Custodian shall apply for and obtain a replacement tag from Animal Services upon payment of the prescribed replacement fee.
I. 
Despite anything in this chapter to the contrary, when an Owner or Custodian brings into the County a Dog which has been licensed in another jurisdiction, the Dog shall be licensed within thirty (30) calendar days as outlined in this chapter. If the license from the other jurisdiction is valid for at least twelve (12) months, a one-year license may be obtained for replacement tag fees upon the surrender of the other jurisdiction's license and the proper completion of a license application.
(Added by Ord. No. 3557, effective 5-30-19)
A. 
The issuance by Animal Services and the acceptance by the Owner of any license to keep an Animal as provided for herein is prima facie evidence that the Owner agrees to comply with the terms and conditions set forth in this chapter and that the Owner has satisfied the basic licensing requirements under this chapter. Such issuance shall be given no evidentiary weight to indicate that the Owner has conformed to zoning regulations, building regulations, health and safety regulations or to any other applicable rule, regulation or statute. For purposes of the administration of this chapter, if, pursuant to the issuance of official written notice, approval has been given by the office or agency responsible for the administration of the rule, regulation or statute in question, such approval shall be deemed prima facie evidence that the matter approved is in conformance with the rule, regulation or statute in question.
B. 
Exemptions. The licensing regulations in this chapter are not applicable to the following:
1. 
Animals kept as all or part of the stock of (a) nonprofit zoological gardens open to the public; (b) circuses; or (c) Animal exhibits when such enterprises are operated under business licenses granted by the County.
2. 
Service Dogs as defined in Section 4.07.1400 of this Chapter.
3. 
Public safety Animals such as police, rescue, and drug enforcement Dogs.
4. 
Dogs in the care and custody of a Rescue Kennel.
(Added by Ord. No. 3557, effective 5-30-19)
Every Owner or Custodian of an unlicensed or untagged Dog shall be deemed to be in violation of this chapter and is guilty of an infraction.
(Added by Ord. No. 3557, effective 5-30-19)
A. 
Every Dog meeting the minimum age requirements to receive a rabies vaccination shall receive a rabies vaccine approved by the California State Department of Health Services.
B. 
Every person who owns or comes to own an unvaccinated Dog over four months of age shall have thirty (30) calendar days from the date the Animal was obtained to comply with the provisions of this section.
C. 
Every Veterinarian, after vaccinating a Dog for rabies, shall issue a certificate to the Owner or Custodian. The certificate shall include, but not be limited to, the following information:
1. 
The Owner's full name, address, and telephone number;
2. 
The breed, age, sex, and color or markings of the Animal;
3. 
The date of immunization and expiration;
4. 
The type of vaccine administered;
5. 
The name of the vaccine manufacturer;
6. 
The lot number of the vaccine used; and
7. 
The signature of the Veterinarian administering the vaccination and their veterinary license number.
D. 
A copy of the certificate must be kept on file with Animal Services if the vaccination was issued at the Animal Shelter or low-cost vaccination clinics held by Animal Services. A duplicate copy may be provided when requested by the Owner or Custodian of the Dog.
E. 
The Owner or Custodian must maintain the certificate of vaccination, or a copy thereof, and must, upon demand of a public or peace Officer acting within the course and scope of his or her employment, display said certificate for examination.
F. 
Upon written proof provided by a Veterinarian that a Dog has a medical condition which would cause it to be endangered by receiving a rabies vaccination, Animal Services may exempt the Dog from the vaccination requirements in this section so long as the Dog is kept in strict confinement and isolated at all times and so long as the medical condition is proven to exist. The written proof must also contain an estimated date when the Dog can be safely vaccinated. Although temporarily exempt from the vaccination requirements the Dog is still to be considered nonvaccinated and is not exempt from other provisions of Title 7.
(Added by Ord. No. 3557, effective 5-30-19)
Every Veterinarian practicing veterinary medicine within the County of Tulare shall furnish Animal Services with a copy of every rabies vaccination certificate prepared by them or their staff. Such certificates must be mailed, emailed, or faxed to Animal Services no later than the fifth day of each month. The certificates may also be picked up by designated Animal Services Personnel if prior arrangements are made by the Veterinarian.
