Healdsburg, California

6.04.340 Dog license required.

Every person owning a dog over four months of age which is kept within the City shall obtain a license as follows:

1. Within 30 days after the dog reaches the age of four months.
2. Within 30 days of becoming a resident of the City if a license is otherwise required under this article.
3. A violation of this section is an infraction punishable as provided by law.

6.04.380 License fee.

A.    An annual dog license fee set by resolution of the City Council shall be imposed upon every dog four months and older which is kept in the City by any person who is the owner. If a certificate is presented from a licensed veterinarian that the dog has been spayed or neutered, the annual license fee shall be reduced by 50 percent. The license fee is due and payable on the day upon which the dog is four months old.

6.04.530 Spaying or neutering cats that roam.

A.    No person owning or otherwise having a cat over six months of age in his care, charge, control, custody or possession shall cause, permit or allow such cat to be in or upon a public street, road, alley or other public or private place unless such cat is spayed or neutered.

B.    If an animal control officer observes a cat whom it believes is in violation of this section, the animal control officer may seize and impound the cat. Upon seizure and impoundment, the animal control officer shall contact the owner(s) and shall require the owners of the cat to either spay or neuter the cat or to produce a certificate of sterilization from a veterinarian which lists the veterinarian’s name, clinic’s name, address, telephone, license number, pet name, age, breed and adequate description of the cat. The cat shall be spayed or neutered within 30 days of redemption and provide proof of the sterilization no later than 14 days after the surgery.

6.04.770 Disposition of impounded animals.

A.    Any impounded animal, except livestock, which is not redeemed within the holding period specified in this article may, at the discretion of the animal control officer, be put up for adoption or humanely destroyed by the animal control officer. If an impounded animal is put up for adoption, such animal may be adopted by any qualified person upon submission of an application and payment of an adoption fee. If such animal is subject to licensure under this chapter, the person adopting the animal shall, prior to the animal’s release, comply with the licensing requirements for the animal. If such animal is a dog or cat which has not been previously spayed or neutered, such dog or cat shall be spayed or neutered. The person adopting such dog or cat shall, prior to such dog or cat’s release, provide a spaying or neutering deposit. The animal control officer shall designate on such dog or cat’s adoption papers the date by which the spaying or neutering shall be completed. Upon receipt of a notice from a veterinarian or spaying and neutering clinic that such dog or cat has been spayed or neutered, the animal control officer shall return the deposit to the person who adopted such dog or cat. If no such notice is received by the animal control officer within 30 days after the completion date designated on such dog or cat’s adoption papers, the deposit shall be forfeited to the City and the person who adopted such dog or cat may be cited for violation of this section and such dog or cat may be seized and impounded.