Ordinance - 2169ORDINANCE NO. 2169
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WEST
COVINA ADDING PERMIT REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL PET STORES
IN THE CITY IN ORDER TO ENFORCE THE FEDERAL ANIMAL
WELFARE ACT AND THE CALIFORNIA PET PROTECTION ACT
• WHEREAS, the United States Animal Welfare Act, 7 U.S.C. Sections 2131 et seq.
("AWA") requires that wholesale breeders (sometimes known as dealers) obtain a license from
the United States Department of Agriculture ("U.S.D.A") in order to breed dogs for commercial
purposes; to obtain the license, the breeder's kennel facilities and record -keeping must comply
with the requirements set forth in the AWA;
WHEREAS, U.S.D.A. licensing and inspection of breeders strives to prevent the
inhumane treatment of animals and provides citizens with basic information regarding cruelty or
inhumane treatment at some facilities and patterns of neglect or abuse;
WHEREAS, the California Lockyer-Polanco-Farr Pet Protection Act, Cal. Health and
Safety Code Sections 122125 et seq. (the "Pet Protection Act") requires pet stores to maintain
written records of the source of their dogs, including the breeder's name and address, whether
the dealer is licensed by the United States Department of Agriculture and if so, the federal dealer
identification number and the dog's individual identifying tag, tattoo, or collar number;
WHEREAS, the Pet Protection Act also requires pet stores to post conspicuously on the
cage of each dog offered for sale a notice indicating the state where the dog was bred and
brokered;
WHEREAS, the City Council finds that many breeders evade or ignore licensing laws;
in fact, some authorities estimate there may be as many breeders evading the licensing
requirements of the current law as there are licensed breeders;
WHEREAS, the City Council finds that, due to lack of licensing and inspections,
documented problems such as lack of veterinary treatment, poor quality and unsafe housing,
insufficient protection from the elements, excessive breeding, and a lack of basic sanitation
persist at major breeding operations, and that it is well documented that such conditions can
severely impair the physical and mental health of the dogs bred at such facilities;
WHEREAS, the City Council finds that public concerns over the treatment of dogs bred
in inhumane conditions persist and that the above laws have not been adequately enforced within
the City;
WHEREAS, the City Council finds that it must take additional steps to enforce the
above laws and ensure that pet stores in the City meet the legal standards set by the AWA and
the Pet Protection Act;
WHEREAS, the City Council desires to exercise its authority pursuant to Government
Code Section 37101 to license lawful business transacted in the City;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the City Council of the City of West
Covina as follows:
SECTION 1. West Covina Municipal Code Chapter 14, Article VI, Section 14-132 is
0 hereby added to read as follows:
See.14-132. Definitions.
For the purpose of this article, unless the context clearly requires a different meaning, the
terms set forth in this section shall have the following meanings:
(a) Pet store means every person, place or premises engaging in the business of
selling dogs, at retail, and by virtue of the sales of dogs is required to possess a permit
Ordinance No. 2169
Page 2
pursuant to Section 6066 of the Revenue and Taxation Code, as defined in California
Health and Safety Code Section 122125,
(b) License authority means the agency charged with the administration of this
article.
(c) Permit means the permit to engage in the activities of a pet store as required by
this article.
• (d) Person means any individual, partnership, corporation or association.
SECTION 2. West Covina Municipal Code Chapter 14, Article VI, Section 14-133 is
hereby added to read as follows:
Sec. 14-133. Permit required
(a) It is unlawful for any person, to engage in, conduct, or carry on or to permit to be
engaged in, conducted, or carried on, the operation of a pet store, without a valid pet store
permit issued by the license authority pursuant to this article.
(b) The permit shall expire one (1) year after the date of issuance.
(c) All existing pet stores must apply for a pet store permit within six (6) months of
the enactment of this Ordinance.
(d) The pet store permit required by this article shall be in addition to, and shall not
replace or otherwise effect, other licenses required by law.
SECTION 3. West Covina Municipal Code Chapter 14, Article VI, Section 14-134 is
hereby added to read as follows:
Sec. 14-134. Penalty for violation
Any person violating any provision of this article or any provision of a permit required by
this article shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof, shall be
punishable as provided in section 1-37(a) of this Municipal Code.
