[Code 1995]
It shall be unlawful for any person to keep any dog or cat over the age of six months in the City without having the same registered: Provided, That the owner, keeper, or harborer of any such animal shall pay to the City Clerk each year, before the animal is registered, a registration fee established and set by the governing body for each animal; however, no fee shall be required for pet owners 60 years of age and over; said clerk shall register the name of such owner or keeper in a book to be kept by him or her for that purpose, and shall deliver to the owner, or keeper of such animal a certificate in writing, stating that such person has registered such animal and the number by which he or she is registered, and shall also deliver to said owner or keeper of such animal a metallic tag with the letters Mission Woods and the registration number marked or stamped thereon which shall be by the owner or keeper attached to the collar to be used on said animal so registered. The City Clerk shall keep in a book suitable for the registration of animals, the time of such registration and the amount paid therefor. The fiscal year for the registering and licensing of animals under the provisions of this article shall begin on January 15th of each year, and if such license is not obtained before the 15th day of February in any year, or upon the date registration of the animal is required, then, in addition to the regular license fee such person shall be required to pay an additional fee of $2 during the first 30 days of delinquency up to 90 days; $10 for a delinquency over 90 days; $20 for a delinquency of 120 days or more.
Before the City Clerk shall issue a license or register the name of the owner or keeper of an animal, the owner or keeper of such animal shall furnish to the City Clerk a certificate from a licensed veterinarian showing that said animal has been immunized against rabies at the time of application.
Whenever any dog or cat shall be found within the City limits of Mission Woods, without having a license or registration tag attached to a collar or some other device, such animal shall be taken up by the humane officer, or by any other agency designated by the City to do so, and such animal shall be held five days at a shelter house provided by said agency, and if within the five days, the owner of any animal so held shall present to the person in charge of such shelter house a license receipt, such animal shall be delivered to the owner thereof. If not so claimed within five days, the animal shall become the property of the designated agency to be disposed of in some humane manner or placed in a good home under the agency's regulations. The owner or keeper claiming any animal as provided in this section shall pay the fee and board costs as set forth in Section 2-211.
It shall be unlawful for the owner of any animal or any person harboring an animal when notified that such animal has bitten any person or has so injured any person as to cause an abrasion of the skin, to sell or give away such animal or to permit or allow such animal to be taken beyond the limits of the City, for a period of not less than 15 days after date that such animal has so bitten or injured any person, except under the care of a licensed veterinarian. It shall be the duty of such owner or keeper upon receiving notice of the character aforesaid to immediately place such animal in a licensed veterinary hospital, where such animal shall be confined for a period of not less than 10 days; and such owner or person keeping or harboring such animal shall notify the City Clerk of the name and location of the veterinary hospital and the date that the animal was confined. The owner or keeper of the animal shall pay any unpaid license fees, penalties and board costs of the animal.
Any dangerous, fierce or vicious animal may be slain or picked up by the humane officer or any authorized City representative. If the animal has been slain, it shall be the duty of the humane officer or any authorized City representative to deliver, or cause to be delivered, its carcass and brain to a laboratory where examination of the same may be made.
It shall be unlawful for the owner of any dog or cat to permit such animal to run at large within the corporate limits of the City at any time. Any such animal shall be deemed to be running at large therein when found upon property other than that of the owner, keeper or harborer thereof: Provided, that any animal kept securely tied or kept securely within an enclosure on private premises or led by a leash, chain, strap or rope, and thus under the control of its owner or keeper, shall not be deemed to be running at large. It shall be lawful for any humane officer or other person designated by the governing body to pursue and capture such animals so running at large.
Any animal captured or apprehended under the terms and conditions of Section 2-208 shall be held for a period of five days and disposed of in the manner as shall from time to time be determined by the governing body of the City.
The Chief of Police is hereby authorized, whenever in his or her opinion the danger to public safety from rabid animals is imminent, to issue a proclamation ordering the person owning, keeping or harboring any dogs or cats to muzzle the same or confine the same, by good and sufficient means, to the house, stable, outbuilding, or yard, wherein such person may reside for such a time as may be specified in such proclamation, and the person keeping or harboring any animal shall confine the same by good and sufficient means, within the house, yard, stable or outbuilding of such owner or keeper, and have such animal or animals properly and securely muzzled during the time specified in such proclamation, and all animals found running at large within the City during the time so specified in the proclamation, without being securely muzzled are hereby declared to be a nuisance and it shall be the duty of any police officer of said City to kill such animal.
It is hereby made the duty of the proper person designated by the governing body to capture all dogs and cats found running at large in violation of this article and place them in a shelter house designated by the governing body for that purpose, and if the owner, keeper or harborer of any such animal does not redeem the same within five days after such impounding, by the payment to the City Clerk of a license, if required, and penalties, if any, plus the cost of the board bill charged by the owner or owners of the shelter house and presentation of a receipt from the City Clerk showing payment of any required license fee and penalties, then such animal may be disposed of in some humane manner by the designated operator of the shelter house.
It shall be unlawful to have more than two dogs and two cats over the age of three months, in any household residentially zoned property, without a special permit from the governing body.
Any person violating any of the provisions of this article shall upon conviction thereof be fined in any sum not exceeding $500 or be imprisoned for not more than 180 days, or by both such fine and imprisonment.