A. License Required: All dogs must be licensed every two (2) years, except as otherwise provided herein, to a person of the age of eighteen (18) years or older.
B. Lifetime Dog License: A lifetime dog license can be purchased for the life of the dog, or until such animal is removed from the city, for a onetime fee. The dog must be altered prior to licensing, have a current rabies vaccination, and a current rabies vaccination must be kept on file for the extent of the license. This license is not transferable to another animal or owner, and will be voided if such actions occur.
C. Time Limit For Obtaining: Any person owning, possessing or harboring any dog shall obtain a license for such animal within thirty (30) days after the dog reaches the age of four (4) months; or in the case of a dog over four (4) months, within five (5) days of the acquisition of the dog.
D. Application For License: License applications must be submitted at time of purchase to the division of animal control, utilizing a standard form which requests name, address, telephone number of the applicant; breed, sex, color and age of the animal; and rabies information. The application shall be accompanied by the prescribed license fee and by a current rabies vaccination certificate. Rabies vaccinations shall be given by a licensed veterinarian, every three (3) years.
E. License Fee:
1. No license shall be issued until the following license fee has been paid. All fees are listed in the master fee schedule for Washington City on file with the city.
2. In addition to the regular fee, no license fee shall be prorated or apportioned. The fees provided for herein may be amended from time to time by resolution of the city council. No dog will be licensed as spayed or neutered without proof that such surgery was performed.
F. Kennels; Conditional Use Permits:
1. Except for commercial kennels, which have been granted a conditional use permit by the city council, no person or entity shall own, possess, keep or maintain more than four (4) dogs in one location within the city limits. Further, in agricultural, residential agricultural, single-family residential, multiple-family residential, neighborhood commercial and mobile home zones, no person or entity shall own, possess, keep or maintain more than two (2) dogs, unless a permit for a residential kennel has been approved by the animal control department.
2. In addition to the requirements of subsection D of this section, applications for a license for a third or fourth dog in any area zoned agricultural, residential agricultural, single-family residential, multiple-family residential, neighborhood commercial or mobile home shall not be approved until such time that a permit for a residential kennel has been granted by the animal control department.
3. A residential kennel permit is only valid during the license period. The residential kennel permit will not be granted with lifetime dog licenses. The application must be submitted and approved and the residential kennel permit fees must be collected, prior to licensing of the third and/or fourth dog.
G. License Tag:
1. Upon payment of the license fee, the city shall issue to the owner a certificate and a tag for each dog licensed. The tag shall have stamped thereon the license number corresponding with the tag number on the certificate. The owner shall attach the tag to the collar or harness of the animal and see that the collar and tag are constantly worn. Failure to attach the tag as provided shall be in violation of this chapter, excepting dogs which are kept for show purposes are exempt from wearing the collar and tag.
2. Dog tags are not transferable from one dog to another. No refunds shall be made on any dog license fee for any reason whatsoever. Replacements for lost or destroyed tags shall be issued upon payment to the city. See master fee schedule for Washington City on file with the city.
3. Any person removing or causing to be removed the collar, harness or tag from any licensed dog without the consent of the owner or keeper thereof, except a licensed veterinarian or animal control officer who removes such for medical and other reasons, shall be in violation of this chapter.
H. Exemptions To License Requirements:
1. The provisions of subsections A through G of this section shall not apply to:
a. Dogs whose owners are in transit (up to 30 days) within the jurisdiction;
b. Individual dogs within a properly licensed dog kennel or other such establishment when such dogs are held for resale.
2. The fee provisions of subsection E of this section shall not apply to:
a. Seeing eye dogs properly trained to assist blind persons if such dogs are actually being used by blind persons to assist them in moving from place to place;
b. Hearing dogs properly trained to assist deaf persons if such dogs are actually used by deaf persons to aid them in responding to sounds.
3. Although exempt from the fees of subsection E of this section, a license tag will be issued by the city, which must be attached to the harness, leash or collar of the dog as prescribed in subsection G1 of this section.
4. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed so as to exempt any dog from having a current rabies vaccination. (Ord. 2012-09, 5-23-2012)