(Added by Ord. No. 3557, effective 5-30-19)
Whenever any Animal Services Personnel discovers through a vaccination certificate obtained from any Veterinarian that a Dog named thereon is unlicensed, the Owner or Custodian of such Dog will be notified by mail that such Dog is unlicensed and that such Dog must be licensed within thirty (30) days of the date of the notice. The Owner or Custodian of any such Dog which has been previously licensed in Tulare County shall be subject to a delinquent fee. The Owner or Custodian of any such Dog which has never been previously licensed in Tulare County who obtains a license within thirty (30) days of the date of the notice shall be subject to an administrative fee plus the license fee or any other applicable fee. The Owner or Custodian of such Dog which has never been previously licensed in Tulare County who does not obtain a license within thirty (30) days of the date of said notice shall be subject to a delinquent fee, plus the license fee or any other applicable fee.
(Added by Ord. No. 3557, effective 5-30-19)
Animal Owner shall be subject to the requirements of this chapter. This definition does not apply to government agencies, Animal Rescue organizations which have demonstrated to the Department of Animal Services that they have implemented an ongoing spay/neuter program as well as an adoption program, or humane societies or societies for the prevention of cruelty to Animals, or persons who provide licensed boarding, kennel, training, or Veterinarian services for the Owners of Dogs.
(Added by Ord. No. 3557, effective 5-30-19)
The Owner or Custodian of any Domestic Animal shall provide proper and adequate food, water, shelter, qualified medical care or attention and required vaccinations, for such Domestic Animal at a level which ensures the Domestic Animal's safety, good health, and wellbeing. The Owner or Custodian shall maintain any enclosures or surroundings where the Domestic Animal is kept in a sanitary condition.
(Added by Ord. No. 3557, effective 5-30-19)
A. 
All dogs shall be implanted with an identifying microchip. The Owner shall provide the microchip number to Animal Services at the time of implantation or licensing and shall register the microchip with the manufacturer of the microchip and/or designated registry. Any change of ownership of the Dog or any change in the Owner's contact information shall be noticed to the manufacturer and/or designated registry, and Animal Services within 30 days of the change.
B. 
All Dogs Impounded in the County's Animal Shelter shall be implanted with an identifying Microchip prior to adoption or Owner redemption, at the Owner's expense. The Owner is required to provide the Microchip number to Animal Services and the national registry who provided the chip. Any change of Ownership of the Dog or any change in the Owner's contact information shall be noticed to the national registry and Animal Services within 30 days of the change of Ownership.
(Added by Ord. No. 3557, effective 5-30-19)
A. 
All Dogs shall be spayed or neutered by the age of six (6) months, with the following exceptions:
1. 
Dogs used by police agencies;
2. 
Dogs that have a letter from a licensed Veterinarian stating spaying or neutering the Dog would be detrimental to the health of the Dog;
3. 
Licensed Unaltered Dogs.
B. 
Owners who have intact Dogs prior to the enacting of this Ordinance have six months to comply with subsection (A).
C. 
Owners moving into the County of Tulare under the jurisdiction of these Ordinances in possession of intact Dogs have 90 days to comply with subsection (A).
D. 
Firsttime offenders will be provided with information on subsidized sterilization services and be given an additional 60 days to comply with this Section. If they still fail to comply enforcement action will be taken in accordance with 4-07-2200.
(Added by Ord. No. 3557, effective 5-30-19)
A. 
No Owner or Custodian of any Animal, wild or domestic, shall permit or suffer the Animal to do any of the following:
1. 
Be at large;
2. 
Be without proper care;
3. 
Be willfully mistreated;
4. 
Act or be kept in such a manner as to constitute an Animal Nuisance within the meaning of this chapter, as described in Section 4.07.3300 et seq.;
5. 
Endanger the life or health of others;
6. 
Damage the property of others; or
7. 
Be afflicted with and not be receiving medically accepted treatment for zoonotic or other communicable disease.
B. 
If found to be in violation of this section, the Owner or Custodian may be ordered by the Animal Services Manager, Administrative Review Officer, Administrative Review Appeals Officer, Hearing Officer, or Court to relocate or otherwise remove the Animal from the location where it is kept to prevent further violations. The Animal Services Manager, Administrative Review Officer, Administrative Review Appeals Officer, Hearing Officer, or Court may also prohibit the Owner or Custodian from owning Animals for a period of up to three years. These actions may be taken in addition to any other fine or punishment the Animal Services Manager, Administrative Review Officer, Administrative Review Appeals Officer, Hearing Officer, or Court deems necessary.
