COUNTY OF ORANGE HEALTH CARE AGENCY

REGULATORY HEALTH SERVICES ANIMAL CARE SERVICES

Number: 500.64

SUBJECT: LICENSING WOLF/COYOTE HYBRIDS Page: 1 Date: 11/9/92

Approved: Jennifer Phillips Revised: 11/16/06 I. PURPOSE

To establish a uniform procedure for licensing and tracking domestic dogs cross-bred with wild animals, i.e., hybrids.

II. POLICY Hybrids cannot be licensed through Orange County Animal Care Services (OCACS) dog licensing program and shall, therefore, be licensed under Orange County Codified Ordinance Title 4, Article 6, Section 4-1-94, Wild, exotic, dangerous and non-domestic animals, referred to, hereinafter, as an Exotic Animal Permit. Hybrids shall not be adopted from the Shelter.

III. SCOPE Applicable to all personnel involved in the processing of wild, exotic or dangerous non-domestic animal permits.

IV. FORMS

Animal Facility License Application Form F272-12.2030.11 Animal and Facility Inspection Notice F272-12-2101

V. REFERENCES Not applicable.

VI. DEFINITIONS

Any domestic dog, which has been identified by its owner as having a genetic link to a wolf, coyote, fox or any other non-domestic canine, regardless of the generational relationship, shall be treated as a hybrid. Once an animal is described as such by their owner, the owner cannot reverse the definition after learning of the special licensing requirements.

COUNTY OF ORANGE HEALTH CARE AGENCY

REGULATORY HEALTH SERVICES ANIMAL CARE SERVICES

Number: 500.64

SUBJECT: LICENSING WOLF/COYOTE HYBRIDS Page: 2 Date: 11/9/92

Approved: Jennifer Phillips Revised: 11/16/06 VII. PROCEDURE

A. Identification of a hybrid requiring an Exotic Animal Permit 1. Identification of hybrids previously licensed and unlicensed through OCACS dog licensing system may be made by Field and Special Services staff or by office services personnel who note during a discussion, on the application form or on the rabies vaccination certificate, that the animal in question is a hybrid.

2. Animals identified as hybrids, shall have a notation made in the Person

Identification Window. 3. If an animal is redeemed, no rabies vaccine shall be given or license issued.

a. Owners shall be informed that an Exotic Animal Permit is required and to proceed to the administration office to speak with the Special Services.

b. A copy of the receipt, highlighting the breed, shall be prepared for Special Services.

4. All hybrid licensing information shall be forwarded to Special Services for

processing as an Exotic Animal Permit.

B. Processing an Exotic Animal Permit

1. The applicant shall complete all necessary paperwork and pay all applicable fees associated with the permit.

2. Refer to P&P 500.28, Issuance of Wild, Exotic, Dangerous and Non-Domestic Animal Permits noting the following special requirements:

a. The yard area for a hybrid must be secured and locked at all times. b. Hybrids must be leashed and in the hands of a competent individual able

to control the animal when out of the owner’s residence or secured yard. c. Hybrids shall be properly identified at all times. d. There is no approved rabies vaccine for hybrids. The inspection shall not

include verification of vaccination. e. Owners shall be referred to their local veterinarian for questions or

concerns regarding vaccinations.