A. Dog Or Cat License Required: No person shall own, keep, or harbor any dog or cat within the city limits unless such dog or cat is licensed as provided in this section.
B. Application For License; Fee; Rabies Vaccination:
1. Required Information: Application for such license shall be made to the city clerk. The application shall state the name and address of the person or persons applying for said license, also the breed, age, sex, and color and name of the dog or cat.
2. Payment Of Fee; Issuance Of Receipt And Tag: The license fee shall be paid at the time of making application for license. A numbered receipt shall be given to the applicant and there shall be issued to said applicant a numbered metallic tag, stamped with the tag number and the year for which issued.
3. Proof Of Rabies Vaccination: No license shall be issued for any dog or cat unless the owner thereof furnishes written proof that said dog or cat has been vaccinated against rabies within the past twelve (12) months by a licensed veterinarian.
C. Fees Enumerated: The yearly license fee shall be five dollars ($5.00) for a neutered male or spayed female, and ten dollars ($10.00) for an unneutered male or unspayed female, and plus a tag fee at an amount representing the city's cost for the tag.
D. License Term; Tag Attached To Collar; Duplicate Tag: All licenses shall be issued for a period of one year, and every owner is required to see that the tag is securely fastened to the collar or harness of the dog or cat and must be worn by the dog or cat at all times. In the event the tag is lost, the owner can obtain a duplicate tag upon payment of an amount representing the city's cost for the tag.
E. Keeping Animals Under Restraint: The owner or keeper shall keep his dog under restraint at all times and shall not permit such dog to be at large. Cats must wear a municipal license at all times and are subject to the same regulations as dogs.
F. Impoundment Of Dogs And Cats; Disposition:
1. Any dog or unlicensed cat or other small animal kept as a house pet found running at large shall be picked up and immediately impounded in the animal shelter and there confined in a humane manner.
2. Dogs and cats and other small animals not claimed by their owner or keeper before the expiration of seventy two (72) hours, exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, shall become the property of the city and shall be disposed of at the discretion of the city.
G. Notice Of Animals Running At Large Or Impoundment To Owners:
1. When dogs or cats are found running at large and their ownership is known to agents of the city, such dogs or cats need not be impounded, but the agent may, at his discretion, cite the owner or keeper of such dog or cat to appear in court to answer to charges of violations of this section.
2. Immediately upon impounding dogs or cats or other animals, the agent of the city charged with the enforcement hereof shall make every possible effort to notify the owners of such dogs, cats or other animals so impounded and inform such owners of the conditions whereby they may regain custody of such animal or animals.
3. Small unlicensed animals, other than dogs or cats, shall be impounded when found running at large within the city limits and disposed of in accordance with the provisions of this section or other applicable laws.
H. Reclamation Of Impounded Animals:
1. The owner of impounded animals shall be entitled to resume possession of any dog or cat or other small animal kept as house pets, except as hereinafter provided in the cases of certain dogs, cats, or other small animals kept as house pets upon compliance with the license provisions of this chapter and payment of impoundment fees as provided.
2. Any small animal impounded under the provisions of this section may be reclaimed by the owner upon the payment of the impoundment fee as provided.
3. Any animal impounded under the provisions of this section and not reclaimed by its owner within seventy two (72) hours may be adopted.
I. Confinement Of Female Dog In Season:
1. Every female dog or cat in season (heat) shall be kept confined in such a manner that such female dog or cat cannot come in contact with other animals, except for controlled breeding purposes.
2. Female animals picked up by the animal control officer which are in season (heat) shall be kept separate from male animals at all times.
J. Nuisance Conditions Prohibited; Humane Treatment Of Animals:
1. All dogs, cats and other small animals kept as house pets within the city limits shall be housed, fed and protected from the weather in such a manner so as not to create a nuisance.
2. No person shall willfully or maliciously beat, injure, maim, or mutilate any animal whether belonging to himself or another, or fail to provide an animal with necessary food, drink and shelter. (Ord. 2022-07, 5-10-2022)