Number: 600.33

SUBJECT: TRANSFER OF OWNERSHIP Page: 1 Date: 05/25/82

Approved: Ryan Drabek, Director Revised: 11/26/13

I. PURPOSE

To establish a procedure for transferring ownership of currently licensed animals.

II. POLICY A transfer of ownership shall be transacted for new pet owners accepting the licensing responsibility of a pet currently licensed by OC Animal Care. This requires the previous pet owner to provide change of ownership documentation (e.g., receipt of sale, divorce decree).

III. SCOPE Applicable to all personnel responsible for processing transfer of ownership paperwork and issuing replacement license tags.

IV. FORMS Transfer of Ownership Form Transfer of Ownership Affidavit Notice of Transfer Form

V. REFERENCES None.

VI. PROCEDURE A. To transfer ownership of an animal, a Transfer of Ownership Form must be

submitted with the signatures and photo identification of both the former owner and the new owner, including appropriate fees, unless transfer is:

1. Between spouses for the purpose of obtaining a senior discount:

a. Transfer of Ownership Form and transfer fee do not need to be

submitted. b. Obtain the photo identification of the spouse with senior status.

Number: 600.33

SUBJECT: TRANSFER OF OWNERSHIP Page: 2 Date: 05/25/82

Approved: Ryan Drabek, Director Revised: 11/26/13

2. Between members in the same household with a legally recognizable relationship: a. Legally recognizable relationship is defined as immediate family

members (e.g., mother to son, spouse to spouse). b. Transfer of Ownership Form needs to be submitted with signatures

and photo identification of both old and new owner. Addresses on IDs must be the same.

c. Transfer fee is waived.

3. Hindered by the absence of either party: a. Former owner is deceased

1) Obtain a death certificate of former owner and update person record.

2) Transfer can be completed as outlined above depending on the parameters (i.e., members of same household, spouses, or other parties).

b. Former owner cannot be located or has “abandoned” the animal by leaving it in the care of new owner:

1) New owner must submit a Transfer of Ownership Affidavit, in addition to the Transfer of Ownership Form, detailing the reasons why the former owner cannot be reached to complete the Transfer of Ownership.

2) Transfer fee is required. 3) OC Animal Care staff will attempt to contact the previous

owner via all available information: phone number, email, and/or mailing address, if different from new pet owner (using information on file when available as opposed to information provided by new owner). The methods of contact will be noted in a Chameleon memo, detailing the number(s) called and addresses used. Staff will fill out the Notice of Transfer template when contacting previous owner via email or regular mail.

4) Transfer of ownership may be revoked if previous owner contacts OC Animal Care to contest.

Number: 600.33

SUBJECT: TRANSFER OF OWNERSHIP Page: 3 Date: 05/25/82

Approved: Ryan Drabek, Director Revised: 11/26/13

B. Completing the Transfer in the Chameleon Tag Window

1. Tag Term

a. The tag term of the pet license will transfer to the new owner

unless the license is due for renewal in less than six months. If the license will expire in less than six months, a new twelve-month license must be sold to the new owner, with the date of sale as the beginning of the new term.

b. If the current rabies vaccination does not extend past the license expiration, the license will be left in TEMPORARY status, pending vaccination.

2. Transferring animal between spouses for the purpose of obtaining a senior

discount: a. Update the following fields on the Person ID Window of the

person to whom the animal is currently licensed:

1) In STATUS, put SENIOR. 2) In SPOUSE/SPVR place the spouse’s name. 3) Enter the identification number (e.g., Driver’s License

number, Passport number) in IDENTIFIER2. 4) Enter the date of birth in DOB. 5) In the Tag/Link Window, change the TAG TYPE to LIC

SR.

3. Transferring animal between two people and the existing licensing term will transfer as well: a. Create a Person ID for the new owner. b. In the Tag/Link Window, pull up the record of the former owner

with the current animal license. c. Place the cursor in the Person ID field. Hit F6 to pop up the

most recent records and select the new owner’s ID. Hit OK. d. The Tag/Link Window should have the new owner in the Person

ID field with the current animal license. Hit F8 to update the

Number: 600.33

SUBJECT: TRANSFER OF OWNERSHIP Page: 4 Date: 05/25/82

Approved: Ryan Drabek, Director Revised: 11/26/13

record. The current licensing year will now be saved with the new owner information.

e. Clear the screen with F11. f. Place the cursor in the Person ID field and hit F6. Select the

former owner’s ID. Hit OK. g. Hit F12 to pull all records under the former owner. h. The most recent licensing information should be on the screen (i.e.,

if you transferred the licensing for 2013-14 to the new owner, the 2012-13 licensing year will be displayed with STATUS as RENEWED)

i. Change the STATUS to NOT OWNER. Hit F8 to update record. j. Input a Person ID memo stating that the animal ownership has

been transferred to the new owner. k. If a new license tag is needed, a replacement tag fee will be

charged and the new tag number will be entered under the new owner.

4. Transferring animal between two people and the license will be a new

license: a. Create a Person ID for the new owner. b. In the Tag/Link Window, enter the existing animal ID into the

Animal ID field. c. Enter a new tag number. d. The TAG EXP will be a year from the date of sale. Everything

else is processed as a regular license. e. Store the record. f. Clear the screen with F11. g. Place the cursor in the Person ID field and hit F6. Select the

former owner’s ID. Hit OK. h. Hit F12 to pull all records under the former owner. i. The current license information will be on the screen. Change the

STATUS to NOT OWNER. Hit F8 to update record. j. Input a Person ID memo stating that the animal ownership has

been transferred to the new owner. k. If a new license tag is needed, a replacement tag fee will be

charged and the new tag number will be entered under the new owner.

Number: 600.33

SUBJECT: TRANSFER OF OWNERSHIP Page: 5 Date: 05/25/82

Approved: Ryan Drabek, Director Revised: 11/26/13

C. Filing Transfer of Ownership Documentation after completing data entry in Chameleon. 1. All documentation to be filed should be stapled and include at least the

following: a. Completed Transfer of Ownership Form and/or Transfer of

Ownership Affidavit. b. Copies of photo identification of both parties (if applicable). c. Rabies vaccination (if applicable). d. Supporting documentation (e.g., divorce decree naming new

owner, receipt of sale, vet hospital certifications proving care provided under new owner)

2. Once all documents have been verified, place in the Transfer of

Ownership in-box on the Customer Service Staff Assistant’s desk. 3. The Staff Assistant will file the Ownership documentation by month and

new owner’s last name in a binder. 4. All Transfer of Ownership binders will be kept in the phone room filing

cabinet for reference.