(a) 
It shall be unlawful, except as provided in subsection (b) below, for any person to keep, possess, or maintain altered dogs and/or cats in a total number exceeding six (6) per premises.
(b) 
The provisions of subsection (a) of this section shall not apply to the following:
(1) 
Zoos, stock shows, fairs, circuses and parades;
(2) 
Public school projects, when conducted upon school property and under faculty supervision;
(3) 
Facilities owned and used by a licensed veterinarian in connection with his practice of veterinary medicine;
(4) 
Business establishments which sell dogs and/or cats commercially;
(5) 
The newborn offspring of dogs or cats before such time as said offspring is weaned;
(6) 
Fosters approved by the director of animal services or his designee and the animal shelter supervisor and meeting the requirements of section 2-3-4 shall be allowed to maintain dogs and/or cats in a total number not to exceed eight (8) per premises.
(c) 
In connection with the above-described exceptions, the premises and facilities used for keeping animals authorized to be kept under any of the provisions of this section must be kept in a sanitary condition to prevent the emission of odor, breeding of flies or other insects, or noise offensive to persons of ordinary sensibilities in the neighborhood. Any premises and facilities used for the keeping of animals authorized to be kept under any provision of subsection (b)(1)–(5) must be approved for such purpose by the county health department. Provision of subsection (b)(6) must be approved for such purpose by animal control services.
(Ordinance 2023-26 adopted 10/10/2023; Ordinance 2024-10 adopted 3/12/2024)
(a) 
It shall be unlawful for any person to maintain or keep a dog, cat or ferret four (4) months of age and older on any premises within the city unless such animal has been vaccinated against rabies within the current calendar year by a veterinarian licensed to practice veterinary medicine in the state. Such vaccinations shall be repeated in accordance with state law.
(b) 
A veterinarian who vaccinates a dog, cat or ferret against rabies shall issue the current owner a one (1) year vaccination certificate.
(c) 
Any person described in subsection (a) shall have in their possession a current rabies vaccination certificate for each dog, cat or ferret four (4) months of age and older and shall be required to show such certificate upon the demand of any animal control officer or deputy, or any city police officer.
(d) 
Any exemptions established by state law or approved by the state board of health shall be applicable to the requirements of this section.
(Ordinance 2023-26 adopted 10/10/2023)
(a) 
Any person who owns, keeps, harbors, gives away or sells within the city a dog or cat four (4) months of age and older shall obtain an annual vaccination-license certificate from a veterinarian who has obtained authority from animal services to issue them.
(b) 
Certificates:
(1) 
A licensed veterinarian shall issue a vaccination-license certificate which complies with rules adopted by the state board of health, and which shall be joint vaccination and licensing for the county and the city. The veterinarian shall be authorized to issue certificates for animals at the time of vaccination.
(2) 
A copy of each rabies vaccination-license certificate and all money collected for license fees, with the exception of a reasonable fee for clerical expenses to be retained by the veterinarian, which amount shall be set by agreement with the city and approved by the city council, shall be transmitted to the animal control officer before the tenth (10) day of the month following the month during which said licensing occurred. The veterinarian shall be held financially responsible for all fees associated with the vaccination certificate.
(3) 
The issuing veterinarian shall provide to animal services weekly documentation of the vaccination-license certificates issued by their facility. The documentation shall include the date of inoculation, date of future vaccination, clinic information, owner of animal, certification of vaccination that includes name of animal, breed, species, sex, color/markings, weight, age, microchip number (if known), veterinarian signature and license number, rabies vaccination information, manufacturer, serial number, lot expiration, and how administered.
(c) 
The annual fee for a vaccination-license certificate shall be eight dollars ($8.00). Two dollars ($2.00) will be retained by the veterinarian for clerical expenses as set out in subsection (b) above. The remaining six dollars ($6.00) will go to the city's animal services facility. If originals are lost or destroyed, the owner may obtain a duplicate from the originating veterinarian.
(d) 
Upon the payment of the vaccination-license certificate fee, a vaccination-license certificate shall be issued for each dog or cat so licensed.
(e) 
No person shall use a certificate for any animal other than the one for which it was issued. Any person who counterfeits or attempts to counterfeit a vaccination-license is guilty of a class C misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of up to five hundred dollars ($500.00).
(f) 
Fee-exempt certificates may be issued for the following:
(1) 
Dogs owned or controlled by law enforcement and fire/rescue service agencies.
(2) 
Dogs trained to lead the blind or assist the deaf. Eligibility for fee-exempt certificates does not relieve the owner of the owner's responsibility under other provisions of this chapter.
(g) 
Certificates issued in accordance with the provisions of this section shall be valid only for the twelve-month period for which they are issued.
(h) 
Upon request from a city enforcement agent or animal services facility employee, that person shall provide for inspection the current rabies vaccination-license certificate for the animal(s).
(Ordinance 2023-26 adopted 10/10/2023)
(a) 
The director of animal services or designee and the animal services facility supervisor are hereby granted the authority to approve individuals as a foster.
(b) 
Any individual recognized as an approved foster and living within the city limits shall comply with the following:
(1) 
Operate as a part of a registered 501(c)(3) rescue group; and
(2) 
Fill out the appropriate application at the animal services facility.
(c) 
All fosters shall be subject to an initial inspection and follow up periodic inspections by an animal services field manager or supervisor of the premises where the foster will be sheltering the animals.
(d) 
Grounds for revocation of the approved foster status include but are not limited to: failed inspections as referenced in subsection (b) of this section or a violation of any of the provisions of this article.
(Ordinance 2023-26 adopted 10/10/2023)
(a) 
All unaltered dogs and cats over six months of age kept, harbored, or maintained within the city limits must be spayed/neutered or their owner shall obtain a breeder's permit under this chapter.
(b) 
Exceptions to spay or neuter requirement.
(1) 
Animals under six months of age.
(2) 
Breeders are exempt with a current breeder permit and veterinarian statement of health that verifies current vaccination and a microchip with number.
(3) 
Animals where a licensed veterinarian certifies that the dog or cat should not be spayed/neutered for health reasons or is certified permanently nonfertile.
(4) 
Competition and show animals may be exempt with the proper documentation to demonstrate an animals activity.
(5) 
Service animals for law enforcement, rescue and certified disabled service animal.
(6) 
Animals transferred to another animal shelter or qualified rescue organization.
(Ordinance 2023-26 adopted 10/10/2023; Ordinance 2024-10 adopted 3/12/2024)