[Adopted 10-23-1979; amended in its entirety 10-19-2010 by L.L. No. 2-2010]
A.
Any resident of the City of Norwich owning any dog reaching the age
of four months shall immediately make application for a dog license.
No license shall be required for any dog which is under the age of
four months and which is not at large, or that is residing in a pound
or shelter maintained by or under contract or agreement with the state
or any county, city, town or village, duly incorporated society for
the prevention of cruelty to animals, duly incorporated humane society
or duly incorporated dog protective association.
B.
The Clerk, at the time of issuing any license pursuant to this article,
shall require the applicant to present a statement certified by a
licensed veterinarian showing that the dog or dogs have been vaccinated
to prevent rabies or, in lieu thereof, a statement certified by a
licensed veterinarian stating that because of old age or another reason,
the life of the dog or dogs would be endangered by the administration
of vaccine.
C.
A license shall be issued for a period of one year. All licenses
shall expire on the last day of the last month of the period for which
they are issued. All rabies certificates that expire within 30 days
of the last day of the month the license is issued are required to
be renewed before the license will be issued. In the event an applicant
for a license presents, in lieu of a rabies certificate, a statement
certified by a licensed veterinarian, as provided for by New York
State Agricultural and Markets Law Article 7, a license shall be issued
or renewed for a period of one year from the date of said statement.
D.
Application for a dog license shall be made to the Clerk of the City
of Norwich. The application shall state the sex, actual or approximate
age, breed, color and municipal identification number of the dog,
and other identification marks, if any, and the name, address and
telephone number of the owner, and any other information deemed necessary
by the Clerk.
E.
The application shall be accompanied by the license fee prescribed by § 153-28 of this article and a certificate of rabies vaccination or statement in lieu thereof, as required by New York State Agricultural and Markets Law Article 7. In the case of a spayed or neutered dog, every application shall also be accompanied by a certificate signed by a licensed veterinarian or an affidavit signed by the owner, showing that the dog has been spayed or neutered, provided such certificate or affidavit shall not be required if the same is already on file with the Clerk. In lieu of the spay or neuter certificate an owner may present a statement certified by a licensed veterinarian stating that he or she has examined the dog and found that because of old age or other reason, the life of the dog would be endangered by spaying or neutering. In such case, the license fee for the dog shall be the same as for a spayed or neutered dog as set forth in § 153-28 of this article.
F.
Upon validation by the Clerk, the application shall become a license
for the dog described therein.
G.
No license shall be transferable. Upon the transfer of ownership
of any dog, the new owner shall immediately make application for a
license for such dog.
H.
In the event of a change in the ownership of any dog which has been
licensed pursuant to this article or in the address of the owner of
record of any such dog, the owner of record shall, within 10 days
of such change, file with the Clerk a written report of such change.
Such owner of record shall be liable for any violation of this article
until such filing is made or until the dog is licensed in the name
of the new owner.
I.
If any dog which has been licensed pursuant to this article is lost
or stolen, the owner of record shall, within 10 days of the discovery
of such loss or theft, file with the Clerk a written report of such
loss or theft. In the case of a loss or theft, the owner of record
of any such dog shall not be liable for any violation of this article
committed after such report is filed.
J.
In the case of a dog's death, the owner of record shall so notify
the Clerk either prior to renewal of licensure or upon the time of
such renewal as set forth by the Clerk.
K.
The City authorizes any animal shelter with which it contracts for
the housing of stray or lost dogs to accept dog license applications
on behalf of the City, to be forwarded to the City immediately upon
receipt.
A fee schedule shall be established by resolution of the Common
Council of this City for licensing of dogs. Such fee schedule may
thereafter be amended from time to time by like resolution. The fees
set forth in, or determined in accordance with, such fee schedule
or amended fee schedule shall be charged and collected for the following
at the time application is submitted:
C.
Guide dogs, hearing dogs, service dogs, war dogs, working search
dogs, detection dogs, police work dogs and therapy dogs are exempt
from the licensing fees.
