1. (a) For purposes of this section, “owner” shall not include:

   1. (1) A licensed veterinary hospital;
   2. (2) A licensed pet shop; and
   3. (3) An incorporated animal welfare agency not engaged in the sale of animals.
2. (b) An owner who has a dog over the age of 4 months shall before July 1st of each year, or within 10 days of acquiring the dog, or within 10 days after the dog becomes 4 months of age, obtain an annual license. An owner shall ensure that his or her dog wears a collar or harness and a license.
3. (c) Before any annual license may be issued, the owner of the dog shall have the dog vaccinated against rabies and distemper, and shall pay any outstanding fines.
4. (d) Repealed.

5. (e) The annual license fees for dogs is as follows:

   1. (1) No fee for a dog trained as a service animal and actually used for the purpose of assisting a person with a physical or sensory impairment, such as a vision or hearing impairment;
   2. (2) $15 for a male or female dog certified by a licensed veterinarian as neutered or spayed or certified as incapable of enduring spaying or neutering; and
   3. (3) $50 for all other dogs.
6. (e-1) $2 of each fee collected pursuant to subsection (e) of this section shall be deposited into the Animal Education and Outreach Fund, established by § 8-1810.01. Remaining money from the fees collected shall be deposited in the General Fund of the District of Columbia.
7. (f) The Mayor may periodically revise the schedule of fees by rulemaking.
8. (g) No license may be transferred from 1 dog to another.
9. (h) Any license issued pursuant to this section shall be issued by the Department of Health. The Department of Health may delegate this function to any veterinarians licensed in the District of Columbia.
10. (i) Repealed.
11. (j) Repealed.

History

Oct. 18, 1979, D.C. Law 3-30, § 5, 26 DCR 765

Mar. 17, 1993, D.C. Law 9-236, § 2(a), 40 DCR 614

Sept. 26, 1995, D.C. Law 11-52, § 101, 42 DCR 3684

Apr. 20, 1999, D.C. Law 12-261, § 2004, 46 DCR 3142

Apr. 24, 2007, D.C. Law 16-305, § 30, 53 DCR 6198

Dec. 5, 2008, D.C. Law 17-281, § 104(c), 55 DCR 9186

Sept. 14, 2011, D.C. Law 19-21, § 9073, 58 DCR 6226

Sept. 20, 2012, D.C. Law 19-168, § 8005, 59 DCR 8025

Sept. 26, 2012, D.C. Law 19-171, § 64, 59 DCR 6190

Dec. 20, 2017, D.C. Law 22-37, § 2(d)

Delegation of Authority

Delegation of authority pursuant to Law 3-30, see Mayor’s Order 83-206, August 2, 1983, as amended by Mayor’s Order 86-64, April 22, 1986.

Editor's Notes

Section 8010 of D.C. Law 19-168 provided that §§ 8002, 8003, 8004, 8005, 8006, and 8007 of the act shall apply as of September 14, 2011.

Emergency Legislation

For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 8005 of Fiscal Year 2013 Budget Support Congressional Review Emergency Act of 2012 (D.C. Act 19-413, July 25, 2012, 59 DCR 9290).

For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 8005 of Fiscal Year 2013 Budget Support Emergency Act of 2012 (D.C. Act 19-383, June 19, 2012, 59 DCR 7764).

For temporary amendment of section, see § 101 of the Multiyear Budget Spending Reduction and Support Emergency Act of 1994 (D.C. Act 10-389, December 29, 1994, 42 DCR 197).

For temporary (90 days) amendment of this section, see § 2(e) of Standard of Care for Animals Emergency Amendment Act of 2017 (D.C. Act 22-137, July 31, 2017, 64 DCR 7787).

For temporary (90 days) creation of § 8-1804.01, see § 2(f) of Standard of Care for Animals Emergency Amendment Act of 2017 (D.C. Act 22-137, July 31, 2017, 64 DCR 7787).

For temporary (90 days) amendment of this section, see § 2(d) of Standard of Care for Animals Congressional Review Emergency Amendment Act of 2017 (D.C. Act 22-165, Oct. 23, 2017, 64 DCR 10792).

For temporary (90 days) redesignation of this section, see § 2(e) of Standard of Care for Animals Congressional Review Emergency Amendment Act of 2017 (D.C. Act 22-165, Oct. 23, 2017, 64 DCR 10792).

Temporary Legislation

For temporary (225 day) amendment of section, see § 101 of Multiyear Budget Spending Reduction and Support Temporary Act of 1995 (D.C. Law 10-253, March 23, 1995, law notification 42 DCR 1652).

Effect of Amendments

The 2012 amendment by D.C. Law 19-171 substituted “this subsection” for “subsection (d) of this section” in (j)(1).

The 2012 amendment by D.C. Law 19-168 repealed (i).

D.C. Law 19-21 added subsec. (e-1).

D.C. Law 17-281 repealed subsec. (d); rewrote subsecs. (e), (f), and (h); and added subsecs. (i) and (j).

D.C. Law 16-305, substituted “deaf, hearing impaired,” for “audio-handicapped”, throughout the section.

Prior Codifications

1973 Ed., § 6-2404.

1981 Ed., § 6-1004.

Section References

This section is referenced in § 8-1801, § 8-1806, and § 8-1807.