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HomeMy WebLinkAbout110607 DOG AND CATDog and Cat License Tax Dog and Cat License Tax and Impoundment Fees and Impoundment Fees Dave Hansen Chief of Finance and Technology November 6, 2007 Timeline of Ordinance Review July 10: Council Brief on Animal Control Shelter and Leroy • Drive Complex. Sept 4: Council Brief on staff recommendations for adjusting • animal licensing and impound fees. Sept 6: City correspondence sent to Virginia Beach • Veterinarians inviting their comment on the proposal. Sept 11: Public Comment Session at City Council’s Formal • Meeting. Sept 20: Policy Report finalized. • Sept 26-28: Telephonic survey of veterinarians -40 offices • contacted to explain initiative of vet-agent is voluntary. October: Ordinance rewrite and review • 2 Changes to Chapter 5 Dog or Cat License Tax and Impoundment Fees Sec. 5-17:This amendment changes the • impoundment fees from $10 per day to $50 for the first day of impoundment and $2 for each day thereafter. This change accurately reflects the actual costs of impoundment, as required by Virginia Code §3.1-796.87. Also in accordance with that state law, this amendment provides that the same impoundment fees shall be charged for all impoundments, regardless of the reason for which the animal is being impounded. Existing City Code authorizes an initial impoundment fee of $20 and a $10 fee each subsequent day. 3 Changes to Chapter 5 Dog or Cat License Tax and Impoundment Fees Sec. 5-47: This amendment gives dog and cat • owners the option to pay the local license tax to vet- agents when obtaining a rabies vaccination from said vet-agent. It also allows the pet owner to pay the tax in one, two or three year increments, not to exceed the duration of the current rabies vaccination. Existing City Code authorizes issuance of only a one year license. 4 Changes to Chapter 5 Dog or Cat License Tax and Impoundment Fees Sec. 5-47.1: Veterinarians as appointed agents: This • amendment allows willing veterinarians to voluntarily become agents for the City Treasurer for the purpose of collecting the dog and cat license tax and issuing license tags for cats and dogs. The tags sold by vet-agents will run concurrently with the rabies vaccinations administered or currently in effect, and vet-agents will receive $1 from the City Treasurer for each tag issued. Existing policy: New licenses and all renewals are only issued by the Office of the Treasurer. The SPCA is allowed to issue new pet licenses. 5 Changes to Chapter 5 Dog or Cat License Tax and Impoundment Fees Sec.5-48:This amendment increases the yearly local • license tax for neutered/spayed dogs to $7, and for neutered/spayed cats to $5. It also indicates the license tax for two and three year licenses as well. Any tax paid will be non-refundable. This amendment also adds the definitions of the terms “kennel”and “cattery”and clarifies that the owner of a kennel or cattery must obtain the appropriate kennel or cattery license but will not be required to also obtain individual licenses for each dog or cat owned by the kennel or cattery owner that is housed within the kennel or cattery. The amendment also provides for quarterly prorated license issuance at the Office of the Treasurer. Existing City Code authorizes the yearly dog and cat license tax at $2. 6 Changes to Chapter 5 Dog or Cat License Tax and Impoundment Fees This amendment provides for the payment •Sec.5-49: of the local dog and cat license tax in conjunction with the administration of a rabies vaccination, when the dog or cat becomes four (4) months of age or when the dog or cat is brought into the city for more than thirty (30) days from another jurisdiction. State law prohibits the City from issuing a local license for dogs or cats that do not have a current rabies vaccination. Existing City Code is similar and the new amendment simplifies the understanding. 7 Changes to Chapter 5 Dog or Cat License Tax and Impoundment Fees Sec. 5-51:This amendment changes the wording of • this ordinance to incorporate the changes made in section 5-47, which includes authorization for multi- year licenses. The amendment also removes the requirement that the metal tags include the sex of the animal and the year for which it was issued. The tags will continue to have a serial number, and Animal Control officers have access to a database that can be referenced by serial number to determine the tag expiration date and information that identifies the animal by type (dog or cat), sex, and spayed/neutered/unaltered status. Existing City Code is similar and the new amendment simplifies tag requirement. 8 Changes to Chapter 5 Dog or Cat License Tax and Impoundment Fees Sec.5-52: When an owner pays the dog or cat license • tax, he or she is given a paper receipt and a metal license tag. This amendment deletes the requirement that the owner preserve the paper receipt and promptly exhibit it upon request of animal control. This amendment makes no changes to the requirements regarding display of the metal license tags. This amendment also changes the wording of this ordinance to incorporate the changes made in section 5-47, which includes authority to issue multi-year licenses. Existing City Code is similar but the new amendment simplifies owner requirement. 9 Changes to Chapter 5 Dog or Cat License Tax and Impoundment Fees Sec. 5-69: Once an animal is impounded, state law • provides, “If the rightful owner of the animal can be readily identified, the operator or custodian of the pound shall make a reasonable effort to notify the owner of the animal’s confinement within the next 48 hours following its confinement.”This amendment adds the “readily identified”language from the state code. This amendment also requires owner notification within 12 hours. That change is consistent with, but more restrictive than, the 48- hour period required by state law. Existing City Code requires notification to owner within 48 hours. 10 Changes to Chapter 5 Dog or Cat License Tax and Impoundment Fees Sec. 5-70: This amendment brings this City Code • provision into conformance with state law. The owner of a dog or cat that is impounded because it is found running at large (in violation of City Code §5- 67) shall have at least five days to reclaim the animal, with the five-day period beginning on the day after the animal is impounded. A different process— also mandated by state law and involving the courts—applies to animals that are impounded because they have been mistreated. Impoundment of mistreated animals is addressed in City Code §5- 11.1. This amendment also cross-references Section 5-17, which sets forth the fees for impoundment. Existing City Code requires an initial impoundment fee of $20 and $10 for subsequent days. 11 Changes to Chapter 5 Dog or Cat License Tax and Impoundment Fees Staff Points of Contact Dave Hansen –Chief of Finance & Technology CPT Kevin Perry –Police Department, Operations Kathy Rountree –Office of the City Attorney Lynne Gaskill –Office of the City Treasurer LT Laura Kaiser –Officer in Charge, Animal Control 12