(Added by Ord. No. 3557, effective 5-30-19; amended by Ord. No. 3559, effective 6-20-19)
A. 
No person other than individuals transporting working Dogs within agricultural or rural areas of the County shall transport or carry on any public highway or public roadway any Animal, wild or domestic, in or by a motorized vehicle unless the Animal is as follows:
1. 
Safely enclosed within the passenger compartment of the vehicle; or
2. 
If carried in the area designated for load carrying, the area must be enclosed or have appropriate shade and side and tail racks at least forty-six (46) inches in height as measured from the floor of the vehicle and the Animal must be either:
a) 
Protected within a secured container carried within, upon, or by such a vehicle; or
b) 
Securely cross-tethered or secured within that area of the vehicle by rope, chain, or other device in a fashion which prevents injury to the Animal from falling from, being ejected from, or jumping from the vehicle.
B. 
No person shall leave or confine an animal in any unattended motor vehicle under conditions that endanger the health or well-being of an animal due to heat, cold, lack of adequate ventilation, or lack of food or water, or other circumstances that could reasonably be expected to cause suffering, disability, or death to the animal.
1. 
Nothing in this section shall prevent a peace officer, humane officer, or an Animal Services representative from removing an animal from a motor vehicle if the animal's safety appears to be in immediate danger from heat, cold, lack of adequate ventilation, lack of food or water, or other circumstances that could reasonably be expected to cause suffering, disability, or death to the animal.
2. 
A peace officer, humane officer, or Animal Services representative who removes an Animal from a motor vehicle shall take it to an animal shelter or other place of safekeeping or, if the officer deems necessary, to a veterinary hospital for treatment.
3. 
A peace officer, humane officer, or Animal Services representative is authorized to take all steps that are reasonably necessary for the removal of an Animal from a motor vehicle, including, but not limited to, breaking into the motor vehicle, after a reasonable effort to locate the owner or other person responsible.
4. 
A peace officer, humane officer, or Animal Services representative who removes an animal from a motor vehicle shall, in a secure and conspicuous location on or within the motor vehicle, leave written notice bearing his or her name and office, and the address of the location where the Animal can be claimed. The animal may be claimed by the owner only after payment of all charges that have accrued for the maintenance, care, medical treatment, or Impoundment of the Animal.
5. 
This section does not affect in any way existing liabilities or immunities in current law or create any new immunities or liabilities.
(Added by Ord. No. 3557, effective 5-30-19)
A. 
No owner of any animal shall do any of the following:
1. 
Permit such animal to obstruct the reasonable and comfortable use of property in any neigh-borhood or community by chasing vehicles, molesting passersby, barking, howling or making other noise;
2. 
Permit such animal to damage or trespass on public or private property;
3. 
Permit unsanitary conditions to exist on the premises where such animal is kept which would cause odors, attract flies or vermin, or which would be otherwise injurious to the public health, offensive to the senses, or an obstruction to the free use of property so as to interfere with the comfortable enjoyment of life or property by members of the neighborhood or community or any considerable number of other persons;
4. 
Maintain a dangerous animal in a manner that creates a significant threat to the public health, safety, and welfare.
B. 
Any violation of this section is hereby declared to be a public nuisance.
C. 
Whenever the Manager or any Animal Control Officer has reasonable cause to believe that a public nuisance as defined in this section exists, the Manager may conduct an investigation of the alleged nuisance. Whenever it is affirmed in writing by two (2) or more persons residing in separate residences or regularly employed in the neighborhood that a public nuisance as defined in this section exists, the Manager shall investigate the alleged nuisance. Provided, however, that where there is only one (1) person residing or regularly employed within three hundred feet (300') of the alleged public nuisance, written affirmation of only that one (1) person shall be required for the Manager to investigate the alleged nuisance. If, upon investigation, the Manager determines that a public nuisance exists, the Manager may issue an order to the owner of the offending animal directing that such nuisance be abated. In the event that the owner does not comply with the abatement order, the Manager may immediately refer the matter to the district attorney for prosecution of the public nuisance.
D. 
Any person may maintain an action under Civil Code section 3493 for compliance with the requirements of this section.
E. 
Notwithstanding any of the preceding, no Animal which is part of an agricultural operation exempt from being or becoming a nuisance by Civil Code section 3482.5 shall be deemed to be a public nuisance under this section, provided such Animal is owned and kept in compliance with this chapter and state law.
(Added by Ord. No. 3557, effective 5-30-19)