A. License And Registration:
1. Required: It is unlawful for any person to keep, harbor or maintain any dog that has been weaned or has attained the age of four (4) or more months unless such dog has been registered and licensed in the manner provided in this section.
2. Application: Application for registration and licensing shall be made to the town clerk or such other persons as the governing body may authorize to receive such applications.
3. Rabies Vaccination Proof: Proof of current rabies vaccination must be provided at the time of application for registration and licensing.
4. Issuance By Authorized Person: A dog license shall be issued by the town clerk or other such person(s) as the governing body may authorize.
5. Fee Required: No dog license shall be issued by the municipality until the fee required in this section is paid. License fees shall be adopted by resolution of the governing body. (Ord. 01-01, 7-6-2001)
6. Licensing Or Fee Exemptions: Licensing or fee exemptions shall apply to: (Ord. 01-01, 7-6-2001; amd. 2003 Code)
a. Licensed dogs whose owners are nonresidents (temporarily, up to 30 days) within the jurisdiction. Licensed dogs whose owners remain within the jurisdiction longer than thirty (30) days may transfer the local license upon payment of a five dollar ($5.00) fee and proof of current rabies vaccination;
b. Any dog duly or properly trained to assist those who have sight or hearing impairment and acting in this capacity shall be licensed and shall be required to furnish proof of vaccination, but no license fee shall be required.
c. Any dog especially trained to assist officials of government agencies in the performance of their duties and are owned by such agencies.
7. Exemption Not Applicable To Rabies Vaccination: Nothing in this section shall be construed as to exempt any dog from having a current rabies vaccination.
8. Fee Due And Payable; Delinquency: The fee payable pursuant to this subsection shall be due January 1 and shall be delinquent after March 1 of each year. A penalty fee shall be charged on all dogs licensed after March 1 for delinquent payments.
9. Time Limit For Application: The owner of any newly acquired dog of licensing age, or of any dog which attains licensing age after March 1 of any year, shall make an application for registration and license within twenty (20) days after the acquisition date or the date such dog attains the above stated age. The license fee shall be one-half (1/2) of that required in this subsection for new applications after June 1 of any year.
10. Revocation Of Dog License: If the owner of any dog is found to be in violation of this chapter on two (2) or more different occasions during any twelve (12) month period, the animal control officer may revoke for a period of one year any dog license such person may possess and pick up and impound any dog kept by the person under such order. Any dog impounded pursuant to such an order shall be dealt with in accordance with the provisions of this chapter for impounded animals, except that the person under the order of revocation shall not be allowed to redeem the dog under any circumstances. Fees for impoundment shall be paid by the person under the order of revocation as provided for by resolution adopted by the governing body.
11. Information Required; Term Of License: The owner shall state at the time application is made for such license, his/her name and address and the sex, breed and color of each dog owned or kept by him. The license shall cover the calendar year the license was issued, expiring on December 31 of the year issued, regardless of the day issued.
B. Tag And Collar: Upon payment of the license fee, the town clerk shall issue to the owner a license certificate and a metallic tag for each dog so licensed. The tag shall be changed every year and shall have stamped thereon the year it was issued and the number corresponding to the number on the certificate. Every dog owner shall provide each dog with a collar to which the license tag shall be affixed, and shall see that the collar and tag are constantly worn. In case a dog tag is lost or destroyed, a duplicate will be issued by the town clerk upon presentation of a receipt showing payment of the license fee for the current year and the payment of a duplicate tag fee. Dog tags shall not be transferable from one dog to another, and no refunds shall be made on any dog license fee because of death of the dog or the owner leaving the municipality before the expiration of the license period. It is unlawful to deprive a registered dog of its collar and/or tag. (Ord. 01-01, 7-6-2001)
C. Number Of Dogs Limited: It is unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to keep, harbor or maintain more than three (3) dogs per household or legal building lot as outlined in the town zoning ordinance, except as provided in section 5-1-5 of this chapter. (Ord. 11-02, 3-22-2011)