A. License Required:
1. Registration: All dogs over six (6) months of age kept harbored or maintained by any person within the city limits shall be registered with the city, and a license shall be issued upon the payment of a fee.
2. Fee: The fee shall be set by the city council and shall be due on or before January 31 of each year. The annual fee shall be delinquent after March 1 and shall be doubled if not paid before delinquent. No female dogs shall be licensed as spayed without a certificate from a registered veterinarian that he has performed ovariohysterectomy upon such female dog. The annual dog tags may be changed by action of the city council.
3. Payment To City Recorder: Payment of all license fees for all dogs shall be made to the city recorder or other designated officer.
4. Newly Acquired Dogs: The owner of any newly acquired dog of registration age or any dog which attains registration age shall make application for a license and an official registration tag for such dog within ten (10) days after acquisition or age attainment.
5. Application; Information: The owner shall state at the time of application for license, his name and address and the sex, breed, color and age of each dog owned and kept by him. The owner must also present a certificate from a veterinarian stating that the dog for which the license is being sought has been vaccinated for the prevention of rabies. Such certificate must give the last date of vaccination and the number of the vaccination tag issued by the veterinarian at the time of vaccination. The license fee shall cover the calendar year in which the license was being issued, expiring on December 31 of the year of issuance regardless of the date thereof.
6. Revocation: The animal control officer may revoke any license issued under this chapter if the person holding the license refuses or fails to comply with the provisions of this chapter or any state or local law governing cruelty to animals. Any person whose license is revoked shall within ten (10) days thereafter sell, give away or humanely dispose of all dogs being owned, kept or harbored by such person and no part of the license fee shall be refunded. (1980 Code § 13-243; amd. 2002 Code)
B. Exemptions: The provisions of subsection A of this section shall not apply to any dog of either sex which has not reached the age of six (6) months nor to dogs whose owners are nonresidents temporarily within the city for thirty (30) days or less, nor to dogs brought into the city for the purpose of participating in any dog show. (Ord., 10-17-1990)
C. Certificate And Tag:
1. Upon payment of the license fee, the city shall issue to the owners a certificate and a tag for each dog. A metallic tag will be issued for each dog and shall have stamped thereon the year issued, the words "Lewiston City Dog Tag" and the tag number corresponding with the tag number of the certificate. Every owner shall be required to provide each dog with the collar or harness to which the license tag must be affixed and shall see that the collar and tag are constantly worn. Dogs which are used for show purposes are exempted from wearing the collar and tag during any showings. Dogs enclosed within commercially licensed kennels are exempted from wearing the collar and tag while confined within their kennels.
2. The original certificate issued as above provided shall be retained by the owner or harborer of the registered dog for inspection by the authorized representative of the city.
3. Duplicate dog tags shall be issued upon payment of a fee in such amount as established by resolution of the city council for each tag so issued to replace any original tag which has been lost or destroyed upon filing an affidavit of loss or destruction by the person who secured the original tag.
4. Dog tags shall not be transferable from one dog to another and no refund shall be made on any dog tags for any reason whatsoever.
5. It shall be unlawful for any person keeping or harboring a dog for which a license is required by this chapter to fail to exhibit the registration certificate or license tag or rabies tag upon demand by the animal control officer or other designated City official in the discharge of his duties. (1980 Code § 13-244; amd. Ord., 10-17-1990; 2002 Code)