Rancho Cordova, California

8.06.030 Dog and cat licenses.

A. Every dog or cat over four months of age shall be subject to an annual license fee. If the dog or cat is over four months of age when acquired, the owner shall obtain a license within 30 calendar days of acquisition of or entry into the city. Thereafter, such license fee shall become due and payable annually on the date of expiration of any license previously issued to the owner for the dog or cat. The amount of such fee shall be established in accordance with RCMC 8.03.060, and shall be charged only in full and not on any pro rata formula.

B. No owner shall possess or harbor within the city any dog or cat over the age of four months that has not been sterilized, unless such person holds an unaltered license, unaltered license with reduced fee, or is otherwise exempted as set forth in RCMC 8.03.005 or subsection (M) of this section. Upon the written certification of a veterinarian that a dog or cat has been surgically sterilized, the amount of the license fee shall be one-half or less than the fee established for intact dogs or cats.

C. Any owner of an unaltered dog or cat shall be eligible to pay a reduced unaltered license fee if, upon written proof provided annually, the owner demonstrates to the animal services manager that the animal qualifies as either a competition dog or cat or a working ranch dog according to the following criteria:

1. Competition Dogs and Cats.

a. The owner registers each dog or cat with the American Kennel Club, United Kennel Club, American Dog Breeders Association, International Cat Association, the Cat Fanciers Association, or other valid registry approved by animal services;

b. The animal participated in at least one event sanctioned by a national registry within the previous 12-month period from the date of issuance of the license or a showing that the animal has achieved a title from a purebred dog or cat registry. In the event that an owner cannot show proof that the animal has been shown in the previous 12-month period, animal services shall have the discretion to determine whether this subsection has been met; and

c. The owner does not breed the dog or cat during the time the animal holds a reduced unaltered license. This does not preclude the owner from obtaining an unaltered license at the full rate for the year the owner intends to breed the animal; or

2. Working Ranch Dogs.

a. The dog is defined as a working ranch dog; and

b. The owner does not breed the dog during the time the animal holds a reduced unaltered license. This does not preclude the owner from obtaining an unaltered license at the full rate for the year the owner intends to breed the animal.

8.08.020 Fine for impounded nonspayed or unneutered dog or cat.

The owner of a nonspayed or unneutered dog or cat that is impounded by animal services shall be fined $35.00 on the first occurrence, $50.00 on the second occurrence, and $100.00 for the third or subsequent occurrence. These fines are for unaltered impounded dogs and cats only, and are not in lieu of any fines or impound fees imposed by the Sacramento SPCA.

An animal services officer, humane officer, police officer, peace officer, or any agency authorized to enforce the Penal Code may write citations with a civil penalty stated in an amount corresponding to the violation as provided above. The fines shall be paid to the city animal services agency and shall be collected at the city animal services agency. Any funds collected under this section shall be expended for the purpose of humane education, programs for low cost spaying and neutering of dogs or cats, and any additional costs incurred by the city animal services agency or Sacramento SPCA in the administration of requirements of this section. This section is adopted pursuant to Sections 30804.7 and 31751.7 of the California Food and Agriculture Code.