Sec. 462.502. - Vaccination, registration and licensing required.

(a) Except as otherwise provided in this Part, the owner of every dog, cat or ferret four months of age or older shall have it vaccinated by a veterinarian against rabies and shall obtain and maintain, on an annual basis or duration of the valid vaccination, registration with the veterinarian who administered or is responsible for the administration of the vaccination. If a veterinarian administers a vaccine licensed by the United States Department of Agriculture that is approved for a three-year duration of immunity, a dog or cat may be vaccinated at three to four months of age, with a booster at one year and every three years thereafter. "Failure to license" citations shall be issued at 45 or more business days after vaccination or immediately with no available proof of vaccination. (b) The owner shall obtain a City license tag in a shape determined by ACPS with a series of colors (other than those used by the national rabies protocol) to identify the expiration of the tag and bearing the registration number of the individual dog or cat. The tag shall be good from the date of vaccination for one year; for multi-year rabies vaccination, renewals shall be good from the day and month of the original vaccination expiring annually; if the City implements multi-year tags they will be good from the date of vaccination through the expiration of the term of the valid rabies vaccination. (c) All veterinarians conducting business, whether permanently or temporarily, within the City of Jacksonville shall be required to sell a City pet tag, to all Duval County residents and/or part-time residents, for all animals vaccinated against rabies. Copies of Rabies certificates, records of license numbers sold and remittance of funds shall be made within 30 days of the vaccination. If a client declines to purchase the license the veterinary clinic shall write "REFUSED" in the space on the rabies certificate where a pet license number is normally entered (d) Veterinary Clinics may add a surcharge of up to $2 per license sold to cover administrative costs as long as the surcharge is not added to the cost of the license and is invoiced on a separate line. (e) Failure to sell the City license shall be considered separate and distinct violation for each week in which licenses are not actively sold/offered for sale to every Duval County resident receiving a rabies vaccination and subject to a fine of not less than the amount designated in Chapter 462 , Part 18. It shall be a separate and distinct violation for each location that the rabies vaccine is provided to the public, each month. Repeat violations of six or more offenses within any calendar year may result in the suspension, revocation, or non-renewal of the City Occupational License. (f) Upon vaccination against rabies, the veterinarian shall provide the animal's owner and ACPS, or its agent, with a rabies vaccination certificate, in the form prescribed by the Chief of ACPS, which must contain at least the following information: (1) The license number of the administering veterinarian. (2) The name, address and phone number of the veterinarian and owner. (3) The date of vaccination. (4) The expiration date of the vaccination. (5) The species, age, sex, color, breed, weight, and name of the animal vaccinated. (6) Whether the animal has been spayed or neutered. (7) The rabies vaccine manufacturer. (8) The vaccine lot number and expiration date. (9) The type and brand of vaccine used. (10) The route of administration of the vaccine. (11) The signature or signature stamp of the veterinarian. (g) Within 30 days of arrival in the City as a new resident, the animal owner shall obtain a City license tag from ACPS, or one of its authorized license tag agents, as designated in writing by the Chief of ACPS for any animals vaccinated outside the City. To receive a license tag, the owner shall present a copy of the completed form and payment of a license tag fee, in accordance with the ACPS's licensing fee schedule and in the amount established for each animal, depending on whether it has been spayed or neutered, except that the following shall not be required to pay the license tag fees. Licenses issued for no fee in accordance with the exemptions provided below shall require documentation by the pet owner of the applicable exemption claimed, they shall be required to sign a form attesting to the exemption and required to show affirmative proof of the exemption (that must be copied and provided to ACPS) or they will be charged for the license. People who feel they are exempt but had to pay for the license at the veterinarian may request a refund through ACPS with proper documentation and signing appropriate forms. The following limited exemptions apply: (1) Military and/or law enforcement canines used for official duties - including but not limited, to K-9 Patrol Units, drug/contraband sniffing dogs, search dogs, and attack dogs; (2) Service dogs as defined in the final rule of the Department of Justice [28 CFR Part 35, CRT Docket No. 105, AG Order Number RIN 1190-AA46] shall be exempt from the fee requirement for City licenses provided the person applying for a free license completes a signed statement that the provisions of this rule are met by the exempted pet. Falsification of such documentation shall be subject to a $500 fine. (3) An owner who is 62 years of age or older, or totally disabled, as determined by the Social Security Administration, for up to three animals, upon proper written and photo documentation. (h) Upon receipt of the appropriate fee, ACPS shall promptly issue to the owner a license tag, which shall be valid for one year or the duration of the vaccination depending on the licensing program maintained by the City. The City license tag shall be of a shape and color as determined by the Chief of ACPS that distinguishes license tags by expiration year of the vaccination/license. Veterinarians shall not issue a separate rabies tag and shall inform the client of the City license requirement. The owner shall promptly affix the City's license tag to a collar which shall be worn by the dog or cat at all times. (i) The owner is responsible for obtaining a replacement tag if the City license tag is lost or destroyed. A replacement tag may be obtained from ACPS upon payment by the owner of the applicable replacement fee. If the owner has not applied for a City license tag for such animal within the 30 day period set forth in this subsection, the owner shall be required to pay an additional late fee per animal not licensed. (j) Fees collected from the sale of City pet licenses shall be distributed for administration of the licensing program to cover actual costs expended. The remainder of the funds shall be allocated to the Spay and Neuter Trust Fund and the Veterinary Services Trust Fund. (k) In addition to failure to initially license or renew a license, it shall be a distinct and separate violation of this Section if the pet license is not acquired or renewed within five business days of vaccination or previous license expiration. This late renewal or licensing violation is subject to a fine of not less than the amount designated in Chapter 462 , Part 18. Service of these citations shall be via certified mail if the person is not present for hand delivery. Citations for violations of this Section may be issued five business days following vaccination up to 45 calendar days at which time violations of 462.502(a) shall be issued. (Ord. 2004-259-E, § 1; Ord. 2010-527-E, § 6) Editor's note— Ordinance 2007-839-E, § 18, authorized updated department/division names pursuant to reorganization.