(A) No person shall own, keep or harbor any dog over six months old within the city limits unless such dog is licensed as herein provided. Application for such license shall be made to the City Clerk, or such agents as the City Clerk shall designate, and shall state the name and address of the owner and the name, breed, color, age and sex of the dog. At the time of making the application for the license, the license fee shall be paid and a numbered receipt and a numbered metallic tag for the dog shall be issued to the owner. No license or tag shall be issued unless the dog for which the license is sought has received immunization for rabies within the past 12 months if phenolized vaccine is used, or the past 24 months if modified virus vaccine is used, or unless the owner is able to furnish other proof of immunization satisfactory to the agent from whom the license is purchased. The applicant must present evidence of immunization given by an appropriate authority in writing. Such proof may consist of, but shall not be limited to, a statement or receipt from a medical authority showing such immunization.
(B) The yearly license fee shall be set by ordinance for each male dog or female dog; or for each neutered or spayed dog. Owners showing proof of having their dog neutered or spayed within 12 months of paying their fee will be refunded a portion of the fee. Such proof may consist of, but shall not be limited to, a statement or receipt from a medical authority showing that the appropriate procedure has been performed.
(C) All licenses required by this chapter shall expire on December 31 of the year of issuance. The following year's license must be obtained prior to February 1.
(D) Any dog subject to license which is not licensed shall be considered a nuisance. Any such unlicensed dog shall be impounded pursuant to § 12.04.040 of this chapter and if not redeemed pursuant to the provisions of § 12.04.040(B), or if found vicious pursuant to the provisions of § 12.04.050, may be destroyed.
(E) Any person owning a seeing eye dog, a hearing aid dog, or other aid dog shall be exempt from the license fee payment requirement of this section. Upon application, annually, to the City Clerk and upon presentation of evidence from an appropriate medical authority that the dog for which the license is sought has received immunization for rabies as provided for in § 12.04.020(A) of this chapter, every owner of an aid dog certified by a recognized aid dog institution shall receive, at no charge, a city dog license.