Dog Licensing

A. No person shall own, keep, or harbor any dog over four months of age within the County unless such dog is licensed. The provisions of this section do not apply to animals owned by a licensed research facility or held in a veterinary medical facility or government operated or licensed animal shelter. B. Application for a license must be made within thirty days after obtaining a dog over four months of age, except that this requirement will not apply to a nonresident keeping a dog within the County for no longer than sixty days. Application for a dog license shall be made to the licensing authority. Applicants shall present picture identification and provide the licensing authority with the name, breed, color, age and sex of the dog. If any dog is certified as a guide, signal, or service dog, such certification shall be indicated. Applicants also shall present a veterinarian's certificate certifying that the dog has been neutered and pay the prescribed licensing fee. C. The licensing period shall be for two years. License renewal may be applied for within sixty days prior to the expiration date in accordance with section 143-3 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes, as amended. New residents must apply for a license within thirty days of establishing residence. D. A license shall be issued after payment of a fee as provided for in the annual budget ordinance of the County for each unneutered dog and for each neutered dog. Persons who fail to obtain a license as required within the time period specified in this section will be subjected to a delinquent fee as provided for in the annual budget ordinance of the County. E. License fees may be waived by the licensing authority for government-owned dogs used for law enforcement. All other licensing provisions shall apply. F. Upon acceptance of the license application and fee, the licensing authority shall issue a durable license tag including an identifying number, year of issuance, city, county and state. The fee for the tag shall be as provided for in the annual budget ordinance of the County. The license tag must be attached to the collar of the dog and worn at all times, except when the dog is actively engaged in hunting. The license tag is not transferable. The licensing authority shall maintain a record of all licenses issued, and such records shall be available to the public. (Ord. 2578 § 3, 1997: Ord. 1503 § 1, 1985; Ord. 1482 § 2 (part), 1985)