A. License Required: Any person owning, keeping, harboring or having custody of any dog over six (6) months of age within the city must obtain a license as herein provided. Dogs must be licensed under the procedures and fees set forth in this chapter. (1995 Code § 11-2-1)
B. Application For License: Written application for licenses shall be made to the city recorder. Said application shall include the name and address of applicant, description of the animal, the appropriate fee and rabies certificate issued by a licensed veterinarian or antirabies clinic. Application for a license must be made within thirty (30) days after obtaining a dog over six (6) months. (1995 Code § 11-2-2)
C. Term Of License: The period for licenses for the keeping of dogs shall be for a period of up to one year. The licensing period shall be the city fiscal period from July 1 through June 30. (1995 Code § 11-2-3)
D. Renewal Of License: Application for renewal license may be made up to thirty (30) days before or up to thirty (30) days after the start of fiscal year. (1995 Code § 11-2-4)
E. Issuance Of License And Tag: Upon acceptance of the license application and fee, the animal control officer shall issue a durable tag stamped with an identity number and the year of issuance. Tags should be designed so that they may be conveniently fastened or riveted to the animal's collar or harness. Dogs must wear identification tags or collars at all times when off the premises of the owners. (1995 Code § 11-2-5)
F. Registry: The animal control officer shall keep a register of animals by maintaining a record of the identification numbers of all tags issued and shall file a duplicate record with the city recorder, which record shall be available to the public. (1995 Code § 11-2-6)
G. Fine For Failure To Comply: Persons who fail to obtain a license as required within the time period specified in this section will be subject to a fine of fifty dollars ($50.00) in addition to the registration fee. (1995 Code § 11-2-7)
H. Unlawful To Keep Dog Without License: It shall be unlawful for any person to own, keep, harbor or maintain any dog over the age of six (6) months without registering and obtaining a license for such dog from the animal control officer. No person may use any license for any animal other than the animal for which it was issued. (1995 Code § 11-2-8)
I. Two-Year License: Any person shall have the option to register and license a dog for two (2) consecutive years by paying to the animal control officer double the license fee at the time of registration and licensing. The purpose of this section is such that the licensing period may coincide with the immunization of the dog for rabies. (1995 Code § 11-2-9)
J. Exemptions To License Fees:
1. The fee provisions of subsection K of this section shall not apply to:
a. Seeing eye dogs properly trained to assist blind persons if such dogs are actually being used by blind persons to assist them in moving from place to place.
b. Hearing dogs properly trained to assist deaf persons if such dogs are actually used by deaf persons to aid them in responding to sounds.
c. Dogs especially trained to assist officials of government agencies in the performance of their duties and which are owned by such agencies.
2. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed as to exempt any dog from having a current rabies vaccination. (2003 Code)
K. Fee Schedule: A license shall be issued after payment of the applicable annual fee as set by resolution of the city council. (1995 Code § 11-2-11; amd. 2003 Code)
L. Duplicate License: A duplicate license may be obtained upon payment of a five dollar ($5.00) replacement fee. (1995 Code § 11-2-12)