SECTION 4. West Covina Municipal Code Chapter 14, Article VI, Section 14-135 is
hereby added to read as follows:
See.14-135. Exemption.
This article shall not apply to the following:
(a) breeders of dogs nor to any person, firm, partnership, corporation, or other
association, that breeds or rears dogs on the premises of the person, firm, partnership,
corporation, or other association, that has sold, transferred, or given away fewer than fifty
(50) dogs in the preceding year;
(b) publicly operated pounds and humane societies.
SECTION 5. West Covina Municipal Code Chapter 14, Article VI, Section 14-136 is
hereby added to read as follows:
Sec.14-136. Application.
(a) The application for a pet store permit shall be declared to under penalty of perjury
and shall be filed with the license authority on forms provided by the city for that
purpose.
(b) The application shall be accompanied by a nonrefundable application fee, as
established by resolution of the city council. The application fee shall be used to defray
the costs of investigation and shall not be paid in lieu of any other fees or taxes required
under this Code. The application fee will not be refunded if a permit is not issued.
(c) The application shall contain the following information and documentation:
(1) A statement that the applicant has received and read a copy of this article;
(2) A complete history of ownership of, and employment on the premises of, any pet
store or similar business and of any business, including all permits and licenses and any
revocation or suspension thereof;
(3) A complete business, occupation and employment history for the three (3) years
immediately prior to the date of application.
Ordinance No. 2169
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(4) If the applicant is:
a. An individual, the full name, mailing address, and principal business or residential
address and telephone number.
b. A partnership, the full name, mailing address, and principal business or residential
address and telephone number of each partner. However, if there are more than ten (10)
partners, only the ten (10) principal partners need be listed.
• C. A corporation, whether it is organized under the laws of California or is a foreign
corporation, and, if a foreign corporation, the place of incorporation, the full name,
mailing address, and principal business address and telephone number of the individual in
charge of the local office of the corporation and of all officers, directors and trustees, of
the corporation. However, if there are more than ten (10) officers, directors and trustees,
only the ten (10) principals among the officers, directors and trustees of the corporation
need be listed.
d. An association, the mailing address and principal business address and telephone
number of the association and the full name, mailing address, and principal business or
residential address and telephone number of each member of the association. However, if
there are more than ten (10) members of the association, only the ten (10) principal
members of the association need be listed. If the association is part of a multistate
association, the mailing address and business address and telephone number of its central
office shall also be given.
(5) The address of the applicant where the license collector can send notices required
by this article.
(6) A copy of all documentation recording the source of all dogs for sale at the pet
store at the time the application is made and all dogs that had been for sale and/or sold by
the pet store in the past twelve (12) months, as required by Health and Safety Code
Section 122140(b). This documentation shall include, but is not limited to:
a. the breeder and/or dealer's name and address, if known, or if not known, the
source of the dog;
b. if the dog was obtained by a breeder and/or dealer licensed by the United States
Department of Agriculture, the person's name, address, and federal dealer identification
number;
C. if the dog is from a breeder and/or dealer duly licensed by the United States
Department of Agriculture, the individual identifying tag, tattoo, or collar number for that
animal;
d. for dogs sold, a record of any known disease, illness, or any congenital or
hereditary condition that adversely affects the health of the dog at the time of sale, or is
likely to adversely affect the health of the dog in the future, along with a statement signed
by a veterinarian licensed in the State of California as required by Health & Safety Code
Section 122140(b)(6)(B).
(d) If, while the application is pending or during the term of any permit granted, there
is a change in fact, policy or method that would alter the information to be given on the
application, the applicant shall notify the license collector in writing thereof within
twenty-four (24) hours after such change.
SECTION 6. West Covina Municipal Code Chapter 14, Article VI, Section 14-137 is
hereby added to read as follows:
Sec. 14-137. Issuance of permits.
(a) The license collector shall issue the permit to the applicant within ten (10) days
after the date the application is filed, unless he or she finds that:
(1) The applicant has not provided the information and documentation required by
section 14-136 and has failed to provide an amended application with the missing
• information and/or documentation after being requested to do so; or
(2) The documentation required by section 14-136 indicates that dogs bought and/or
sold by the applicant pet store within the past twelve (12) months were bought from
breeders and/or dealers that are not licensed by the United States Department of
Agriculture; or
(3) By investigation of the license collector, based upon the documentation supplied
by the applicant pursuant to section 14-136, that the dogs that had been for sale and/or
sold by the applicant pet store within the past twelve (12) months were bought by
breeders and/or dealers who breed and raise dogs in conditions that do not meet the
Ordinance No. 2169
Page 4
standards set forth by the United States Department of Agriculture in Title 9, Chapter I,
Part 3 of the Code of Federal Regulations.
