(A) Permit applicant qualifications. Applicants for a permit to possess a restricted animal shall meet the minimum qualifications. If the applicant is a corporation, partnership, or other legal entity, the applicant must designate an active officer, partner, member, or other person acting on its behalf as agent to represent the organization and who meets the following minimum qualifications:
(1) Applicant or designee must be at least 18 years of age;
(2) Applicant or designee must have at least five years of experience in the care and handling of the animal family for which the applicant is applying; and
(3) Applicant or designee shall not have been convicted of any violation of any state or federal wildlife regulations within five years of the date of application or of any offense involving cruelty to animals.
(B) Exemptions. Properly maintained and permitted zoological parks, federally licensed exhibits, circuses, scientific or educational institutions, individuals offering educational programs to the public on a regular basis, research laboratories, veterinary hospitals, animal shelters, animal refuges, and animals specifically trained to assist handicapped persons are exempt from the permit requirements of this section.
(C) Permit application. The applicant shall submit the information set forth in divisions (C)(1) through (C)(7) below to the Chief of Police for each permit, permit amendment, or permit renewal. The Chief of Police, at his or her discretion, may recommend to the City Council that the permit fee be waived. Any false statements made by an applicant on the permit application will render such application null and void and subject the applicant to such penalties as may be provided by law. The following information shall be submitted:
(1) Name, complete address, and telephone number; if the applicant is a corporation, partnership, or other legal entity, the agent designated to represent the organization shall also provide such information. The applicant, permittee, or designee must notify the Chief of Police, in writing, of any change of address or name within seven days of such change;
(2) Location where the restricted animal(s) will be housed. Facilities for holding permitted restricted animal(s) must be located on the premises on which the permittee resides or shall have a full-time caretaker to supervise the care and security of the facilities;
(3) Current animal inventory including the common and scientific name, sex, age, and source of each animal; any permanent identification on the animal; and identification of animals that have injured and/or killed a human being. The permittee must notify the Chief of Police within 24 hours of the addition, removal, or death of a restricted animal listed on the inventory;
(4) A copy of the current USDA permits approving the possession of each species listed on the animal inventory;
(5) A signed statement by a veterinarian accredited by the USDA that he or she is the veterinarian of record and which includes the veterinarian’s printed name, address, phone number, and license number. The veterinarian shall certify that he or she has observed each of the applicant’s animal(s) at least once during the prior year and that they have been appropriately immunized, housed, and cared for;
(6) A plan for a quick and safe recapture of the animals(s) or, if recapture is impossible, for the destruction of any animal held under the permit; and
(7) A plan for the emergency evacuation of the facility holding the restricted animal(s), to be updated within 30 days of any structural changes to the facility.
(D) Permit fee.
(1) The permit application, amendment, and renewal fee is $1,000.
(2) Permit fees shall be held by the city and placed in the General Fund for the care and housing of restricted animals that are impounded under the provisions of this subchapter.
(E) Term of permit. Permits issued by the Chief of Police under the provisions of this subchapter shall be valid for a term of one year from the date of issue unless the permit has been revoked for violations of this subchapter.
(Ord. 7 (Series 2013-2014), passed 10-7-2013)