8.02.120 MANDATORY DANGEROUS ANIMAL PERMIT REQUIREMENTS (County § 6.04.120).

Any Owner of a dangerous animal shall insure compliance with the following rules and regulations which shall be mandatory requirements for any dangerous animal permit:

(a) When the animal is off the property of its Owner, the Owner must ensure that the animal is restrained with a leash not to exceed four (4) feet in length and having a minimum tensile strength of 300 pounds and shall be under the direct control and supervision of the Owner or a person of such age, size and strength as can easily control such animal. Extraordinary care shall be taken by the Owner to ensure that such restraint is sufficient to control the animal in a manner which it will not endanger other persons or animals.

(b) The Owner shall maintain the animal so that it is not a threat to any mail carrier, sanitation worker, meter person, or other person who has the lawful right to enter the property.

(c) The Owner shall ensure that the animal is not kept upon any unenclosed premise unless it is leashed and controlled by a person capable of controlling such animal. The Owner shall ensure that the animal is not tethered, tied or staked at any unenclosed premise. The Owner shall ensure that the animal is not kept in a house or structure when the windows or doors are open or screen doors are the only obstacle preventing the animal from exiting the structure.

(d) The Owner shall ensure that the animal is kept in a fenced yard, kennel, run or enclosure approved by the Animal Control Officer or Peace Officer. The Owner shall ensure that all structures used to confine the animals are locked with a key or combination lock when such animals are within the structure. The Owner shall regularly inspect the fenced yard, kennel, run or enclosure to ensure that it is secure to maintain the animal.

(e) The Owner shall open premises upon which an animal is maintained at any reasonable hour for inspection by the Animal Control Officer or Peace Officer and said premises shall be surrendered for inspection by the Owner upon the request of the Animal Control Officer or Peace Officer. The Owner shall pay a fee for the costs incurred by County for the inspection or re-inspection of property. Such fee shall be set forth in section 8.02.290.

(f) The Owner of the dangerous animal shall post the entrances to the property where the animal is kept with a legible sign conspicuous to the public warning persons of the presence of a dangerous animal. The Owner of the dangerous animal shall obtain an approved sign from the Animal Control Program for a non-refundable fee and shall surrender such sign in the event of the revocation of the permit, death of animal, or approved relocation of the animal, or upon any other reasonable demand by an Animal Control Officer.

(g) The Owner of any dangerous animal must advise all members who reside in the same household and on the same premises of the conditions established by the permit for keeping or maintaining said dangerous animal.

(h) The Owner shall strictly comply with all local and State laws regarding the care, use, control and maintenance of animals.

(i) In addition to a license, the Owner shall ensure that the animal shall at all times wear a separate tag issued by the Division of Animal Control Services which designates it as a dangerous animal. The Owner shall ensure that the dangerous animal be micro-chipped and registered with the Animal Control Program for a fee specified by Section 8.02.290 within thirty (30) calendar days from the date the permit was issued. The animal Owner shall be responsible for payment of said fee which shall be utilized by the Animal Control Program to offset the cost of the chip and to maintain the registration program.

(j) The Owner shall have the animal spayed or neutered by a licensed veterinarian, at the Owner's expense, within fifteen (15) calendar days from the date the permit was issued. The Owner shall present written proof to the Animal Control Officer that the surgery was performed. In the event an animal cannot be safely spayed or neutered due to medical reasons, the Owner shall present written proof from a licensed practicing veterinarian to the Animal Control Officer that said animal cannot be spayed or neutered.

(k) The Owner may not sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of such animal to another County or City without notifying Animal Control at least twenty-four (24) hours before such sale, transfer or disposal. Animal Control will notify the proper authorities of the jurisdiction to which the dangerous animal is transferred. Should the Owner of a dangerous animal wish to transfer ownership of the animal to another individual within San Mateo County, the new Owner must submit to a property inspection, apply for and obtain a new dangerous animal permit, pay all requisite fees, and comply with all provisions of this chapter and the requirements of the permit.

(l) No more than two dangerous animals may be kept at any one household.

(m) The Owner shall not allow any animal designated "dangerous" as the result of aggression against human(s) to be kept on property or within a household in which a juvenile person under the age of eighteen resides.

(n) The Owner of a dangerous animal must notify the Animal Control Officer of the animal's death within twenty-four (24) hours and shall produce the animal's body for verification upon request. The Owner of a dangerous animal must notify the Animal Control Officer immediately in the event the animal becomes lost or stolen.

(o) The Owner must pay all permit and property inspection fees as described in section 8.02.290 of this chapter.

(p) The Owner shall comply with all other permit conditions or requirements imposed pursuant to section 8.02.115 or 8.02.100(a).