It shall be unlawful for any person to own a dog four months old or older in this city, unless such dog is licensed under the provisions of this article.
(Code 1964 § 6-13; Code 1985 § 6-36)
(1) 
Any person may obtain a dog license by making oral or written application to the city treasurer, accompanied by the amount of the license tax and the certificate referred to in SCC § 6.10.120. The city treasurer shall only have authority to license dogs of resident owners or custodians who reside within the limits of the city and may require information to this effect from any applicant.
(2) 
It shall be unlawful for any person to make any false statement in or present any false evidence with an application submitted under this section, in order to secure a dog license to which such person is not entitled.
(Code 1985 § 6-37)
(1) 
An annual license tax is hereby imposed on dogs required to be licensed under this article in the following amounts:
(a) 
Male or female sexed dog: $10.00.
(b) 
Neutered or spayed dog: $10.00, with a veterinarian's certificate that the dog has been neutered or spayed.
(2) 
A multi-year license may be issued for an individual dog for a period equal to and concurrent with the effective period of the rabies inoculation or vaccination administered to such dog, provided in no event shall the multi-year license be valid for a period in excess of three years. When a multi-year license has been issued for an individual dog, the license tax shall next be due within 30 days of the expiration of the multi-year license. A multi-year tax shall be payable in an amount of $15.00 for a two-year license or $20.00 for a three-year license.
(3) 
No license tax shall be levied under the provisions of this section on any dog that is trained and serves as a guide dog for a blind person or that is trained and serves as a hearing dog for a deaf or hearing impaired person. As used herein, the term "hearing dog" means a dog trained to alert its owner, by touch, to sounds of danger and sounds to which the owner should respond.
(4) 
In no event shall the treasurer pay any refund of the license tax imposed by this section.
(5) 
Any person giving false information in the procurement of a license pursuant to the provision of this section shall be deemed guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.
(Code 1964 § 6-22.1; Code 1985 § 6-38; Ord. 2008-03; Ord. 2008-20)
The license tax on dogs shall be due and payable, unless otherwise specifically provided, not later than 30 days of the dog becoming in the possession of the owner or the dog becoming four months of age.
(Code 1985 § 6-39; Ord. 2008-03)
(1) 
It shall be unlawful for the owner of any dog to fail to pay the tax imposed by the provisions of this article when the same is due. Payment of such tax subsequent to a summons to appear before a court for failure to do so within the time required shall not operate to relieve such owner from the penalties provided for such failure.
(2) 
The first violation for failure to pay the tax when due shall constitute a Class 4 misdemeanor. The second violation as to the same animal shall constitute a Class 3 misdemeanor. Subsequent violations as to the same animal shall constitute Class 2 misdemeanors. Upon being found guilty of a third or subsequent violation related to the same animal, the court may also order the confiscation and the proper disposition of the animal.
(Code 1985 § 6-40; Ord. 2008-03)
Upon receipt of a proper application and the prescribed license tax, the city treasurer shall issue a dog license; provided, that no such license shall be issued for any dog, unless there is presented to the city treasurer a vaccination certificate issued for such animal pursuant to SCC § 6.10.020. When the license has been issued, such certificate shall be so marked and returned to the owner. It shall be unlawful for any person to present such a certificate of vaccination for a dog or cat other than that for which it was issued.
(Code 1964 §§ 6-23, 6-24; Code 1985 § 6-41)
Each license issued under this article shall consist of a license tax receipt and a metal tag. Such receipt shall have recorded thereon the amount of tax paid, the name and address of the owner or custodian of the animal, the date of payment, the year for which the license is issued, the serial number of the tag, and whether the license is for a male, female, or unsexed dog. Such metal tag shall be stamped or otherwise permanently marked to show the name of the city, the sex of the animal, and the calendar year for which issued and shall bear a serial number.
(Code 1985 § 6-42)
(1) 
A dog license receipt shall be carefully preserved by the person to whom it is issued and exhibited promptly on request for inspection by the animal control officer or any other officer. License tags shall be securely fastened to a substantial collar by the owner or custodian and worn by such animal. The owner of the animal may remove the collar and license tag required by this section when the animal is engaged in lawful hunting; when the animal is competing in a show; when the animal has a skin condition which would be exacerbated by the wearing of a collar; when the animal is confined; or when the animal is under the immediate control of its owner.
(2) 
Any animal not wearing a collar bearing a license tag of the proper calendar year shall prima facie be deemed to be unlicensed, and in any proceedings under this article, the burden of proof of the fact that such animal has been licensed or is otherwise not required to bear a tag at the time shall be on the owner of the animal.
(Code 1964 § 6-13; Code 1985 § 6-43; Ord. 2008-03)
It shall be unlawful for any person, except the owner or custodian, to remove a legally acquired license tag from a dog, without the permission of the owner or custodian.
(Code 1985 § 6-44)
If a license tag issued hereunder is lost, destroyed, or stolen, the owner or custodian shall at once apply to the city treasurer for a duplicate license tag, presenting the original license receipt. Upon affidavit of the owner or custodian before the city treasurer that the original license tag has been lost, destroyed, or stolen, the treasurer shall issue a duplicate license tag, which the owner or custodian shall immediately affix to the collar of the animal. The city treasurer shall endorse the number of the duplicate and the date issued on the face of the original license receipt. The fee for a duplicate tag shall be $1.00.
(Code 1985 § 6-45)
The city treasurer shall maintain a record of the identifying numbers of all dog license tags issued and shall make this record available to the public during the period for which such tags are valid.
(Code 1985 § 6-46; Ord. 2008-03)
(1) 
In the event a person, firm or corporation operates a kennel, as defined in this article, in lieu of the licensing requirements set forth heretofore, there is hereby imposed a license tax on such kennel operation of $50.00.
(2) 
Application for a kennel license shall be made on or before January 1st and not later than January 31st of each year, or in the case of a new kennel opening during a calendar year, prior to opening a business for such kennel. A new business opened during a calendar year shall not be entitled to a license tax proration.
(3) 
The application made hereunder shall be accompanied by the certificate referred to in SCC § 6.10.120, the provisions of which are applicable hereto.
(4) 
No operation of a kennel shall occur in the city unless and until a license has been issued, and no license shall be issued absent compliance with all applicable provisions of SCC Title 18.
(Code 1985 § 6-47; Ord. 3-13-97; Ord. 2008-03; Ord. 2008-20)