(b) The license collector shall have the duty to make the requests specified in
subsection (a) above and shall do so by serving written notice upon the applicant within
the time period for issuance of the permit. Every such request shall state the time period
within which the application may be amended, and shall be served by personal service or
• by deposit in the United States postal service, certified mail, return receipt requested.
(c) If the license collector requests an amended application pursuant to this section,
he or she shall not act on the permit application for ten (10) days after the date the request
is personally served or deposited in the United States mail. If the applicant fully complies
with the request on or before the tenth day, the license collector shall issue the permit
within ten (10) days after the amended application is filed. .
(d) If the permit is denied, the license collector shall have the duty to so notify the
applicant and shall serve the notice within the time period specified in subsection (c) for
issuance of the permit. Every such notice of denial shall be in writing, shall state the
grounds therefor, and shall be served by personal service or by deposit in the United
States postal service, certified mail, return receipt requested.
(e) Any applicant aggrieved by any action of the license collector to request an
amended application or to deny a permit may appeal to the city manager by filing a
written notice of appeal with the city clerk. Such appeal shall state with specificity the
reasons therefor and shall be filed within ten (10) days after the date the notice of denial
is personally served or deposited in the United States mail. The city manager or his or her
designee shall hear the appeal in accordance with the provisions of section 14-140.
(1) The filing of an appeal with the city clerk shall not stay the action of the license
collector. If the applicant does not file a timely notice of appeal, as required by
subsection (e) above, the applicant shall have waived all rights to administrative or
judicial remedy.
SECTION 7. West Covina Municipal Code Chapter 14, Article VI, Section 14-138 is
hereby added to read as follows:
Sec. 14-138. Form and duration of permit.
(a) The permit, if issued, shall include the following information:
(1) The name of the permit holder;
(2) The dates the permit begins and expires; and
(3) A permit number.
(b) The permit shall be valid for one (1) year after the date of issuance, unless sooner
revoked or suspended pursuant to the provisions of this chapter.
(c) Certified copies of the permit shall be issued to the permit holder.
SECTION 8. West Covina Municipal Code Chapter 14, Article VI, Section 14-139 is
hereby added to read as follows:
See. 14-139. Nontransferability of permits.
No permit issued under this article shall be transferred or assigned, and any attempt at
assignment or transfer shall render the permit void.
SECTION 9. West Covina Municipal Code Chapter 14, Article VI, Section 14-140 is
hereby added to read as follows:
Sec.14-14", Revocation of permits.
• (a) Whenever it shall be shown that any permit holder has violated any of the
provisions of this article, or any federal, state, or other local laws, the license collector
may suspend or revoke the permit by serving written notice on the permit holder not less
than two (2) business days prior to the suspension or revocation. The notice shall be
served by personal service or by_deposit in the United States postal service, certified mail,
return receipt requested, at the address specified in the permit application or any
amendment thereto. The notice shall state with specificity the reasons for the suspension
or revocation, how it can be cured or appealed and in the case of suspension that the
Ordinance No. 2169
Page 5
permit will be revoked unless, within ten (10) days after the notice of suspension is
personally served or deposited in the United States mail, the violation is either cured or
appealed. It shall be the responsibility of the permit holder to provide evidence to the
satisfaction of the license collector that the violation has been cured; otherwise, a permit
that has been suspended shall be deemed revoked without further notice.
(b) If the violation involves the disclosure of information as set forth in section 14-
• 136, the license collector shall first suspend the permit, which suspension and proposed
revocation shall be lifted if the permit holder amends the application.
(c) Any permit holder aggrieved by any action of the license collector to suspend or
revoke a permit may appeal to the city manager by filing a written notice of appeal with
the city clerk. Such appeal shall state with specificity the reasons therefor and shall be
filed within ten (10) days after notice of suspension or revocation is personally served or
deposited in the United States mail.
