(A) All dogs kept, harbored, or maintained in the City must be licensed and registered if over four months of age. Dog licenses shall be issued by the Clerk, upon payment of a license fee of $7, which license shall expire January 1 of each year. No license fee shall be prorated or refunded, nor shall the dog tags issued herewith be transferable. The owner shall state, at the time application is made for such license, his or her name and address, the name, breed, color, and sex of each dog owned or kept by him or her.
(B) The Clerk shall cause a notice of necessity to license and register all dogs to be published in the City newspaper prior to February 1 each year. A penalty of not to exceed $2 shall be added to the license fee in the event that the license is obtained after February 1 of each year. This penalty should not be assessed against applicants who furnish adequate proof that the dog has been licensed is not more than four months old, or has been in their possession in the City less than 60 days.
(C) Upon the payment of the license fee, the Clerk shall execute a receipt in duplicate. The receipt shall contain the name and address of the owner of the dog, the date of the vaccination of the dog against rabies, the type of rabies vaccine used, the year and series number of the metal dog tag issued, the description of the dog, including the age, name, breed, age, color, and sex. The Clerk shall deliver the original receipt to the person who pays the fee and retain the duplicate. The Clerk shall obtain a sufficient number of metal dog tags which shall be inscribed with the name of the City, the number of the license, and the year for which it is valid, and shall deliver one such dog tag to the person when the license fee is paid.
(D) Each dog licensed under the terms of this subchapter shall receive, the time of licensing, a tag which shall be inscribed the name of the City, the number of the license, and the year in which it expires. The tag shall be attached to a collar or harness which shall be worn by the dog at all times except as otherwise provided in this subchapter. Whenever a dog tag is lost, a duplicate tag shall be issued upon application by the owner and payment of $1 fee to the Clerk.
(E) Any person who counterfeits or attempts to counterfeit an official dog tag or removes such tag from any dog for the purpose of willful and malicious mischief or places a dog tag upon a dog unless the tag was issued to that dog is guilty of a misdemeanor.
(F) Whenever the ownership of a dog has been changed, the new owner must secure a new license.
(G) Dogs while being used for hunting, dogs while being exhibited at American Kennel Club approved shows, or dogs while engaged in races approved by the state’s Racing Commission, and such dogs while being transported to and from such events, need not wear a collar or harness with valid license attached; provided that they are properly vaccinated and licensed.
(H) The Humane Officer shall apprehend and impound any dog found without a current valid license tag.
(Prior Code, § 7-2-2) Penalty, see § 10.99