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SANTA CLARA COUNTY CODE OF ORDINANCES: CHAPTER IV. CATS

Copyrighted by SANTA CLARA COUNTY CODE & Municipal Code Corporation, 1998.

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CHAPTER IV.
CATS

Sec. B31-51. Maximum number of cats or litters thereof.

(a) Unless a permit is obtained for a private kennel, commercial kennel, animal menagerie, or animal shelter, on parcels of less than five acres, the maximum number of cats or litters shall be five cats over four months of age and the parturition, rearing or harboring of not more than one litter of kittens per calendar year. In addition, of the animals legally permitted on the property, not more than one female cat may be unspayed. A female cat shall be rebuttably presumed to be unspayed unless the owner/guardian provides evidence of spaying. Written certification from a licensed veterinarian that an animal cannot be spayed for health reasons or is incapable of breeding shall be deemed a satisfactory substitution for a certificate showing that an animal is spayed.

(b) These provisions shall not apply to premises maintained by a veterinarian licensed by the State for the practice of veterinary medicine.

(Ord. No. NS-300.745, § 1, 5-2-06)

Sec. B31-52. Vaccination of cats.

The owner/guardian of a cat over four months of age shall cause such cat to be vaccinated with an anti-rabies vaccine approved by the State Department of Public Health. Revaccination shall be made at such intervals of time as prescribed by the State Department of Public Health. Compliance with the provisions of this section shall be a condition to the issuance or renewal of cat licenses or registration of a cat colony. Violation of this section shall be punishable as an infraction.

(Ord. No. NS-300.745, § 1, 5-2-06)

Secs. B31-53--B31-55. Reserved.

Editor's note--Ord. No. NS-300.878, §§ 2--4, adopted October 2, 2007, repealed §§ B31-53--B31-55, which pertained to cat colony registration certificate required; denial or revocation of certification and cat colony registration fees. See also the Code Comparative Table.

Sec. B31-56. License required.

(a) No person shall own/be the guardian of, maintain or board any cat four months of age or older within unincorporated Santa Clara County which has not been licensed pursuant to the provisions of this article, except that:

(1) A County license shall not be required for an animal owned/under the guardianship of or under the control of a nonresident of the County, and which is to be kept in the County less than thirty days.

(2) A County license shall not be required for cats temporarily brought into the County for entry into an event, show or exhibition scheduled not more than ten days thereafter.

(3) A County license shall not be required for each cat in a cat colony that has been properly registered pursuant to Section B31-53.

(b) A violation of this section shall constitute and be punishable as an infraction.

(Ord. No. NS-300.745, § 1, 5-2-06)

Sec. B31-57. License fees.

(a) Cat license fees for each cat within the county, including reduced fees for spayed females or neutered males, shall be fixed by resolution by the Board of Supervisors. The resolution shall include an additional fee for a license purchased under Section B31-56 of this Code.

(b) The Manager may require the submission of a certificate of a licensed veterinarian stating that a cat has been spayed or neutered, or cannot be spayed or neutered for health reasons and is incapable of breeding, or is incapable of breeding, prior to issuance of a license at a lesser fee.

(c) The Manager may waive the license fee for only one spayed or neutered cat kept in a household where the owner/guardian of the cat is over the age of sixty-five years.

(Ord. No. NS-300.745, § 1, 5-2-06)

Sec. B31-58. Issuance of license.

(a) Upon payment of the license fee and presentation of a valid certificate of rabies vaccination by a duly licensed doctor of veterinary medicine, the Manager shall issue a license which identifies:

(1) The name and residence of the person to whom the license is issued;

(2) The amount paid;

(3) The date of issuance thereof;

(4) The date of expiration of the vaccination;

(5) A description of the cat for which the license is issued.

(b) With each cat license, the Manager shall issue a metal tag bearing an identifying number and the words "Santa Clara Co. Cat Lic.". Each cat shall wear the metal tag issued for it at all times except when being shown at a cat show, exhibition or event. In the event it is necessary to issue a duplicate tab, a fee, fixed by resolution of the Board of Supervisors, shall be charged to the owner/guardian. It shall be unlawful for any person to attach a metal tag issued pursuant to this subsection to any cat other than the cat for which it was issued. In lieu of the metal tag, the Manager may allow use of the transponder identification chip, provided that the chip has been approved by the Manager and has been inserted in the cat according to the manufacturer's specifications.

(c) Notwithstanding Subsection (a) above, the Manager may refuse to issue or renew a license when such refusal is deemed reasonably necessary to protect public health, safety and property.

(Ord. No. NS-300.745, § 1, 5-2-06)

Sec. B31-59. License period.

The term of any cat license issued hereunder shall commence on the date of the issuance of the license and shall terminate upon the expiration of the rabies vaccination. The license fee for a new license may be pro-rated based on the term of the license. Renewed license fees shall not be subjected to refund.

(Ord. No. NS-300.745, § 1, 5-2-06)

Sec. B31-60. Record of licenses.

The Manager shall keep a record of all licenses issued by him or her, together with a description of the cat for which such license is issued.

(Ord. No. NS-300.745, § 1, 5-2-06)

Sec. B31-61. Presentation of license upon request.

Upon request of any authorized Animal Care and Control employee or any peace officer, the owner/guardian or person having control of a cat shall present the cat's license to that person. Failure to present proof of license shall create a rebuttable presumption that the animal is unlicensed.

(Ord. No. NS-300.745, § 1, 5-2-06)

Sec. B31-62. Veterinarian responsibilities.

(a) Every veterinarian who vaccinates or causes or directs to be vaccinated in the County any cat with anti-rabies shall issue vaccination certificates pursuant to the requirements of California Code of Regulations Section 2606.4 and California Health and Safety Code Section 121690.

(b) Every veterinarian doing business in the County shall permit an official of the licensing authority to audit, annually, the record of vaccination certificates issued to owners/guardians of animals residing in unincorporated Santa Clara County or as otherwise determined by the Manager.

(Ord. No. NS-300.745, § 1, 5-2-06)

Secs. B31-63--B31-69. Reserved.