A. Registration: The owner of the dog shall register the dog by giving the City the name and address of the owner, the name, breed, color and sex of the dog, and such other reasonable information as the City may request. The owner shall also affirm to the City that the dog has been immunized against rabies and Canine parvovirus, commonly known as "Parvo", and that the immunization is still current.
The owner shall agree to provide proof of current rabies vaccination at any time when requested by the City.
B. License: The City thereupon shall provide the owner with an appropriate tag for the dog. Such tag shall constitute a license for the dog.
C. Temporary Stay: The requirement to license and register a dog with the City shall not apply to a dog only temporarily brought and kept within the City, nor to a dog brought within the City to participate in a dog show, nor to dogs being kept in kennels or pet shops for sale.
D. Determination Of Nuisance, Dangerous, Or Potentially Dangerous Dog: An officer of the City, or any member of the public, may initiate a municipal court proceeding to determine whether a dog is a "nuisance," "potentially dangerous" or a "dangerous" dog by filing a complaint with Police Department. Upon the issuance of summons and notice to the owner, and upon the conclusion of a hearing, the Judge of the Municipal Court is authorized to enter a finding on the complaint and, if finding that the dog is a "nuisance," "dangerous" or "potentially dangerous," may order:
1. The payment of court costs and fines in the maximum amount allowed by law;
2. The installation of fencing, restraints, or enclosures in such a manner to provide the degree of protection warranted by the danger presented;
3. The posting on the premises with a clearly visible warning sign that there is a dangerous dog on the property. In addition, the owners shall conspicuously display a sign with a warning symbol that informs children of the presence of a dangerous dog;
4. A policy of liability insurance, such as homeowners' insurance, or surety bond, issued by an insurer qualified under title 36 of the Oklahoma Statutes, in an amount deemed necessary by the Municipal Judge to protect the public from any injuries inflicted on the public by the dog, but in the amount of not less than one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000), insuring the owner for any personal injuries inflicted by the dog.
5. The removal of the dog from the city limits;
6. The confiscation and/or destruction of the dog.
Dogs shall not be declared dangerous if the threat, injury, or damage was sustained by a person who, at the time, was committing a willful trespass or other tort upon the premises occupied by the owner of the dog, or was tormenting, abusing, or assaulting the dog or has, in the past, been observed or reported to have tormented, abused, or assaulted the dog or was committing or attempting to commit a crime.
E. Additional Regulations For Dogs Declared Dangerous or Potentially Dangerous:
1. It is unlawful for an owner to have a dog which has been declared dangerous or potentially dangerous in the City without a special certificate of registration issued under this section. This section shall not apply to dogs used by law enforcement officials for police work.
2. The City, upon proper application by the owner of the dog, shall issue a certificate of registration to the owner. The application must include:
a. Proof of compliance of all restrictions applied by the Municipal Judge's order declaring the dog dangerous or potentially dangerous.
b. A one-time registration fee of one hundred and fifty dollars $150.00
3. It is unlawful for an owner of a dangerous dog to permit the dog to be outside the proper enclosure unless the dog is muzzled and restrained by a substantial chain or leash and under physical restraining of a responsible person over sixteen (16) years of age. The muzzle shall be made in a manner that will not cause injury to the dog or interfere with its vision or respiration but shall prevent it from biting any person or animal.
F. Confiscation Of Dogs Declared Dangerous Or Potentially Dangerous: Any dog declared dangerous or potentially dangerous shall be immediately confiscated by the City if:
1. The dog is not validly registered as required in Section 4-121 E-1 of this Code;
2. The owner fails to comply with the Municipal Judge's orders; or
3. The dog is outside of the dwelling of the owner, or outside the proper enclosure and not under physical restraint of the responsible person. In addition, the owners shall be guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by the imposition of a fine not to exceed five hundred dollars ($500.00). Any such fine, at the discretion of the court, may be offset by payments made by the dog owner to any victim of an attack by the dog. However, insurance payments may not be considered as an offset. (Ord. 21-04-03, 4-5-2021; amd. Ord. 22-02-06, 2-7-2022)
4-122: TAG TO BE PLACED ON DOG COLLAR; LOST TAGS:
A. The owner shall affix the tag received from the City to the collar of the dog so that the tag can easily be seen by officers of the City. The owner shall see that the tag is worn by the dog at all times.
B. If the tag is lost, the owner shall secure another tag by applying to the City. (Ord. 21-04-03, 4-5-2021)
4-123: TAGS; COUNTERFEITING; PLACING ON OTHER DOGS:
No person shall counterfeit, or attempt to counterfeit, any tag issued for a dog as provided in this chapter, or take from any dog a tag legally placed upon it, or place such tag upon a dog or cat for which the tag was not specifically issued. (Ord. 12-11-2, 11-5-2012)
4-124: DANGEROUS ANIMALS MAY BE KILLED:
Any person may kill an animal in self-defense or in defense of another when the animal, without undue provocation, bites him or the other, or attacks, or attempts to bite or attack, him or the other in such manner that an ordinarily prudent person would be led to believe that the person toward whom the efforts of the animal are directed is about to be bitten or otherwise physically harmed. The animal must be at large. (Ord. 12-11-2, 11-5-2012)