(A) The owners of all dogs and cats, or those who harbor or maintain dogs and cats in the unincorporated or incorporated areas of the county, shall have each and every dog and cat licensed, or as an option microchipped and registered the Kenton County Animal Services in accordance with the provisions of this chapter and applicable Kentucky Revised Statutes.
(B) The annual license fee for each dog and cat shall be set annually by the Director of Animal Services, with the approval of the Fiscal Court. The current license fee period shall begin on July 1, 2019 and will terminate on January 31, 2021, Licenses must be renewed each year thereafter during the month of February. Failure to license, or to renew a license, will result in a penalty. At the time of licensing and registration, the owner shall provide his or her name, address and telephone number, as well as the name, breed, color and sex of each dog/cat to be licensed. Upon payment of the license fee, the owner shall be issued a certificate of registration and a serial numbered license tag for each dog/cat. The license tag shall be fastened to the dog's or cat's collar and worn by the dog or cat at all times.
(C) All dogs/cats that are microchipped and registered with Kenton County on or before June 30, 2004 shall be exempt from the annual licensing fee for the lifetime of the animal. The microchip shall be county-approved, and coded with a unique identifying number implanted in the neck of the dog or cat. The owner shall provide his or her name, address and phone number, as well as the name, breed, color and sex of each dog/cat microchipped. The information, along with the unique identifying number, will be entered into the computer data base for future reference. Upon payment of the microchip fee, the owner shall be issued a certificate of registration for each dog/cat implanted. Should the ownership of the dog/cat change for any reason whatsoever, the change of ownership shall be made in the data base for a nominal fee to be set by the Fiscal Court.
(D) Failure to register a dog or cat and to obtain the license set forth herein within 30 days of acquiring or possessing the animal, or failure to renew during the month of February each year thereafter, or failure to display the license on the dog, or failure to microchip a dog in place of buying a license shall result in a fine as provided in § 90.99.
(E) Community cats that have been ear-tipped, sterilized, and vaccinated under the trap-neuter-return program are exempt from the licensing requirements of this section.
(Ord. 1799-2020, passed 9-22-20)