§ 8-16-2. Dog license tags required—Fees—Exceptions—Cat rabies vaccination required.

A.

Dogs—Licensing and vaccination. It is unlawful for any person to own, have, harbor, keep or to cause or permit to be harbored, or kept in the city, any dog three months of age or over, unless a current city license tag has been issued for such dog. Prior to the issuance of a city dog license tag, the animal must receive a vaccination for rabies or the owner of the animal must provide evidence that such animal has been so vaccinated and such vaccination is still current. In addition to the cost of the rabies vaccination, a city dog license tag shall be required for a 12-month period, beginning during the month of purchase and expiring during the same month of the following year, and a license must thereafter be purchased annually on the same basis, in advance of such expiration date, for an applicable fee, as follows:

1.

For each fertile dog: $15.00;

2.

For each sterile dog: $5.00.

B.

Such a city dog license tag may be purchased from the veterinarian at the time of vaccination or can be purchased from the city animal shelter, and/or agencies and offices designated by the director of public service.

C.

If the license is purchased from a veterinary clinic, the veterinarian issuing the license may collect an agent's fee of $1.00 for this service.

D.

If the license is purchased from a nonveterinarian source, such as the shelter, the purchaser shall exhibit an affidavit from a licensed veterinarian, describing and identifying the animal and certifying its sterility, in order to pay the proper license fee. Falsification of such affidavit shall be punishable in accordance with state law. No license is transferable.

E.

The provisions of this section shall not apply to nonresidents traveling through the city or staying temporarily for a period of less than 30 days.

F.

Cats—Vaccination. It is unlawful for any person to own, have, harbor, keep or to cause or permit to be harbored, or kept in the city, any cat three months of age or over, unless such person holds a current certificate of vaccination for each such animal.

G.

The provisions of this section shall not apply to nonresidents traveling through the city or staying temporarily for a period of less than 30 days.

(Code 1967, § 7-37; Code 1985, § 5-57; Ord. No. 3189, § 1, 3-9-1982; Ord. No. 3973, § 1(3), 6-26-1990; Ord. No. 4145, § 2, 11-17-1992; Ord. No. 4819, § 1, 11-21-2000)

Charter reference

Authority of city to provide for registration and licensing of dogs, § 854.