[Ord. of 12-10-2001]
It shall be unlawful for any person to own an adult dog or cat or keep a kennel in this City, unless such dog, cat or kennel is licensed under the provisions of this article.
[Ord. of 12-10-2001; amended by Ord. No. 2005-4, 2-28-2005; 2-22-2010]
(a) 
Any person may obtain a dog, cat or kennel license by making oral or written application to the Treasurer, accompanied by payment of the amount of the license tax and the evidence of vaccination required by § 5-56. The Treasurer shall only have authority to license dogs, cats or kennels of owners or custodians who reside within the limits of the City and may require information to this effect from any applicant.
(b) 
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, cat or kennel license to which such person is not entitled.
[Ord. of 12-10-2001]
(a) 
An annual license tax is hereby imposed on each adult dog and cat or dog kennel required to be licensed under this article in the following amounts:
(1) 
All unaltered adult dogs or cats: $10.
(2) 
All sterilized dogs or cats: $5.
(3) 
Kennel for no more than 10 animals: $50.
(b) 
No license tax shall be levied under this section on any dog that is trained and serves as a guide dog for a blind person, that is trained and serves as a hearing dog for a deaf or hearing impaired person, that is trained and serves as a service dog for a mobility-impaired person or that is owned by the City police department and used for law enforcement purposes.
[Ord. of 12-10-2001]
The license tax on dogs, cats and dog kennels shall be due and payable as follows:
(1) 
On or before January 31 of each calendar year.
(2) 
If a dog or cat shall become four months of age or come into the possession of any person residing in the City or if a City resident acquires or constructs a kennel between January 1 and November 1 of any calendar year, the annual license tax for that calendar year shall be paid forthwith by the owner.
(3) 
For dogs or cats coming into possession of any person residing in the City or if a City resident acquires or constructs a kennel between November 1 and December 31 of any calendar year, the owner of such dog or cat or kennel shall not be required to pay such tax for that calendar year.
[Ord. of 12-10-2001]
(a) 
It shall be unlawful for the owner of any dog, cat or kennel to fail to pay the tax imposed by this article when the same is due.
(b) 
Payment of the license tax subsequent to a summons to appear before the City of Franklin General District Court for failure to pay the license tax within the time required shall not operate to relieve the owner from the penalties provided.
[Ord. of 12-10-2001; amended by Ord. No. 2005-4, 2-28-2005; 2-22-2010]
Upon receipt of a proper application, the prescribed license tax and evidence of vaccination of such dog(s) or cat(s), the Treasurer shall issue to the applicant a license tax receipt on which shall be recorded the amount of the tax paid, the name and address of the owner or custodian of the dog or cat, the date of payment, the year for which the license is issued, the serial number of the tag, whether dog or cat, and whether male, unsexed female, female or kennel, and deliver the metal license tag with the City, a serial number and the year marked thereon. The information thus received shall be retained by the Treasurer and open to public inspection during the period for which the license is valid.
[Ord. of 12-10-2001]
(a) 
A dog, cat or kennel license receipt shall be 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 of the City. In addition, a metal tag shall be securely fastened to a substantial collar by the owner or custodian of a licensed dog.
(b) 
The owner or custodian of a dog may remove the collar and license tag required by this section under the following circumstances:
(1) 
When the dog is engaged in lawful hunting;
(2) 
When the dog is competing in a dog show;
(3) 
When the dog has a skin condition which would be exacerbated by the wearing of a collar; or
(4) 
When the dog is under the immediate control of its owner or custodian.
(c) 
Any dog not wearing a collar bearing a license tag of the proper calendar year shall prima facie be deemed to be unlicensed; and in any proceeding under this article, the burden of proof of the fact that such dog has been licensed or is otherwise not required to bear a tag shall be on the owner or custodian thereof.
[Ord. of 12-10-2001; amended by Ord. No. 2005-4, 2-28-2005; 2-22-2010]
If a dog tag shall become lost, destroyed or stolen, the owner or custodian shall at once apply to the Treasurer for a duplicate license tag, presenting the original license receipt. Upon affidavit of the owner or custodian before the 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 dog. The Treasurer shall endorse the number of the duplicate tag and the date issued on the face of the original license receipt. The fee for a duplicate tag shall be $1.
[Ord. of 12-10-2001; amended by Ord. No. 2005-4, 2-28-2005; 2-22-2010]
Revenue from license taxes paid to the Treasurer under this article shall be deposited into the general fund of the City.