Canyon Lake, California

10.01.070 Unaltered dog license.

(a)   An unaltered dog still must be licensed. An unaltered license may be issued in the same manner as set forth in this Chapter. An unaltered dog must also be micro-chipped.

(b)   Denial or revocation of unaltered dog license and reapplication.

(1)   The Animal Control Officer may deny or revoke an unaltered dog license for one or more of the following reasons:

(A)   The owner, is not in compliance with all of the requirements of this Chapter;

(B)   The City has received at least three written and verified complaints that the owner has allowed a dog to stray or run at large or has otherwise been found to be neglectful of him or her or other animals;

(C)   The owner previously has been cited for violating a State law, City Code or other requirement of a public entity relating to the care and control of animals;

(D)   The unaltered dog has been adjudicated by a court or public entity to be potentially dangerous, dangerous or vicious, or to be a nuisance within the meaning of the Canyon Lake Municipal Code or the law of another public entity, or under State law;

(E)   Any unaltered dog license held by the owner has been revoked; and

(F)   The license application is discovered to contain a material misrepresentation or omission of fact.

(2)   Re-application for unaltered dog license.

(A)   When an unaltered dog license is denied, the applicant may re-apply for a license upon changed circumstances and a showing that the requirements of this Chapter have been met. The applicant shall pay the full fee upon re-application.

(B)   When an unaltered dog license is revoked, the owner may apply for a new license after a 30-day waiting period upon showing that the requirements of this Chapter have been met. No part of an unaltered dog license fee is refundable when a license is revoked and the applicant shall pay the full fee upon re-application.

(c)   Appeal of denial or revocation of unaltered dog license.

(1)   Request for hearing; notice of intent to deny or revoke. The contracted animal control agency shall mail to the owner a written notice of its intent to deny or revoke the license for an unaltered dog that includes the reason(s) for the denial or revocation. The owner, may request a hearing to appeal the denial or revocation pursuant to the provisions of Section 10.01.020.

(2)   Change in location of dog. If the dog is moved after the contracted animal control agency has issued a letter of intent to deny or revoke, but has not yet denied or revoked the license, the owner must provide the contracted animal control agency with information as to the dog’s whereabouts, including the current owner’s name, address, email and telephone number.

10.01.080 Spaying and neutering of dogs and cats generally required.

(a)   Requirement. No person may own, keep, or harbor an unaltered dog or cat over the age of seven months in violation of this section. An owner of an unaltered dog or cat must have the dog spayed or neutered, or provide a certificate of sterility, or obtain an unaltered dog license in accordance with this Chapter. An owner or custodian of an unaltered cat must have the animal spayed or neutered, or provide a certificate of sterility.

(b)   Exemptions. This section shall not apply to any of the following:

(1)   A dog or cat with a high likelihood of suffering serious bodily harm or death if spayed or neutered, due to age or infirmity. The owner must obtain written confirmation of this fact from a veterinarian. If the dog or cat is able to be safely spayed or neutered at a later date, that date must be stated in the written confirmation; for dogs, should this date be later than 30 days, the owner or custodian must apply for an unaltered dog license;

(2)   Animals owned by recognized dog or cat breeders, as determined by the City; and

(3)   Female dogs over the age of 10 years and male dogs over the age of 12 years each of which has an unaltered license.

(c)   Transfer, sale, and breeding of unaltered dogs or cats.

(1)   Offer for sale or transfer of unaltered dog. An owner who offers any unaltered dog over the age of four months of age for sale, trade, or adoption must include a valid unaltered dog license number with the offer of sale, trade or adoption, or otherwise state and establish compliance with this Section. An owner of an unaltered dog must notify the department of the name and address of the transferee within ten days after the transfer. The unaltered license and microchip numbers must appear on a document transferring the animal to the new owner.

(2)   Offer for sale or transfer of unaltered cat. An owner or custodian of an unaltered cat must notify the department of the name and address of the transferee within ten days after the transfer. The microchip numbers must appear on a document transferring the animal to the new owner.