6.12.115 Hobby kennel or hobby cattery – License required.
A. It is unlawful for any person to keep and maintain any dog or cat within the city for the purposes of a hobby kennel or hobby cattery without annually obtaining a valid and subsisting license therefor. The fee for such annual license shall be assessed upon the owner or keeper of such animals and shall be as provided by resolution of the council. In addition, each animal shall be licensed individually under the pet licensing provisions of this title.
B. Limitation on Number of Dogs and Cats Allowed. Any hobby kennel or hobby cattery license shall limit the total number of dogs and cats over six months of age kept by such hobby kennel or hobby cattery based on the following guidelines:
1. Animal size;
2. Type and characteristics of the breed;
3. The amount of lot area; provided, that the maximum number shall not exceed 25 where the lot area contains five acres or more, the maximum number shall not exceed 10 where the lot area contains 35,000 square feet but less than five acres, and the maximum number shall not exceed five where the lot area is less than 35,000 square feet;
4. The facility specifications or dimensions in which the dogs and cats are to be maintained;
5. The zoning classification in which the hobby kennel or hobby cattery would be maintained.
C. Requirements – Hobby Kennels and Hobby Catteries.
1. All open run areas shall be completely surrounded by a six-foot fence set back at least 20 feet from all property lines; provided, this requirement may be modified for hobby catteries as long as the open run area contains the cats and prohibits the entrance of children. For purposes of this section “open run area” means that area, within the property lines of the premises on which the hobby kennel or hobby cattery is to be maintained, where the dogs and cats are sheltered or maintained. If there is no area set aside for sheltering or maintaining the dogs within the property lines of the premises the 20-foot setback does not apply. The property lines of premises not containing an open run area must be completely surrounded by a six-foot fence;
2. No commercial signs or other appearances advertising the hobby kennel or hobby cattery are permitted on the property except for the sale of the allowable offspring set forth in this section;
3. The director may require setback, additional setback, fencing, screening or soundproofing as the director deems necessary to ensure the compatibility of the hobby kennel or hobby cattery with the surrounding neighborhood. Factors to be considered in determining such compatibility are:
a. Statements regarding approval or disapproval of surrounding neighbors relative to maintenance of a hobby kennel or hobby cattery at the address applied for;
b. Past history of animal control complaints relating to the dogs and cats of the applicant at the address for which the hobby kennel or hobby cattery is applied for;
c. Facility specifications and dimensions in which the dogs and cats are to be maintained;
d. Animal size, type and characteristics of breed;
e. The zoning classification of the premises on which the hobby kennel or hobby cattery is maintained;
4. The hobby kennel or hobby cattery shall limit dog and cat reproduction to no more than one litter per license year per female dog and two litters per license year per female cat;
5. Each dog and cat in the hobby kennel or hobby cattery shall have current and proper immunization from disease according to the dog’s and cat’s species and age. Such shall consist of DHLPP inoculation for dogs over three months of age and FVRCP for cats over two months of age, and rabies inoculations for all dogs and cats over six months of age.
D. License Issuance and Maintenance. Only when the director is satisfied that the requirements of this chapter have been met may a hobby kennel or hobby cattery license be issued. The license will continue in full force throughout the license year unless, at any time, the hobby kennel or hobby cattery is maintained in such a manner as to:
1. Exceed the number of dogs and cats allowed at the hobby kennel by the animal control section; or
2. Fail to comply with any of the requirements of this chapter.
E. Special Hobby Kennel License.
1. Persons owning a total number of dogs and cats exceeding three who do not meet the requirements for a hobby kennel license may be eligible for a special hobby kennel license to be issued at no cost by the animal control authority which will allow them to retain the specific animals then in their possession; provided, that the following conditions are met:
a. The applicant must apply for the special hobby kennel license and individual licenses for each dog and cat within 30 days of the date they are contacted by an animal control officer.
b. The applicant is keeping the dogs and cats for the enjoyment of the species, and not as a commercial enterprise.
c. The additional number of animals shall be based upon the land area of the subject property pursuant to the following schedule:
(1) One additional animal may be allowed on any property;
(2) Two additional animals may be allowed on properties between 9,600 square feet and 35,000 square feet;
(3) Three additional animals may be allowed on properties 35,000 square feet and greater in area; and
(4) No more than a total of six adult dogs or cats may be authorized under a special hobby kennel or cattery license.
2. The special hobby kennel license shall only be valid for those specific dogs and cats in the possession of the applicant at the time of issuance, and is intended to allow pet owners to possess animals beyond the limits imposed by code until such time as the death or transfer of such animals reduces the number possessed to the legal limit set forth by code.
3. The director of animal control may deny any applicant for a special hobby kennel license based on past Animal Control Code violations by the applicant’s dogs and cats, or complaints from neighbors regarding the applicant’s dogs and cats; or if the animal(s) is maintained in inhumane conditions. (Ord. 2140 § 2 (Exh. B), 2014; Ord. 1511 § 26, 1993).