Title
To amend City Code §§ 26-819, concerning the composition of dog and cat licenses and tags, 26-820, concerning dog and cat licenses required annually and vaccinations, and 26-823, concerning false statements to secure a dog or cat license and penalty for failure to obtain a dog or cat license, for the purpose of facilitating the efficient issuance of animal licenses.
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THE CITY OF RICHMOND HEREBY ORDAINS:
§ 1. That sections 26-819, 26-820, and 26-823 of the Code of the City of Richmond (2015) be and are hereby amended and reordained as follows:
Sec. 26-819. Composition of license; tags.
A dog or cat license shall consist of a license receipt and a metal tag. The tag shall be stamped or otherwise permanently marked to show [“City of Richmond,” the sex of the dog or cat, the calendar year for which issued,] in all capital letters, “RICHMOND, VIRGINIA” and [it] shall bear a serial number. The tag for dogs or cats kept in a kennel shall show the maximum number of dogs and cats authorized to be kept in the kennel under the license, and there shall be issued therewith a metal identification plate for each dog and cat authorized to be kept in the kennel under the license, numbered to correspond with the serial number of the tag.
Sec. 26-820. Licenses required annually; vaccination.
Dog and cat licenses shall be issued to and obtained annually by persons liable for the license tax levied by this article and shall be effective for [and during each calendar year beginning January 1 and ending December 31] one year from the date issued. Any person liable for the license tax levied by this article may obtain a dog or cat license by making oral or written application therefor to the Collector or agent, accompanied by payment of the license tax and a certificate that the dog or cat for which the license is to be issued has been vaccinated or treated for rabies. For a spayed or neutered dog or cat, the purchaser of such license shall certify in writing to the Collector or agent the name and address of the veterinarian performing the operation and the date of the operation.
Sec. 26-823. False statements to secure license; penalty for failure to obtain license.
(a) It shall be unlawful for any person to make a false statement in order to secure a dog or cat or kennel license to which such person is not entitled. Upon conviction thereof, such person shall be fined not less than $15.00 nor more than $100.00.
(b) It shall be unlawful for any person liable for the license tax levied by this article to fail, refuse or neglect to pay the license tax [prior to February 1 of any year] annually, or to fail, refuse or neglect to pay the license tax when otherwise required by Section 26-818. If an officer determines that a license has not been obtained, the officer shall then and there issue and serve a summons upon such owner to appear in court for violation of the license law. Such owner may in lieu of appearing in court on their turn date of such summons, within five working days of the date of receipt of such summons, pay a fine of $15.00 if such summons is for a first offense; and a fine of $25.00 if it is for a second offense or subsequent offense. Upon conviction of violating this subsection, such person shall be fined not less than $15.00 for the first offense and $25.00 for any subsequent offense and such person shall be required by the court or judge trying the case to obtain the proper license forthwith.
(c) Failure to obtain a license is punishable as provided in Section 4-97.
(d) Payment of the license tax subsequent to the issuance of a summons or warrant to appear before a court or judge for violation of this section shall not relieve such person from the penalty required to be imposed by this section.
§ 3. This ordinance shall be in force and effect upon adoption.