(A) For the purpose of this section, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
HANDLER. Any person who has custody and control of a working service dog within the city.
WORKING SERVICE DOG. Any dog trained to detect or to guard, protect, patrol or defend any premises, area or yard in the custody and control of a handler.
WORKING SERVICE DOG SERVICE. Engaging in the business of providing working service dogs in the city.
(B) No person shall engage in the business of providing working service dog service in the city or to act as a handler, unless said person has obtained a license as required by this section prior thereto.
(C) No person shall own or have the care or custody of a working service dog unless the person has secured a working service dog license, tag and identification number from the city or its agent. The fee for each working service dog license shall be $10. No working service dog license or tag shall be issued unless said working service dog is currently vaccinated for rabies.
(D) An application for a license to operate, maintain and conduct working service dog service in the city shall be filed, together with an application fee of $200, with the city or its agent. The application shall state the name, address, type of organization of working service dog service, its method of operation, the names and addresses of its officers and the names of its employees and include evidence that the applicant is a bona fide security service licensed by any state or federal authority. The application must be accompanied by an insurance certificate or a surety bond underwritten by a corporate surety admitted to do business in the state, in a form approved by the City Attorney, in the sum of $300,000 blanket coverage for the working service dog service. The working dog service and surety shall be jointly and severally liable to any person, firm or corporation for damages suffered by reason of the wrongful acts of the working service dog service. Notice of proposed cancellation of the insurance or bond shall be provided to the city or its agent not less than 30 days in advance of the cancellation date.
(E) Each applicant for a working service dog handler license shall be a natural person and shall pay an annual fee of $100 and shall be required to carry insurance or a surety bond in the amount of $100,000 covering the same items as set forth in division (D) above. A working service dog service licensed under division (D) above need not obtain a separate handler license under this section.
(F) It shall be unlawful for any person to engage in any business or occupation licensed under this section in the city unless such person holds a valid license pursuant to this section. A violation of this section may be charged as a simple misdemeanor.
(G) Every handler or owner of a working service dog shall see to it that such animal wears a clearly visible tag approved by the city or its agent at all times it is within the city unless the dog is performing a working service which requires not wearing a tag in order to perform the service safely. Such tag shall have stamped thereon “Working Service Dog, Tag No., City of Eldridge”, and the year the tag was issued for. Lost or stolen tags shall be immediately reported to the city or its agent and shall be replaced by the city or its agent at the cost provided for other tags as stated in this chapter.
(H) Any working service dog service or handler that sells or otherwise transfers ownership of any working service dog shall, not less than ten days after the transfer, file a report with the city or its agent containing the name and address of the person to whom such dog was transferred, a description and identification tag number of the dog and any other information the city or its agent deems necessary.
(I) Any person whose working service dog is lost or stolen or whose dog has died shall, within 24 hours of the loss or theft, or within ten days of the death, file a report with the city or its agent containing a description and identification tag number of the dog, and any other information the city or its agent deems necessary.
(J) A working service dog, properly registered as required by this section, in the custody and control of a licensed working service dog service or handler, shall not be declared to be a dangerous or vicious dog; provided that at the time of attack said dog was under the direct supervision of a working service dog service or licensed handler.