The owner of any dog or cat must obtain and renew a license for that dog or cat, as provided in this Part I.
The license must be obtained within 10 days of the following, whichever is later:when the dog or cat becomes 4 months old; or
when the dog or cat was acquired by the owner, whether or not the previous owner had a license for the animal.
City Code, 1976/83, art. 11, §27(a)
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The Commissioner must provide for the following classes of licenses:Class A Licenses, for:dogs and cats that have been altered; and
dogs and cats that have not been altered, but for which a licensed veterinarian certifies in writing that, because of age or bad health, the animal should not be altered.
Class B Licenses, for disability service animals, whether or not altered, on the applicant’s submission of an affidavit claiming the person has a disability.
Class C Licenses, for the lifetime of dogs and cats that are altered and microchiped.
Class D Licenses, for all other dogs and cats.
The license fee for each class is as set under <cite data-path="|health|§10-106">§ 10-106 of this title</cite>.
For owners 65 years old or older, the annual fee for each license class is 50% of the annual fee otherwise set for that class.
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The application for a license must:
be in the form that the Commissioner requires;
be accompanied by the required fee;
be accompanied by an affidavit certifying that neither the applicant nor anyone residing on the applicant’s household has ever been convicted of animal abuse, cruelty, or neglect; and
contain:the name and address of the owner;
a description of the dog or cat;
proof of a still-current rabies vaccination, unless this requirement is waived by the Public Health Veterinarian; and
any other information that the Commissioner requires.
City Code, 1976/83, art. 11, §27(b)
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On approval of the application and receipt of the required fee, the Office must issue the license.
Together with the license, the Office must issue an identification tag that is:durably constructed;
designed so that it can be conveniently fastened or riveted to a well-fitted collar or harness; and
stamped with the year of its issuance and an identifying number.
For an unlicensed dog or cat that is reclaimed or adopted from an animal shelter, the animal shelter must:require a license application and the required fee to be submitted to it; and
on receipt of the application and receipt of the required fee, issue the license and identification tag for that dog or cat.
City Code, 1976/83, art. 11, §27(d)
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Unless sooner suspended or revoked, a dog or cat license (except for a Class C License) expires annually on the anniversary of its issuance.
City Code, 1976/83, art. 11, §27(c)
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The Office and the animal shelter must:keep a record of the identifying numbers of all licenses, identification tags, and microchips issued; and
make this record available to the public and other City agencies, subject to a copy fee.
If a license, microchip, or an identification tag is lost or destroyed, a replacement must be obtained and the required fee paid.
City Code, 1976/83, art. 11, §27(f), (h)
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No person may:
fail to obtain a license as required by this Part I;
permit any cat or dog for which the person is required to obtain a license to be outdoors at any time unless it is wearing a valid identification tag issued under this subtitle;
use any license or identification tag for any dog or cat other than the one for which it was issued;
use any license or identification tag that was issued to a previous owner of the dog or cat;
remove any identification tag from any dog or cat without the consent of its owner;
use any microchip required by this subtitle for any dog or cat other than the one to which the microchip applies; or
except as authorized by the Commissioner, remove from any dog or cat any microchip required by this subtitle.
City Code, 1976/83, art. 11, §27(e), (g), (i), (j)
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Whenever the owner of an animal places it in the care or custody of another person, the owner must provide that custodian with a copy of the license and identification tag issued under this Part for the animal.
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No person may operate any of the following facilities without a license to do so from the Commissioner, as provided in this Part II:animal clinic;
animal shelter;
commercial establishment; or
animal fancier.
Every facility subject to this Part II is considered a separate enterprise and requires a separate license.
City Code, 1976/83, art. 11, §28(a), (e), (h)
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The application for a facility license must:
be in the form that the Commissioner requires;
be accompanied by an affidavit certifying that neither the applicant nor any operator, employee, or agent of the applicant has ever been convicted of animal abuse, cruelty, or neglect;
contain the information that the Commissioner requires; and
be accompanied by the required fee.
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The Office must issue the license if the applicant:
meets the requirements of this Part II; and
shows the willingness and ability to comply with the requirements of this title and the rules and regulations adopted under it.
City Code, 1976/83, art. 11, §28(c)
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Unless sooner suspended or revoked, a facility license expires annually on the anniversary date of its issuance.
City Code, 1976/83, art. 11, §28(d)
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Every facility that sells or gives away any animal must keep a record of:the name, address, and telephone number of the person to whom the animal was sold or given; and
the breed, color, sex, and age of the animal; and
any other information concerning an animal that the Commissioner requires.
