(A) General. The owner must annually license dangerous, or potentially dangerous, dogs with the city, and must license a newly declared dangerous, or potentially dangerous, dog within 14 days after notice that a dog has been declared dangerous, or potentially dangerous. Regardless of any appeal that may be requested, the owner must comply with the requirements of M.S. § 347.52(a) and (c), as it may be amended from time to time, regarding proper enclosures and notification to the city upon transfer, or death, of the dog, until, and unless, a hearing officer, or court of law, reverses the declaration.
(B) Process for dangerous dogs.
(1) The city will issue a license to the owner of a dangerous dog if the owner presents sufficient evidence that:
(a) There is a proper enclosure;
(b) Written proof that there is a surety bond by a surety company authorized to conduct business in the state in the sum of at least $300,000, payable to any person injured by a dangerous dog, or receipt of a copy of a policy of liability insurance issued by an insurance company authorized to do business in the state in the amount of at least $300,000, insuring the owner for any personal injuries inflicted by the dangerous dog. The city may notify the insurance company, or surety company, of the dangerous dog declaration. The surety bond, or insurance policy, shall provide that no cancellation of the bond, or policy, will be made unless the city is notified, in writing, by the surety company, or the insurance company, at least ten days prior to the cancellation;
(c) The owner has paid the annual license fee;
(d) The owner has had a microchip identification implanted in the dangerous dog. The name of the microchip manufacturer, and identification number, of the microchip must be provided to the city. If the microchip is not implanted by the owner, it may be implanted by the city at the owner’s expense; and
(e) The owner provides proof that the dog has been sterilized. If the owner does not sterilize the dog within 30 days, the city shall seize the dog, and sterilize it at the owner’s expense.
(2) The dog may not be possessed, or maintained, at any other location other than the owner’s property.
(3) The owner, or custodian, of the animal may not be a minor under the age of 18 years.
(4) The owner of the dangerous dog may be required to complete an approved obedience class at the direction of the city, or hearing officer.
(C) Process for potentially dangerous dogs. The city will issue a license to the owner of a potentially dangerous dog if the owner presents sufficient evidence that:
(1) There is a proper enclosure;
(2) The owner has paid the annual license fee; and
(3) The owner has had a microchip identification implanted in the potentially dangerous dog. The name of the microchip manufacturer, and identification number, of the microchip must be provided to the city. If the microchip is not implanted by the owner, it may be implanted by the city at the owner’s expense.
(D) Inspection. A pre-license inspection of the premises to ensure compliance with the city code is required. If the city issues a license to the owner of a dangerous, or potentially dangerous, dog, the city shall be allowed, at any reasonable time, to inspect the dog, the proper enclosure, and all places where the dog is kept.
(E) Warning symbol. The owner of a dangerous dog licensed under this section must post a sign with the uniform dangerous dog warning symbol on the property in order to inform children that there is a dangerous dog on the property. The sign will be provided by the city upon issuance of the license.
(F) Tags. A dangerous dog licensed under this section must wear a standardized, easily identifiable, tag at all times that contains the uniform dangerous dog symbol, identifying the dog as dangerous. The tag shall be provided by the city upon issuance of the license.
(G) License fee. The city will charge the owner an annual license fee for a dangerous, or potentially dangerous, dog.
(Ord. 19, third series, passed 6-21-2011)