Ordinance No. 1053

ARTICLE VIII—CATS

Section 3.47     Cat Registration.

Any person who owns or keeps any cat over four (4) months of age within the city may voluntarily register such cat pursuant to the provisions of this article. 

Section 3.48     Application for Registration.

Application for registration of a cat shall be made in writing to the Animal Services Director by the owner of the cat to be registered.  Such application shall be on a form approved by the Animal Services Director and shall be accompanied by a registration fee set by resolution of the city council.  Such registration fee shall be reduced by fifty (50) percent for a spayed or neutered cat and for a cat owned by a person sixty-two (62) years of age or older, who furnishes legal identification, if all other requirements for registration under this article are met.

Section 3.49     Action on Application—Issuance of Certificate and Identification Tags.

Upon each applicant for a license, the owner shall furnish to the Animal Services Director or his designee, in writing, his or her name, the address where the cat is kept, the name, breed, age, sex and color of the cat.  In the event that the cat is kept at more than one location, then all addresses of where the cat is kept shall be provided.  The Animal Services Director shall furnish registration forms for such purpose and upon payment of the fee, and penalty, if any, shall issue a receipt, a serially numbered license certificate and a metallic identification tag with an identifying number, the year of issue, the words “City of Healdsburg,” and such information as the Animal Services Director may require.

Section 3.50     Registration Period.

Every registration certificate issued pursuant to this article shall be valid for the life of the cat registered thereby.

Section 3.51     Transfer of Registration Certificate—Notice of Death or Removal from City.

If any cat registered pursuant to this article is sold or transferred, the new owner shall apply to the Animal Services Director or his designee for a transfer of the registration certificate for such cat within thirty (30) days after the change in ownership.  The procedure for transfer of a registration certificate shall be the same as for obtaining an original certificate.  If any cat registered pursuant to this article dies or is permanently removed from the city, the owner of such cat shall notify the Animal Services Director or his designee of the changed conditions in writing thirty (30) days after such change.

Section 3.52     Replacement of Lost Registration Tag.

In case the metallic identification tag for any cat registered pursuant to this article is lost or destroyed, a replacement tag for such cat may be procured from the Animal Control Officer.  Upon receipt of an application and payment of a replacement fee, the amount of which shall be established by resolution adopted by the city council, the Animal Control Officer shall issue a replacement metallic identification tag to the owner. 

Section 3.53     Spaying or Neutering Cats that Roam.

a.         No person owning or otherwise having a cat over six (6) 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 thirty (30) days of redemption and provide proof of the sterilization no later than fourteen (14) days after the surgery.