(a) No person shall cause or allow any dog or cat owned, harbored or kept within the City to breed without first obtaining a breeding permit, as described below. The term “breeding permit” mean a written authorization, issued annually by the City Clerk, giving its lawful holder permission to breed a dog or cat.
(b) Each breeding permit shall be valid for one year from the date of issuance, and may be renewed annually before its expiration date. Each applicant for such a permit shall pay an annual fee of $30.00 per dog or cat. A separate permit must be obtained for each owned dog or cat which is allowed to breed.
(c) The Animal Control Officer shall enforce the animal breeding permit program to allow the breeding of dogs and cats that are not sterilized consistent with criteria herein. Under no circumstances shall such a permit be issued to a person who has been convicted of animal cruelty or neglect. All breeding permits shall contain the following terms and conditions: The owner of a female dog or cat that is not sterilized shall not allow the breeding of more than one litter per animal in any household within the permit year. Notwithstanding this provision, the City Clerk is hereby authorized, upon application of a permittee to allow on a one-time basis the breeding of up to two dog or cat litters per breeding animal within any domestic household within a permit year. In the event that a permittee is forced to euthanize a litter of dogs or cats for medical reasons, the City Clerk may authorize the breeding of one additional litter of dogs or cats within the same permit year by the permittee without penalty.
(Passed January 12, 2015.)