(d) The appeal shall be heard by the city manager or his or her designee at least five
(5) business days after the appeal is filed. At the time of the hearing, the city manager or
his or her designee shall hear all relevant evidence and shall determine the merits of the
appeal and he or she shall render a decision thereon within three (3) business days after
the hearing. Said decision shall be in writing, shall state with specificity the reasons
therefor, and shall be served upon the applicant within two (2) business days thereafter by
personal service or by deposit in the United States postal service, certified mail, return
receipt requested.
(e) The filing of an appeal with the city clerk shall not stay the action of the license
collector. If the permit holder does not file a timely appeal, as required by subsection (c)
above, the permit holder shall have waived all rights to administrative or judicial remedy.
(f) In the case of a permit which has been revoked, neither the applicant nor the
organization shall be granted a permit for a period of one (1) year from the date of
revocation.
SECTION 10. West Covina Municipal Code Chapter 1, Section 1-37.2 is hereby
amended to read as follows:
Sec. 1-37.2. Authority of authorized city employees to issue citations.
The code enforcement officer, assistant code enforcement officer and business license
inspector shall have the authority to issue citations for misdemeanors and infractions as
enumerated herein:
The code enforcement officer, assistant code enforcement officer and business license
inspector shall have the authority to issue citations for misdemeanors and infractions as
enumerated herein:
Chapter 3 - Advertising:
Sections 3-1(a), 3-17.
Chapter 5 - Amusements:
Sections 5-38, 5-82(a), (b).
Chapter 6 - Animals and Fowl:
Section 6-2(a)(1)--(3).
Chapter 7 - Building and Building Regulations:
Sections 7-136, 7-149.
Chapter 12 - Garbage and Rubbish Collection.
Chapter 14 - Licenses and Business Regulations:
Sections 14-18, 14-102(a), (b), (c), 14-131, 14-133.
Chapter 15 - Miscellaneous Provisions Relating to Public Health and Safety:
Sections 15-2, 15-12(a), (b), 15-14(a)(1), (3), (4), 15-15, 15-16(a), 15-98--15-107, 15-
Chapter
5-403.
Chapter 19 -Streets, Sidewalks and Public Places:
Sections 19-7, 19-8(a), 19-11(a).
Chapter 22 - Traffic Regulations:
Sections 22-8(a),(b), 22-63, 22-199.
Chapter 24 - Vegetation:
Sections 24-19, 24-25(a), (b), 24-26(a), (b).
Chapter 26 - Zoning:
Chapter 26 in its entirety.
Ordinance No. 2169
Page 6
SECTION 11. If any part of this ordinance, or its application to any person or
circumstance, is held to be invalid, the remainder of the ordinance, including the application or
provision to other persons or circumstances, shall be not be affected and shall continue in full
force and effect. To this end, the provisions of this ordinance are severable.
• SECTION 12. The City Clerk shall certify to the passage and adoption of this
ordinance, causing it to be posted as required by law and it shall be effective thirty (30) days
after its adoption.
PASSED AND APPROVED this 19th day of February 2008.
LM-F-l� f O" O
Mayor Sherri Lane
ATTEST:
J-o�w 90
i
City Clerk taurie Carrico
1, LAURIE CARRICO, CITY CLERK of the City of West Covina, California, do hereby certify
that the foregoing Ordinance was regularly introduced and placed upon its first reading at a
regular meeting of the West Covina City Council on the 5ch day of February, 2008. That
thereafter said Ordinance was duly adopted and passed at 'a regular meeting of the City Council
on the 19`h day of February, 2008, by the following vote:
AYES:
Herfert, Hernandez, Sanderson, Touhey, Lane
NOES:
None
ABSENT:
None
ABSTAIN:
None
City Clerk L urie Carrico
APPROVED AS TO FORM
y Attor y7AMo,ld Alvarez-Glasman
9
CERTIFICATION
I, Susan Rush, Assistant City Clerk of the City of West Covina, State of California, do
hereby certify that a true and accurate copy of Ordinance No. 2169 was duly enacted and passed
by the West Covina City Council, and caused to be posted pursuant to law (G.C. 36933), at the
following locations:
West Covina City Clerk's Office (3 d floor)
Los Angeles County Public Library (West Covina Branch)
West Covina Police Department (front lobby)
Susan Rush, Assistant City Clerk
Posted: �Qaa 45-r 1.)-O00