(a) Impoundment and violation notice.
(1) Any animal at large in violation of this article may be taken by the permit authority or animal control officer and impounded in the designated holding place and be there confined in a humane manner pending further action pursuant to this ordinance. If an owner or keeper is present and able to take control of such animal, in lieu of impoundment, a ticket may be issued to that person and person may retain possession of the animal if it is the belief of the officer issuing such ticket that such possession is not in conflict with any other provisions of this article.
(2) Whenever any animal is confined by authority of this article, it shall be the duty of the permit authority to release the same upon satisfactory proof that the party claiming the animal is entitled to possession thereof and upon payment to the permit authority of all applicable fees required by this article.
(3) Whenever an animal continues to run at large, and by all means necessary has been unable to be controlled or seized by the permit authority or animal control officer, said animal may be photographed in the act and evidence, along with a warning ticket, shall be sent to said owner upon verification of ownership. If the dog is photographed three or more times, a ticket and fine will be issued. The defendant will be afforded an opportunity to defend against the allegation at a hearing; which would include the offering of any evidence the defendant believes may show that no violation occurred.
(4) A record of all dogs impounded shall be kept by the city containing the following information: color, sex, identifying marks, registration number (if any), date of impoundment and a photo if possible.
(b) Notification of capture and impoundment. After the impoundment of any animal where a ticket has not been issued to the owner or keeper the permit authority shall promptly notify the owner of such animal of its impoundment if the owner can be determined and located by reasonable investigation; however, no liability shall attach to the city or to the permit authority or staff for failure to give such notice. The owner of an impounded animal who does not redeem his or her animal shall still be proceeded against for violation of any applicable provision(s) of this or any other applicable ordinance.
(c) License required for dogs and cats. It shall be the duty of every person owning, keeping or harboring in the city any dog or cat which is over 90 days old or which is no longer with its dam to obtain a license from the permit authority. The receipt issued for the license shall constitute a certificate of registry and evidence of licensure for the keeping of such dog or cat within the city. It shall be unlawful to possess any unlicensed dog or cat subject to this division (c).
(d) Nonresidents or visiting animals. Any other section of this article notwithstanding, the licensing provision of this article shall not apply to any nonresident owner or keeper of a dog or cat while such nonresident is passing through the city, provided such dog or cat shall remain on a leash or otherwise effectively physically restrained as in a closed vehicle. Dogs and cats of nonresidents need not be licensed during dog or cat shows or exhibitions. Visiting animals shall be defined as those animals residing in the city for less than 30 days.
(e) License fees. For the issuance of each dog and cat license required by this article, the owner or keeper shall pay to the city such license fee in the amount of $15. If a certificate signed by a licensed veterinarian attesting that a dog or cat has been sterilized is submitted to the permit authority, a reduced fee shall be paid in the amount of $10.
(f) Licensing period. The licensure evidenced by the certificate of registry shall entitle an owner or keeper to keep the licensed dog or cat in the city until May 31 next following the date of issuance of the dog and cat license and certificate.
(g) Certificate of immunization; licensing prerequisite. Before the permit authority issues any license or tag for a dog or cat, the owner or keeper thereof shall file with the permit authority a certificate from a licensed veterinarian showing the dog or cat was immunized against rabies. All dogs must be immunized against distemper, hepatitis, and parvo pursuant to the DHLPP and DHPP vaccination protocols of the American Veterinary Medical Association. All cats must be immunized against feline panleukopenia pursuant to the FPV vaccination protocols of the American Veterinary Medical Association. It is a unlawful to possess a dog or a cat in the city limits that is not vaccinated. The owner will also submit a signed certificate from a licensed veterinarian to the permit authority as to whether or not a dog or cat has been sterilized if it is desired to obtain a license at the lower rate applicable to sterilized animals.
(h) Duties of veterinarian.
(1) It shall be the duty of each veterinarian, when vaccinating any dog or cat to complete a certificate of rabies vaccination, in triplicate, for each animal vaccinated. The certificate shall include the following information:
(A) Owner’s name and address;
(B) Description of dog or cat (breed, sex markings, age, name, color);
(C) Date of vaccination and expiration (or renewal date);
(D) Rabies vaccination tag number;
(E) Type of rabies vaccine administered; and
(F) Manufacturer’s serial number of vaccine.
(2) Distribution of copies of the certificate shall be: the original will be forwarded to the permit authority; the first copy will be given to the owner and the issuing veterinarian will retain the second copy. Veterinarians shall retain their copies for the interval between vaccinations.
(i) False certificate. It shall be a violation for any veterinarian to prepare a veterinarian’s certificate required under this chapter by use of information known by the veterinarian to be false. It shall be a violation for any person to give false information to a veterinarian for use in the veterinarian’s preparation of any veterinarian's certificate required under this article.
(j) Records of dog and cat registration. The permit authority shall keep a record giving the name and address of the owner or keeper of each licensed dog or cat and the number of the license tag, together with a general description of the dog and cat.
(k) License tags. At the time of the issuance of a license required by this article, the permit authority shall deliver therewith a license tag showing the registration number and expiration date of the license. The permit authority shall furnish a first replacement license tag to any such owner or keeper upon application, all future replacements will be charged $5.
(l) Wearing of license or identification tags required.
(1) No owner or keeper of any licensed dog or cat shall allow or permit such dog or cat to be outside the residence structure of said owner or keeper at any time other than when enclosed on all sides in a cage or covered run without having attached to a collar about the neck of such animal or to a secure body harness the license tag.
(2) No person shall remove, or caused to be removed, the collar, harness or the license tag from any registered dog or cat without the consent of the owner or keeper thereof.