(A) Any person who owns or keeps a dog or cat within the city which is six months or older shall pay a registration fee payable to the City Clerk according to the following schedule:
(1) A fee of $20 if the dog/cat is altered and
(2) A fee of $30 if the dog/cat is unaltered. This fee is valid for one year and renewable annually.
(B) Change of owner registration, $20.
(C) No person shall transfer an unregistered dog or cat older than six months.
(D) Any person who makes a renewal/registration application more than 30 days after license expiration date shall pay a sum of $10 in addition to the required registration fees, as a late charge. After 60 days of the registration expiration date, in addition to the late charge, the regular penalty of this subchapter shall also apply.
(E) If owners choose not to register their dog or cat before the age of six months, and transfer ownership of that animal to any other person, accurate records detailing the name, address, telephone number of the recipient must be obtained, as well as the age of the animal and date of transfer. This information must be supplied by the original owner of the dog or cat to the animal shelter staff within 30 days of the transfer.
(F) The registration requirements of this section shall not apply to dogs or cats owned by nonresidents of the city in the temporary custody of a veterinarian, licensed kennel or professional handler.
(G) Animals to aid the disabled are exempt from all registration fees if altered, but shall be registered with the City Clerk. Unaltered animals are subject to all fees required under this subchapter.
(H) The registration of dogs and cats as required herein shall be accomplished by the owner of the animal within 15 days of the date upon which the animal receives its annual rabies inoculation and/or six months of age; provided that the failure of the owner to obtain the rabies inoculation for the animal shall not relieve the owner of the requirements of this section concerning registration and fees. The registration tag must be displayed on animals that do not have permanent identification.
(I) The registration tags referred to in this section shall be colored green for altered animals, and colored red for unaltered animals.
(J) The fee for replacement registration tags shall be $20 for altered animals.
(1990 Code, § 4-71) (Ord. 94-1585, passed 6-20-1994; Ord. 94-1600, passed 12-5-1994; Ord. 95-1652, passed 12-18-1995; Ord. 95-1652-A, passed 12-18-1995; Ord. 07-3197, passed 7-2-2007; Ord. 13-3424, passed 11-4-2013; Ord. 14-3465, passed 11-17-2014; Ord. 15-3480, passed 3-2-2015; Ord. 18-3575, passed 11-19-2018; Ord. 23-3707, passed 10-2-2023) Penalty, see § 90.999