A. 
Every person who resides within the city and who owns, harbors, or keeps any dog or cat over the age of four months within the city for 30 days or longer shall obtain a current license and license tag issued as required by this title for each dog or cat.
B. 
The license tag obtained shall be attached to a substantial collar or harness that shall be worn by the dog or cat at all times, except as provided in subsection C of this section or Section 6.16.080 of this chapter.
C. 
Cats with electronic identification in the form of microchip implants or other forms of permanent identification approved and issued by the city or its agent, are not required to wear a collar and tag. All other licensing requirements of this title apply to such cat.
D. 
Any dog found without a current license tag or for which there is no current license may be seized and impounded by an animal compliance officer or any peace officer, and/or a citation may be issued to the person who owns, harbors or keeps the dog.
E. 
Any cat found without a current license tag or for which there is no current license or without electronic identification may be seized and impounded by an animal compliance officer or any peace officer and/or a citation may be issued to the person who owns, harbors or keeps the cat.
(Ord. 504 § 2, 2022)
The license and license tag or electronic identification required by this chapter may be obtained by displaying an acceptable rabies vaccination certificate, furnishing the information required herein and the license application, and paying the proper fee to the city or its agent. The animal license application shall include the name, sex, breed, age, and color of the dog or cat for which the application is made, and the address and, when available, the telephone number and email address of the person owning, harboring, or keeping the dog or cat. The official receiving such information shall record it on the receipt to be given for payment of the license fee. The expiration date of the rabies vaccination shall be recorded on the receipt and shall not extend pass the vaccination expiration date. No license shall be issued to any person under the age of 18 years.
(Ord. 504 § 2, 2022)
A. 
The license period for any license issued pursuant to this chapter shall be the period of time specified on the license application pursuant to which such license is issued.
B. 
The license period specified on any given license application shall be whatever period the city council may adopt by resolution for that particular license application, provided that the period shall not extend beyond the expiration date of the applicable rabies vaccination. A license shall expire, and such license and corresponding license tag shall cease to be current upon the expiration of the applicable license period.
(Ord. 504 § 2, 2022)
The fee for the license required by this chapter shall be as prescribed by resolution of the city council or by applicable law. The fee prescribed for a dog or a cat that has been spayed or neutered, as verified by a veterinarian's certificate, shall be no more than 50% of the fee for a dog or a cat of the same sex that has not been spayed or neutered. In addition, if a letter from a licensed veterinarian certifies that arrangements have been made to spay or neuter the dog or cat within 60 days from the date that the dog or cat reaches the age of four months, and the dog or cat is spayed or neutered within that 60 day period, the owner shall qualify for the lower license fee for a dog that has been spayed or neutered.
(Ord. 504 § 2, 2022)
A dog license shall be issued free of charge in the following instances:
A. 
When the license is for a dog that will be used as a guide dog for a blind person. An affidavit attesting to the fact that the dog will be used as a guide dog shall be given to the official issuing the license; or
B. 
When the license is for a dog that has been honorably discharged from the armed services of the United States. Such discharge shall be established by showing the licensing official the discharge papers issued for such dog; or
C. 
When the license is for a dog actively used by or retired from service from a governmental agency for law enforcement, search and rescue, or fire detection purposes; or
D. 
When required under any other provision of law.
(Ord. 504 § 2, 2022)
A. 
The information and fee required by this chapter are due on the thirtieth (30th) day after the day on which:
1. 
The previous license, if any, expires;
2. 
The dog or cat is acquired by the person owning, harboring, or keeping it;
3. 
The dog or cat is brought into the city; or
4. 
The dog or cat attains the age of four months, whichever occurs last.
B. 
Any person purchasing a license after the due date shall pay, in addition to the license fee, a late license penalty in an amount equal to 100% of the license fee which would be applicable if the license period were one year, regardless of the actual license period for which such license is issued. Such penalty shall be in addition to any other penalty or sanction which may be imposed pursuant to this code for failure to have a license.
(Ord. 504 § 2, 2022)
Upon receipt of the required information, accompanied by payment of the proper fee and display of an acceptable rabies vaccination certificate, the dog or cat shall be licensed by the city or its authorized agent, whichever is designated to issue licenses. A written receipt shall be issued to the applicant, and a license tag shall be provided to the applicant, or the electronic identification shall be inserted into the dog or cat. Each license tag or electronic identification shall be serially numbered and identified with such identification wording as determined by resolution of the city council, and shall be marked with the year in which it is issued.
(Ord. 504 § 2, 2022)
The license tag need not be worn by the dog or cat:
A. 
When the dog or cat is securely confined in a cage or vehicle; or
B. 
When the dog or cat is within an enclosure sufficient to securely confine the dog or cat to the premises of a county or city animal shelter, animal hospital, licensed dog or cat kennel, animal rescue entity organized and existing under Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3), or of the person owning, harboring, or controlling the dog or cat; or
C. 
When the dog or cat is participating in, or training for, sporting events, field trials, obedience class, dog or cat shows, or when the dog is herding livestock, provided such dog or cat is not running at large; or
D. 
When the dog is used by a law enforcement agency to perform official law enforcement duties.
(Ord. 504 § 2, 2022)
If a license tag issued under the provisions of this chapter is lost, a duplicate tag may be obtained from the city or its authorized agent upon paying a fee in the amount prescribed by resolution of the city council.
(Ord. 504 § 2, 2022)
In the event that there is a change in ownership of a dog or cat licensed pursuant hereto during the license period for which such license is issued, the new owner may have the current license transferred to his or her name upon the payment of a transfer fee in the amount prescribed by resolution of the city council.
(Ord. 504 § 2, 2022)
The city may appoint animal license inspectors for the purpose of inspecting animals required to be licensed hereunder to ascertain if such animals are properly licensed, issuing the licenses required hereunder, and collecting the required license fees. Inspectors shall be compensated at the rate established by resolution of the city council for each license issued. Each inspector shall promptly account to the city for all funds collected pursuant hereto and shall pay over such funds.
(Ord. 504 § 2, 2022)
It is unlawful for any person to:
A. 
Interfere with a person authorized by the city to issue an animal license, conduct a door-to-door canvass for animal licensing, or complete a census of animals in the city;
B. 
Counterfeit a dog or cat license tag;
C. 
Attach a license tag to any dog or cat other than the one for which the tag was issued;
D. 
To state as true any material matter that the applicant or person who owns, harbors, or keeps the animal knows to be false.
(Ord. 504 § 2, 2022)