9.44.490 License—Required.

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

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

             C.               It is unlawful for any person to own, harbor or keep within the city any dog 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 F or 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 dog that meets all of the following criteria for each unaltered dog shall annually pay a reduced unaltered license fee upon written proof on an annual basis that the owner meets the following criteria:

             1.               Registers each dog with the American Kennel Club, United Kennel Club, American Dog Breeders 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 dog has achieved a title at any time from a purebred dog registry. If 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 dog during the time the animal holds a reduced unaltered license. It is unlawful for the owner or any person to breed the dog 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:

             1.               No fee shall be charged for dogs specified in Section 9.44.510 of this chapter.

             2.               Dogs 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. 2007-018 § 2; prior code § 6.03.030)