[HISTORY: Adopted by the City Council of the City of Harrisburg 9-22-1998 by Ord. No.
11-1998[1]. Amendments noted where applicable.]
This chapter is enacted to authorize the sale of dog licenses,
maintenance of records relating thereto and enforcement of these regulations
by the Tax Enforcement Administrator,[1] the Bureau of Police or an authorized agent of either.
See § 3-501.2 for applicable definitions.
A.
No person shall keep, harbor or maintain a dog over the age of three
months unless the owner obtains a license from the Tax Enforcement
Administrator or an authorized agent.
B.
The provisions of this section shall not apply to dogs whose owners
are within the City for 60 days or less or to dogs brought into the
City for the specific purpose of participating in a dog show or similar
event.
C.
A yearly license shall be effective from January 1 to December 31,
and a multi-year license shall be effective from January 1 to December
31 of the third calendar year following purchase.
For each dog for which a license is required, the owner shall
state on the application for license the following information:
A.
Owner's name.
B.
Owner's date of birth.
C.
Owner's social security number.
D.
Owner's home address.
E.
Owner's home telephone number.
F.
Owner's work address.
G.
Owner's work telephone number.
H.
An alternate emergency contact person and telephone number.
I.
Breed of each dog.
J.
Sex of each dog.
K.
Age of each dog.
L.
Name of dog.
M.
Color and markings of the dog.
A.
Prior to the issuance of any dog license by the Tax Enforcement Administrator
or an authorized agent, the application shall be accompanied by proof
that the dog for which a license is being sought has a current rabies
vaccination in addition to the appropriate license fee as follows:
(1)
Upon application prior to March 1 of the year in which licensing
is required, or within two months of purchase or receipt of a dog
if after February 28 of said year, whichever is sooner, a calendar
year license fee for all qualifying male and female dogs shall be
$6.
(2)
Upon application prior to March 1 of the year in which licensing
is required, or within two months of purchase or receipt of a dog
if after February 28 of said year, whichever is sooner, a multi-year
license fee for all qualifying male and female dogs shall be $14.
(3)
Licenses for any dog designated as a dangerous animal under authority of Chapter 3-513 of these Codified Ordinances shall be issued on a calendar year basis. Owners of dangerous animals applying, prior to March 1, or within two months of the purchase or receipt of said dog if after February 28 of said year, whichever is sooner, for a calendar year license shall be required to pay a fee of $35 to the City Treasurer.
B.
Any and all dog licensing fees paid to the City Treasurer are nonrefundable
for any reason.
C.
Any owner of a dog required to be licensed who has not applied for
said license prior to March 1 of the year in which a license is required
or within two months of the purchase or receipt of a dog if after
February 28th of said year, whichever is sooner, shall be subject
to the following fee schedule:
D.
The Tax Enforcement Administrator or an authorized agent will provide
applications for licenses to nonprofit shelters and other approved
locations within the City limits for the convenience of City residents.
E.
Any check returned for nonsufficient funds ("NSF") will void any
license issued in reliance upon said check and will subject the owner
to the penalty section contained herein for failure to obtain a license.
[Amended 8-10-1999 by Ord. No. 38-1999]
A.
If the owner has obtained and a dog is therefor licensed with a lifetime
dog license purchased from the County of Dauphin prior to January
31, 1999, there shall be no need to acquire a City dog license, and
the county-issued lifetime dog license shall be recognized by the
City as though issued by the City.
B.
The provisions of this chapter relating to the payment of licensing
fees shall not apply to any resident who uses a service animal for
aid or the Bureau of Police using a service animal in the performance
of the functions and duties of the Bureau. License tags for service
animals used by the Bureau of Police in the performance of the functions
and duties of the Bureau shall be issued without charge.
A.
Upon payment of the appropriate license fee, there shall be issued
to the owner a tag for each dog licensed. The tag shall be stamped
with an identification number followed by the letters "HBG."
B.
Dangerous animal licenses shall be red in color and shall be stamped
with an identification number followed by the letters "HBG."
C.
Every owner shall be required to provide each dog which ventures
upon the public street, sidewalk or other public places with a collar
to which such license tag shall be affixed.
D.
License identification tags shall not be transferable from one dog
to another for whatever reason, including the death of a dog or the
owner leaving the City before the expiration of the license.
E.
Identification tags that are lost or stolen may be replaced for the
same dog upon presentation of the original receipt given for the license
or any other identification required by the Tax Enforcement Administrator.
The cost of replacement identification tags shall be $10 and shall
be payable to the City Treasurer.
A.
The Tax Enforcement Administrator, Chief of Police or any other designated
agent of the City may revoke any license if the person holding the
license refuses or fails to comply with this chapter, any regulations
promulgated pursuant thereto, or any law governing the protection
and keeping of animals.
B.
Any person whose license is revoked shall, within 10 days thereafter,
humanely dispose of or remove all animals owned, kept or harbored
by such person, and no part of the license fee shall be refunded.
C.
It shall be a condition of the issuance of any license that the Chief
of Police or any other designated agent shall be permitted, unless
prohibited by state or federal law, to inspect all animals and the
premises where the animals are kept at any time.
D.
If the applicant has withheld or falsified any information on the
application, the Tax Enforcement Administrator, the Chief of Police
or any designated agent may refuse to issue a license or may revoke
the same.
E.
No person who has been convicted of cruelty to animals or similar
offense(s) shall be issued a permit or license to operate any commercial
animal establishment or animal clinic or hospital.
F.
Any person having been denied a dog license may not reapply for a
period of one year.
Any person found guilty of violating any of the provisions contained
herein shall be subject to a fine of not less than $50, plus costs,
if it is a first offense. The penalty shall be not less than $250,
plus costs, for the second and subsequent offenses.