The facility must:retain these records for at least 2 years; and
make them available for inspection by the Office during normal business hours.
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No person may operate any facility subject to this Part II in violation of:
any condition imposed on the facility’s license; or
any provision of this title or of a rule or regulation adopted under this title.
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Subject to the hearing procedures of Subtitle 10 of this title, the Commissioner must deny or revoke any dog or cat license issued under this subtitle if the applicant or licensee, at any time, has been convicted of animal abuse, cruelty, or neglect.
Subject to the hearing procedures of Subtitle 10 of this title, the Commissioner may deny, amend, suspend, revoke, or refuse to renew any license or permit issued under this title if the applicant, licensee, or permittee:has withheld or falsified any information on an application;
during the preceding year, has failed to reclaim an impounded animal within the time required by Subtitle 8 {“Impoundment”} of this title;
during the preceding year, has surrendered an animal after receiving a violation notice or citation; or
within any 12-month period, has committed 3 or more violations of this title for which the applicant, licensee, or permitee:has been convicted; or
received environmental or civil citations that have been disposed of other than by a decision of “not guilty”.
City Code, 1976/83, art. 11, §28(d)
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Subject to the hearing procedures of Subtitle 10 of this title, the Commissioner also may deny, suspend, amend, revoke, or refuse to renew any license or permit issued under this title if the applicant, licensee, or permitee neglects, refuses, or otherwise fails to comply with any provision of:
this title;
a rule or regulation adopted under this title; or
any other law governing the keeping and protection of animals.
City Code, 1976/83, art. 11, §§26(d), 29(a)
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No part of a license or permit fee may be refunded when the license or permit is suspended, amended, or revoked.
City Code, 1976/83, art. 11, §29(b)(2nd cl.)
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A person whose license or permit for an animal is denied, suspended, or revoked must, within 5 days of the denial, suspension, or revocation:surrender the animal to the Office; or
elect to transfer the animal to a new owner and provide the Office with the two notarized affidavits required by subsection (b) of this section.
If the current owner elects to permanently transfer the animal to a new owner, then:within 5 days of the denial, suspension, or revocation of the owner’s license or permit for the animal, the current owner must provide an affidavit to the Office, on the form designated by Office, that includes the following:the name, breed, age, weight, and physical description of the animal;
the new owner’s name, address, phone number, and email address;
the address where the animal will reside;
an acknowledgment that, after transferring the animal to the new owner, the current owner will make no attempt to regain ownership or possession of the animal for the remainder of the animal’s life;
any other information that the Office requires; and
the current owner’s notarized signature; and
within the same 5-day period, the new owner must provide an affidavit to the Office, on the form designated by Office, that includes the following:the name, breed, age, weight, and physical description of the animal;
the new owner’s name, address, phone number, and email address;
the address where the animal will reside;
an acknowledgment that, after the transfer of the animal to the new owner, the new owner accepts permanent ownership and possession of the animal;
an acknowledgment that, after the transfer of the animal to the new owner, the new owner will not transfer the animal back to the current owner for the remainder of the animal’s life;
an acknowledgment that the new owner consents to an inspection of the address where the animal will reside prior to the transfer of the animal;
any other information that the Office requires; and
the new owner’s notarized signature.
Before transferring the animal to the proposed new owner, the Office must:verify the information provided in the affidavits provided pursuant to subsection (b) of this section;
verify that the proposed new owner meets the Office’s standards for animal adoption; and
verify the suitability of the new environment for the animal.
If the Office, in its sole discretion, determines that any information contained in the notarized affidavits is false, or that another of the requirements of subsection (c)(1) of this section cannot be met, the Office may immediately confiscate the animal.
After the Office’s verification and approval of the notarized affidavits, the new owner must reclaim the animal in accordance with <cite data-path="|health|§10-805">§ 10-805 {“ Reclaiming animal”} of this title</cite> within 72 hours of notice of the approval from the Office.
Failure to comply with any of the requirements of this section may result in the immediate confiscation by the Office of the animal for which a license has been denied, suspended, or revoked.
City Code, 1976/83, art. 11, §29(b)(1st cl.)
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Any person who is denied a license or permit under this title, or who has had a license or permit revoked under this title, may not reapply for for any license or permit under this title for:
3 years; or
if the person was convicted of cruelty to or neglect of animals, 5 years.
City Code, 1976/83, art. 11, §29(f)
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