Subdivision 1. Pet Licenses

A ferret, dog, or cat which is four (4) months of age or older shall be licensed by the owner as herein provided.

The licensing requirement of this Subdivision shall not apply to any animal belonging to a nonresident of the County and kept within the boundaries of the County for not longer than thirty (30) days. All such animals shall, at the time of entry into the County, be properly vaccinated against rabies and, while kept within the County, shall meet all other requirements of this Subtitle.

Application for license shall be made to the Department. The license fee shall be Twenty-Five Dollars ($25.00) per year for all ferrets, dogs, and cats. The license fee may be collected for a multi-year period. The license fee shall be reduced to Ten Dollars ($10.00) where there is proof that the animal has been spayed or neutered or where the Administrator, in the Administrator's sole discretion, has determined that the animal cannot be spayed or neutered because of size, age, or other physical condition. The license fee shall be reduced to Five Dollars ($5.00) where there is proof that a dog is under training in a recognized program to provide assistance dog guides, provided that if the dog is removed from training, the license fee shall be Twenty-Five Dollars ($25.00) per year.

The application for a ferret, dog, or cat license shall state the name and address of the owner, and the name, breed, color, age, and sex of the animal and rabies vaccination information.

A valid certificate of rabies inoculation or other evidence of vaccination issued by a licensed veterinarian or antirabies clinic recognized by the Administrator shall accompany the application.

The requirement of a rabies certificate being presented with the application may be postponed ten (10) days from the recovery of the ferret, dog, or cat from an illness or injury if the application is accompanied by the certificate of a licensed veterinarian stating that the condition of the ferret, dog, or cat is such that inoculation would be detrimental to its health. During the period of postponement, the ferret, dog, or cat shall be confined within a building or secure enclosure.

Whenever it comes to the attention of the Administrator that a ferret, dog, or cat is unlicensed, the Administrator may contact the owner of the animal and require the owner to make application for a license and require the owner to pay the required license fee. If the owner refuses to obtain a license or procure immunization for his animal, the Administrator may make demand upon the owner to surrender the animal for humane disposition. If the owner refuses to surrender the animal, the Administrator shall refer the matter to the Office of Law. The Office of Law may seek equitable relief in an appropriate court, including, but not limited to, a mandatory injunction requiring the owner of the animal either to have his animal immunized and obtain the required pet license or to surrender the animal for humane disposition.

An owner shall apply for a license within ten (10) days after a ferret, dog, or cat becomes four (4) months of age.

Any person moving into, and establishing a residence in, the County with a ferret, dog, or cat must apply for licenses for each ferret, dog, or cat within thirty (30) days of establishing residence.

Reserved.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Division, the Director may, establish a systematic method for administering the renewal of licenses under this Division, including, but not limited to, establishing staggered renewal dates for existing licenses and prorating license fees based on such renewal dates. In no event shall the Director restrict the right of a licensee, under any initial license issued in accordance with the provisions of this Division, to an initial term of less than one (1) year from the date of issuance;

Failure to make timely application for an initial license as stated in Subsections (a) and (b), above, or for renewal of a license shall result in the assessment of a penalty of Three Dollars and fifty cents ($3.50).

Upon payment of a ferret, dog or cat license fee, a numbered license tag shall be issued to the owner, which shall bear the name of the County.

The license tag shall be securely fastened to each dog's collar or harness, which shall be worn by the dog at all times unless the dog is engaged in supervised hunting, exhibition, or other sport where a collar would endanger the dog's safety or adversely affect its hunting, exhibition, or sport purpose.

Any dog not wearing a license tag shall prima facie be deemed to be unlicensed. Under this Subtitle the burden of proof of the fact that such dog has been licensed or is not required to wear a tag shall be on the owner or custodian of the dog.

A replacement metal license tag to replace a lost tag shall be issued to the owner of the ferret, dog, or cat upon application to the Department and the payment of a fee of One Dollar ($1.00).

No person may keep or harbor five (5) or more animals over the age of four (4) months, that require a County license, without first obtaining an animal hobby permit as provided herein. Except as provided herein, no household may keep, harbor, or foster five (5) companion animals, with a limit of ten (10) over the age of four (4) months without first obtaining an animal hobby permit as set forth in Section 3-148.02.

Any household keeping, harboring, or fostering more than ten (10) animals prior to the effective date of this law may continue to harbor, foster, or keep such animals as are in existence. Said household cannot replace existing animals beyond the number allowed in Subsection (a), above.

This Section shall not apply to a licensed animal holding facility, a licensed veterinary hospital, a circus or travelling exhibition, or the keeping of farm animals, fish, or birds.

Application for an animal hobby permit shall be made to the Department on forms prescribed by the Director. The annual fee shall be Five Dollars ($5.00).

The permit shall be valid for one year from the date of issue. Application for a permit must be made within thirty (30) days of acquiring five (5) or more animals as set forth in Section 3-148.01, or within thirty (30) days of establishing a residence in the County with five (5) or more animals as set forth in Section 3-148.01.

No permit shall be issued unless:

An Animal Control Officer shall inspect for compliance with Subsection 3-148.02(c), above, before any animal hobby permit shall be issued.

The permit shall be issued for the address and owner listed on the application and shall not be transferable to any other address or owner.

Any group or organization which provides temporary holding, care, and treatment for a companion animal pending permanent adoption may apply for an animal foster care permit. The requirements are:

Failure to obtain an animal hobby or foster care permit as required in Sections 3-148.01 and 3-148.03 shall result in a fine of One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) for the first offense, Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) for the second offense, and One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) for each subsequent offense in a two (2) year period.

The Department shall deny any application for an animal hobby or foster care permit if the Administrator determines that the applicant is in violation of the standards herein.

The Director may revoke the animal hobby or foster care permit if the Director determines that the owner or custodian is in violation of the standards herein.

The Director shall give written notice of denial or revocation of an animal hobby or foster care permit to the applicant or permittee at the address shown on the permit application. The notice shall set forth the reasons for the denial or revocation.

The denial or revocation shall be effective on the date set forth therein.

The decision to deny or revoke an animal hobby or foster care permit may be appealed to the Commission for Animal Control within ten (10) days of the date of the letter of denial or revocation. Any such appeal shall be governed by Sections 3-110 and 3-111 of this Subtitle.

Any animals found to be maintained in violation of the standards set forth herein may be subject to impoundment by the County.