1. License Required:
1. All dogs must be licensed each year, except as otherwise provided herein, to a person of the age of eighteen (18) years or older.
2. Any person owning, possessing or harboring any dog shall obtain a license for such animal within thirty (30) days after the dog reaches the age of four (4) months; or in the case of a dog over four (4) months, within ten (10) days of the acquisition of the dog.
2. Application: License applications must be submitted annually to the department of animal control, utilizing a standard form which requests name, address, and telephone number of the applicant; breed, sex, color and age of the animal; and such rabies vaccination information as is available. (Ord. 87-1, 9-8-1987) (Ord. 24-4, 9-24-2024)
3. License Fees: License fees shall be in such amounts as established by resolution of the city council. (Ord. 87-1, 9-8-1987; amd. 2004 Code)
4. Term Of License: The license shall be effective from the date of purchase within that quarter to January of the following year. (Ord. 87-1, 9-8-1987)
5. Limited Number: No household/residence at any time within the city shall own, keep, harbor or maintain more than three (3) dogs regardless of licensing or how many people reside in the residence. If more than three (3) dogs are residing in a residence, the owner/owners shall be in violation of this chapter. (Ord. 15-2, 12-22-2015)(Ord. 18-3, 11-27-2018)
6. License Tag:
1. Upon payment of the license fee, the department of animal control shall issue to the owner a certificate and a tag for each dog licensed. The tag shall have stamped therein the license number corresponding with the tag number on the certificate. The owner shall attach the tag to the collar or harness of the animal and see that the collar and tag are constantly worn. Failure to attach the tag as provided shall be in violation of this chapter, except that those dogs which are kept for show purposes are exempt from wearing the collar and tag. (Ord. 87-1, 9-8-1987)
2. Dog tags are not transferable from one dog to another. No refunds shall be made on any dog license fee for any reason whatsoever. Replacements for lost or destroyed tags shall be issued upon payment to the city of a fee in such amount as established by resolution of the city council. (Ord. 87-1, 9-8-1987; amd. 2004 Code)
3. Any person removing or causing to be removed the collar, harness or tag from any licensed dog without the consent of the owner or keeper thereof, except a licensed veterinarian or animal control officer who removes such for medical and other reasons, shall be in violation of this chapter. (Ord. 87-1, 9-8-1987)
7. Exemptions To Licensing:
1. The provisions of subsections A through F of this section shall not apply to licensed dogs whose owners are nonresidents temporarily (up to 30 days) within the city; licensed dogs whose owners remain within the city longer than thirty (30) days may transfer to the local license upon payment of a fee in such amount as established by resolution of the city council and proof of current rabies vaccination. (Ord. 87-1, 9-8-1987; amd. 2004 Code)
2. The fee provisions of subsection C of this section shall not apply to:
1. Seeing eye dogs properly trained to assist blind persons if such dogs are actually being used by blind persons to assist them in moving from place to place.
2. Dogs being trained by 4-H club members.
3. Hearing dogs properly trained to assist deaf persons if such dogs are actually used by deaf persons to aid them in responding to sounds.
4. Dogs especially trained to assist officials of government agencies in the performance of their duties and which are owned by such agencies.
5. Service dogs properly trained and certified to assist a person with a disability that is not related to vision or hearing if such dogs are actually so used, and owner can show documentation of said dog’s training and certification. (Ord. 18-3, 11-27-2018)
3. Nothing in the section shall be construed so as to exempt any dog from having a current rabies vaccination. (Ord. 87-1, 9-8-1987)