(a) 
Licensed Required.
The owner or harborer of each animal more than three (3) months old in the town shall register the animal with the town secretary or the town secretary’s duly authorized representative and obtain an annual license for such animal from the animal control department. At the time of application for such license, the owner shall present the certificate of vaccination for the said animal and pay a licensing fee for each animal the amount of which is to be designated in the fee schedule found in the appendix of this code.
(b) 
Possession of Unlicensed Dog or Cat Prohibited.
A person commits an offense if he possesses within the town an animal which has not been licensed according to Article 2.1700(a), above. The owner of an animal shall, upon request, show to the law enforcement officer enforcing this chapter the receipt for the animal’s town registration. The failure or refusal of an owner to produce to the law enforcement officer the receipt for the animal’s town registration or a current license tag shall constitute prima facie proof that such animal has not been licensed according to the requirement contained in Article 2.1700(a), above.
(c) 
Issuance of Tags.
Upon presentation of the vaccination certificate and payment of the licensing fee, the town secretary or the town secretary’s duly authorized representative shall issue to the owner a license tag. The license tag and vaccination tag shall be affixed to a collar which shall be attached to the animal’s neck and worn by such animal at all times.
(d) 
Lost or Destroyed Tags.
In the event a license tag is lost or destroyed, a new tag shall be issued by the town secretary or the town secretary’s duly authorized representative upon presentation of a receipt showing the payment of the license fee and upon the payment of a replacement fee the amount of which is to be designated in the fee schedule found in the appendix of this code. The new license tag shall be valid only for the period of time that remains on the original license receipt.
(e) 
Failure to Obtain Licensing Tag.
A person commits an offense, without regard to his mental state, if he owns an animal without a current licensing tag for the animal.
(f) 
Defenses.
It is a defense to prosecution that:
(1) 
the animal was younger than three months of age; or
(2) 
the owner of the animal has resided in the town less than 30 days.
(g) 
Transferability of Registration or Licensing.
Town registration or licensing of an animal is not transferable to another animal.
(Ordinance 03-003 adopted 4/7/03)