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AN ORDINANCE relating to pet license requirements; changing fees; amending Ordinance 1306, Article II Section 1, as amended, and K.C.C. 11.04.030 and Ordinance 7416, Section 2, as amended, and K.C.C. 11.04.035 and prescribing penalties.
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BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF KING COUNTY:
SECTION 1. Sections 2 and 3 of this ordinance propose to implement a pet license fee increase, and to establish a fine for failure to comply with licensing regulations. Licensed or identified pets help reduce the number of pets entering the shelter by increasing the likelihood of being returned to their owner. Revenue derived from pet licensing helps offset the cost of animal care and control services, and reduces the cost impact on the general fund.
SECTION 2. Ordinance 1396, Article II Section 1, as amended, and K.C.C. 11.04.030 are each hereby amended to read as follows:
A. All dogs and cats eight weeks old and older that are harbored, kept or maintained in King County shall be licensed and registered annually.
B. Pet licenses shall be issued by the animal care and control section and may be issued by veterinarians, pet shops, catteries and kennels and other approved locations upon application and the payment of a license fee made payable to the department of finance according to the schedule provided in K.C.C. 11.04.035 ((of this chapter)).
1. Pet licenses for unaltered dogs and cats shall be valid for a term of one year from issuance, expiring on the last day of the twelfth month. Pet licenses for altered dogs and cats shall be valid for one year, expiring on the last day of the twelfth month. There is no proration of any license fees. Renewal licenses shall retain the original expiration period whether renewed before, on or after their respective renewal months.
2. Juvenile licenses must be obtained for pets from eight weeks to six months old.
3. King County residents sixty-five years old or older may purchase a special permanent license for the lifetime of cats or dogs that are neutered or spayed and for which they are the registered owners when the animals are maintained at the owners' registered addresses. Those residents shall not be required to annually purchase a new license for the lifetime of the licensed animals though no person shall be issued more than three special permanent animal licenses for any combination of three cats and dogs for which the person is the registered owner.
4. Applications for a pet license shall be on forms provided by the animal care and control section.
5. License tags shall be worn by dogs at all times. As an alternative to a license tag, a dog or cat may be identified as licensed by being tattooed on its right ear or on its inside right thigh or groin with a license number approved or issued by the animal care and control section.
6. Owners of dogs or cats who hold valid licenses from other jurisdictions and who move into King County may transfer the license by paying a transfer fee. The license shall maintain the original license's expiration date.
7. It is a violation of this chapter for any person to sell or transfer ownership of any pet without a pet license. The King County animal care and control authority shall be notified of the name, address and telephone number of the new owner by the person who sold or transferred the pet.
8. An applicant may be denied the issuance or renewal of a pet license, if the applicant was previously found in violation of the animal cruelty provisions of K.C.C. 11.04.250 or convicted of animal cruelty under RCW 16.52.205 or 16.52.207.
a. An applicant may be denied the issuance or renewal of a pet license for up to:
(1) four years, if found in violation of the animal cruelty provisions of K.C.C. 11.04.250 or convicted of a misdemeanor under RCW 16.52.207; or
(2) indefinitely, if convicted of a felony under RCW 16.52.205.
b. Any applicant who is either or both the subject of a notice and order under K.C.C. 11.04.250 or charged with animal cruelty under RCW 16.52.205 or 16.52.207, or both, may have the issuance or renewal of their pet license denied pending the final result of either the notice and order or charge, or both.
9. The denial of the issuance or renewal of a pet license is subject to appeal, in accordance with K.C.C. 11.04.270.
10. Cat or dog owners are subject to a penalty according to the schedule in K.C.C. 11.04.035 for failure to comply with the licensing requirement in subsection A. of this section only if the owner fails to immediately license his or her dog or cat when the animal care and control section offers the owner the opportunity to do so.
C. A late penalty shall be charged on all pet license applications, according to the schedule provided in K.C.C. 11.04.035.
D. All fees and fines collected under this chapter shall be deposited in the county current expense fund and shall be distributed according to K.C.C. 11.04.035.
E. It is a violation of this chapter for any person to knowingly issue a check for which funds are insufficient or to stop payment on any check written in payment of fees in this chapter. Any license or penalty paid for with such checks are, in the case of the license, invalid; and in the case of the penalty, still outstanding. Costs incurred by the county in collecting checks of this nature shall be considered a cost of abatement and are personal obligations of the animal owner under K.C.C. 11.04.300.
F. This section shall not apply to dogs or cats in the custody of a veterinarian or animal shelter or whose owners are nonresidents temporarily within the county for a period not exceeding thirty days.
SECTION 3. Ordinance 7416, Section 2, as amended, and 11.04.030 and 11.04.035 are each hereby amended to read as follows:
A. The following fees are applicable as provided in this chapter:
1. Pet license
a. Unaltered (dog or cat) (($60.00)) $90.00
b. Altered (($20.00)) $30.00
2. Juvenile pet license $5.00
3. Senior citizen - lifetime license
a. Senior citizen - lifetime license - dog $20.00
b. Senior citizen - lifetime license - cat $12.00
4. Replacement tag $5.00
5. Transfer fee $3.00
6. Animal shelter $250.00
7. Kennel and cattery
a. Hobby $50.00
b. Commercial $250.00
8. Pet shop $250.00
9. Grooming service
a. Operating alone $150.00
b. When operated in conjunction with pet shop or $150.00
kennel or veterinarian
10. Guard dog registration $100.00
11. Exotic pet
a. New $500.00
b. Renewal $250.00
12. Service animal no charge
13. K-9 police dog no charge
14. Individual private animal placement permit $25.00
15. Organizational private animal placement permit $10.00
B. The following late fees are applicable to license renewal applications as provided in this chapter:
1. Received after forty-five days of license expiration, $15.00
but before ninety days or failure to comply with
K.C.C. 11.04.030.C.
2. Received after ninety days of license expiration, $20.00
but before one hundred thirty-five days
3. ((Received after)) After one hundred thirty-five days of license expiration the pet shall be considered unlicensed. (($40.00))
C. The following penalties shall be assessed:
1. Dog leash law violations
a. First notice $25.00
b. Successive violations within one year $50.00
2. Civil penalties maximum $1,000.00
3. Animal abandonment $500.00
4. Unlicensed cat or dog $75.00
D. The following service fees apply as provided in this chapter:
1. Adoptions - per animal $75.00
This is a one-price fee that includes the fee for adopting an animal, the license fee and the spaying or neutering of the animal.
2. Spay or neuter deposit - per animal as required $50.00
in K.C.C. 11.04.210B.1.a.
3. Impound or redemption
a. Dog, cats other small animals first offense $45.00
Second offense, within one year $85.00
Third offense within one year $90.00
b. Livestock $100.00
4. Kenneling - per 24 hours or portion thereof $12.00
5. In-field pick up of an owner's deceased $20.00
unlicensed pet or pick up of an unlicensed
pet released voluntarily to animal care and control
6. Owner-requested euthanasia (unlicensed pets) $20.00
7. Optional microchipping for adopted pets $25.00
SECTION 4. This ordinance takes effect January 1, 2009.