(a)
License fee.
A license fee in the amount set forth in the fee schedule in appendix A of this code shall be paid for each dog or cat four (4) months of age or over which is kept, harbored or maintained within the boundaries of the city for at least sixty (60) days of each calendar year.
(b)
Issuance of license.
Dog or cat license tags shall be issued by the police department and authorized, licensed veterinarians. All licenses issued by the appointee shall be on numbered forms and tags furnished by the police department, subject to the provisions of this chapter and any other rules and ordinances relating to the issuance of such a license.
(c)
Due date for vaccination and license fee.
The license fee shall be due at the same time as the rabies vaccination, and rabies vaccination shall be due no later than one (1) calendar year following the last rabies vaccination.
(d)
Exemption from fee.
Persons who are residents of the state and own a guide dog for the blind or an aid dog for the hearing impaired, or any bona fide nonprofit organization which is in the business of breeding, raising or training dogs which are to be used for guiding the blind or for the hearing impaired, shall upon application by the owner or organization to the animal control officer and in presentation of proper proof of vaccination be licensed pursuant to this section without payment of a fee.
(e)
Issuance of tag; lost tag.
Each dog or cat licensed under the terms of this section shall be [issued a tag] inscribed with the name of the county, the number of the license, and the year in which it is issued. The tag shall be attached to a collar or harness which shall be worn by the dog or cat at all times, except as otherwise provided in this section. Whenever a tag is lost, a duplicate tag shall be issued upon application by the owner and payment of fee to the city in the amount set forth in the fee schedule in appendix A of this code. If a dog or cat is impounded that does not have attached to its collar or harness a tag issued under the terms of this section, then the impounded dog or cat shall be considered as unlicensed and the owner shall be subject to the impoundment fees as described in section 3.03.004(a).
(f)
Offenses.
Any person who counterfeits or attempts to counterfeit an official tag or remove such tag from any dog or cat for the purpose of willful and malicious mischief, or places a tag upon a dog or cat unless the tag was issued to that dog or cat, is guilty of a misdemeanor.
(g)
Transfer of license.
Whenever the ownership of a dog or cat has been changed, the new owner must secure a transfer of license to such owner. A transfer fee in the amount set forth in the fee schedule in appendix A of this code shall be charged to transfer any license.
(h)
Record of tags.
The animal control officer shall maintain a record of the identifying number of all tags issued.
(i)
Wearing of tags or collars.
Dogs must wear identification tags or collars at all times when off the premises of the owners.
(j)
Impoundment of animals without tag.
The animal control officer shall apprehend and impound any dog or cat without a current, valid license tag.
(Ordinance 976, art. 6, adopted 4/23/96; 1972 Code, sec. 4-22; Ordinance adopting 2023 Code)