Sec. 5-60. - Cat vaccination required—Prerequisite for registration certificate.

(a)

Every owner of a cat over four (4) months of age shall cause such cat to be vaccinated with an approved rabies vaccine unless a veterinarian certifies that such cat should not be vaccinated for health reasons. Revaccination shall be made at such intervals of time as may be prescribed by the State Department of Health.

(b)

Compliance with the provisions of subsection (a) of this section shall be prerequisite to the issuance of cat registration certificates under this article and no cat registration certificate shall be issued without presentation of a certificate of vaccination signed by a veterinarian showing one of the following for the cat to be registered:

(1)

That such cat has been vaccinated with an approved rabies vaccine and the period of time from the date of vaccination does not exceed the interval of time prescribed by the State Department of Health;

(2)

That such cat should not be vaccinated with an approved rabies vaccine because such vaccination may jeopardize the health of the cat due to infirmity or other disability.

Where a certificate of vaccination shows that a cat should not be vaccinated due to infirmity or other disability, the nature of the infirmity or other disability and the estimated date of termination thereof shall be shown on the face of the certificate to the satisfaction of the director.

(c)

Every veterinarian practicing veterinary medicine within the county shall submit to the director one (1) copy of each certificate of vaccination issued by the veterinarian for cats subject to the provisions of subsection (a) of this section. Copies of all such certificates shall be submitted on or before the fifteenth (15th) day of the month following issuance.

(Ord. No. 4782 § 6, 1994.)

Sec. 5-61. - Cat registration permitted.

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

(Ord. No. 4782 § 7, 1994.)

Sec. 5-62. - Application for registration.

Application for registration of a cat shall be made in writing to the director by the owner of the cat to be registered. Such application shall be on a form approved by the director and shall be accompanied by a registration fee, the amount of which shall be established pursuant to Section 5-4. If all other requirements for licensing under this article are met, such registration fee may be waived or reduced for spayed or neutered cats and for cats owned by persons sixty-two (62) years of age or older. The director shall require such proof of qualification as the director deems necessary prior to waiving or reducing the registration fee for any cat.

(Ord. No. 4782, § 8, 1994: Ord. No. 4653 § 2(h), 1993.)

Sec. 5-63. - Action on application.

Upon receipt of an application for registration of a cat, the director shall register the cat in the records of the director and issue a registration certificate to the owner. The registration certificate shall consist of a receipt and a serially numbered metallic identification tag stamped with an identifying number, the words "county of Sonoma," and such other information as the director may require.

(Ord. No. 4782, § 8, 1994.)

Sec. 5-64. - Registration period.

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

(Ord. No. 4782 § 8, 1994.)

Sec. 5-65. - Transfer of registration certificate—Notice of death or removal from unincorporated area.

If any cat registered pursuant to this article is sold or transferred, the new owner shall apply to the director 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 unincorporated area of the county, the owner of such cat shall notify the director of the changed conditions in writing thirty (30) days after such change.

(Ord. No. 4782 § 8, 1994.)

Sec. 5-66. - 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 director. Upon receipt of an application and payment of a replacement fee, the amount of which shall be established pursuant to Section 5-4, the director shall issue a replacement metallic identification tag to the owner.

(Ord. No. 4782 § 8, 1994.)

Sec. 5-67. - Cats spay/neuter required if impounded.

(a)

The owner of any impounded cat shall pay any penalties/fees imposed pursuant to Section 5-4. If the cat has not been spayed or neutered, the owner shall, prior to the cat's release, have the cat spayed or neutered at the shelter and pay the surgery fee established pursuant to Section 5-4, unless the cat cannot be spayed or neutered due to a medical condition or because it is incapable of breeding.

(b)

Regardless of the above, an owner may take the cat to a licensed veterinarian of the owner's choice, if the owner pays a deposit equal to the spay neuter surgery fee. If a deposit is collected, the owner shall provide documentation that the cat was spayed or neutered to the director within two (2) weeks after the cat is released. The deposit will then be refunded.

(Ord. No. 5261 § 1, 2000.)