A. License Required: No person shall own, keep or harbor any dog over the age of six (6) months within the city unless such dog is licensed as provided in this section.
B. Application: Application for such license shall be made by the owner at city hall, or such other place designated by the city, on a form to be provided by the city within ten (10) days after acquiring any dog over six (6) months of age or within ten (10) days after a dog becomes six (6) months of age; provided, that any owner moving to the city for the purposes of establishing residence or becoming a resident as a result of any annexation, and otherwise required to obtain a license, shall have until thirty (30) days after establishing residence to obtain such license.
C. Proof Of Rabies Vaccination Required: All owners applying for a license must show to the satisfaction of the licensing authority that the animal for which the license is being obtained has been inoculated against rabies within the last two (2) years.
D. Proof Of Sterilization: Any owner claiming that his dog has been spayed or neutered must show to the satisfaction of the licensing authority that the operation has been performed.
E. Payment Of License Fee: A license fee shall be paid to the city, or an entity designated by the city to license dogs on behalf of the city, at the time of making application. The license fee for dogs shall be established by the city council by resolution. Such fee may be different depending upon the altered status or other relevant characteristics of the animal.
F. License Tag: Upon payment and acceptance of the license fee, a durable license tag, stamped with an identification number for the animal for which the license has been obtained, will be issued. Any license issued for the keeping of a dog shall take effect on the date of issuance and shall be valid for the period of time paid for and shown on the receipt issued by the licensing authority. Every dog for which the owner is required to obtain a license must wear a valid license tag at all times when the animal is off the premises of its owner.
G. Use Of Tags; Unlawful Removal: No person may use a license for any animal other than the animal for which the license was issued. It shall be unlawful for any person to remove from the neck of any dog the license tag issued pursuant to this section or to alter such tag in any manner.
H. Revocation Of License: Any dog license issued in reliance of false or inaccurate information may be revoked. Anyone who knowingly submits false information to obtain a license or to obtain a license without paying the appropriate fee shall be deemed to have violated this chapter and shall be subject to all potential penalties therefor.
I. Exemption From License Fee: License fees shall not be required for seeing eye dogs, dogs prescribed by a doctor for medical reasons, government police dogs or dogs belonging to a nonresident of the city (which are licensed elsewhere) and kept within the boundaries of the city for not longer than thirty (30) days; provided, that all dogs not subject to payment of the license fee shall at the time of entry into the city be properly vaccinated against rabies, and while kept within the city, meet all other requirements of this chapter. Any owner claiming any of these exemptions has the burden of proving to the satisfaction of the licensing authority that the dog in question is entitled to such exemption.
J. Violation: Any owner of a dog over the age of six (6) months who fails to obtain a license within the time period specified in this chapter shall be subject to prosecution for violation of this chapter as otherwise provided herein. (Ord. 197, 1-8-2013)