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Asheville, NC Code of Ordinances
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Sec. 3-5. Annual registration for dogs; spaying and neutering requirements; unaltered permit required.
(a)   Annual registration for dogs. Any person owning, keeping, harboring or having custody of a dog six months old or older or possessing a set of permanent canine teeth, whichever comes first, within the city limits for more than 30 days in a 12-month period is required to obtain a license tag for such dog by registering it with the license-collecting agent of the city. The period of registration shall include the 12 months following January 1 of each calendar year. The registration fee shall be due and payable on January 1 each calendar year. The city's fees and charges committee shall set the amount of the annual registration fee. In lieu of the civil penalty, a person cited under this section may register his or her dog with the city within 15 days of the issuance of the citation and the civil penalty will be voided.
(1)   When initially registering a dog, the owner shall produce proof of current rabies vaccination and shall thereafter forward proof of vaccination renewal to the license-collecting agent. Failure to maintain current rabies vaccination records with the city shall render the dog registration invalid.
(2)   Every person owning, keeping, harboring or having custody of a dog subject to the annual registration requirement is required to see that the license tag is valid and is securely fastened to the dog by collar or harness at all times.
(3)   Working police dogs, registered service dogs, and service dogs in training with credentials shall qualify for exemption from the annual registration fee by including on the license application the name and phone number of the responsible agency and, in the case of service dogs, the individual registration number of the animal.
(b)   Spaying and neutering requirements. Any person owning, keeping, harboring, or having custody of any dog or cat six months of age or older is required to spay or neuter said animal unless said person holds an unaltered animal permit issued by the license-collecting agent of the city, or any successor agency authorized by law to issue said permit, except:
(1)   Persons who own, keep, harbor, or have custody of registered service dogs or working police dogs;
(2)   Individuals who are non-residents of the city and reside temporarily therein for a period not to exceed 30 days within a 12-month period;
(3)   Animal shelters and veterinary hospitals; and
(4)   Persons who own, keep, harbor or have custody of a dog or cat and who are in possession of a certification signed by a licensed veterinarian stating that the animal is unfit to be spayed or neutered because the procedure would endanger the life of the animal.
(c)   Obtaining an unaltered permit. Applicants must apply for unaltered permits with the license-collecting agent of the city. The lifetime fee for an unaltered animal permit shall be $100.00. A certificate will be issued identifying the animal as an unaltered animal and must be made available for inspection at all times. Violations of this provision will be subject to the penalties set forth in appendix B. A citation will only be issued under this section if the owner is in violation of another provision of this chapter.
(Ord. No. 3731, § 1, 4-28-09)