(A) Licensing. No person shall keep any dog within the city without securing a license from the city’s Clerk-Treasurer, who shall keep a record of all licenses issued.
(B) License application. Any application shall be made in writing at the office of the city’s Clerk-Treasurer. A certificate of vaccination must accompany all applications from a qualified source certifying that the dog as been vaccinated against rabies, or has received a booster shot, within the 24-month period immediately preceding the application. Each license shall contain a date, a number, the name and address of the owner or keeper of the dog and a description of the dog. The city’s Clerk-Treasurer shall issue a metal tag for each license containing the year and number of the license. Dog tags are not transferable and no refunds shall be made for any reason.
(C) License fee. The dog license fee shall be set annually by the City Council.
(D) Restraint of dogs. No dog shall be permitted to run at large in the city. All dogs shall be under restraint at all times. This restriction does not prohibit the appearance of any dog upon streets or public property when the dog is on a leash or is kept under immediate control of the person charged with its care.
(E) Dog impoundment.
(1) Any dog found unlicensed or running at large away from the owner’s or keeper’s premises, may be impounded by the city. In such case, the city shall give notice to the owner or keeper of the dog if known or is ascertainable. In case the owner is unknown and ownership cannot easily be ascertained, the city shall post notice at the City Hall that the dog has been impounded. The notice shall give a reasonable description of the dog and state that if the dog is not claimed within 72 hours of actual notice to the owner, if known, or within 72 hours of posted notice if the owner is not known, it may be destroyed. Any dog impounded shall be housed and fed in a humane manner at a suitable place. Any such dog may be redeemed by the owner within the time stated in the notice, upon payment to the city of an impounding fee, together with the license fee for the current year; provided, the dog was not previously licensed. Upon presentation of a current license tag and receipt for the dog license for the current year and upon payment of the fees provided, the dog shall be released to the owner claiming him or her.
(2) If the dog is not claimed within 72 hours, it may be destroyed.
(F) Impounding fee. The impounding fee shall be set annually by the City Council.
(G) Dogs creating nuisance prohibited. No person shall keep or harbor a dog which by loud, frequent and habitual barking, yelping or howling shall cause serious annoyance to the neighborhood, and no owner shall permit his or her dog to damage any lawn, garden, shrubbery, trees or other property at any time. The owner of the dog shall be liable for any damage.
(H) Confinement during prevalence of rabies. Whenever the prevalence of rabies renders the action necessary to protect the public health and safety, the Mayor shall issue a proclamation ordering every person owning or keeping a dog to confine it securely on its premises unless it is muzzled so that it cannot bite. No person shall violate the proclamation and any unmuzzled dog running at large during the time fixed in the proclamation may be destroyed by police without further notice to the owner.
(2001 Code, § 9.07) Penalty, see § 10.99