[Code 1991, § 4-30.1]
A.
It shall be unlawful for any person to own a dog aged four months
or older in the City unless such dog is licensed as required by this
article. The license tax shall be payable at the office of the City
Treasurer, as follows:
B.
Any owner of a dog moving into the City will have 10 days to purchase
a dog license from the treasurer's office.
C.
No license tax shall be levied 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, or that is trained
and serves as a service dog for a mobility impaired person. As used
in this section, 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. The term "service dog" means a dog trained to accompany
its owner for the purpose of carrying items, retrieving objects, pulling
a wheelchair, or performing other such activities of service or support.
[Code 1991, § 4-31]
Dog licenses shall be issued for the calendar year, January
1 to December 31 inclusive, and the license tax shall be due and payable
as follows:
A.
On January 1 and not later than January 31 of each year, the owner of any dog four months old or older shall pay the license tax set forth in § 14-121.
B.
If a dog reaches four months of age or comes into the possession
of any person between January 1 and November 1 of the year, the full
license tax for the current calendar year shall be due and payable.
C.
If a dog reaches four months of age or comes into the possession
of any person between October 31 and December 31 of the year, the
license tax for the succeeding calendar year shall be due and payable
within 10 days of such date and this license shall be valid from the
date the license is purchased.
[Code 1991, § 4-32]
A.
All dog owners or custodians shall make application for dog licenses
at the City Treasurer's office. Such application shall include payment
of the license tax. The treasurer shall only have authority to license
dogs of resident owners or custodians who reside within the boundary
limits of the City. The treasurer may require whatever evidence he
deems reasonably necessary to establish proof of residency.
B.
Any person making application for a dog license shall present to the treasurer a current certificate of rabies vaccination, properly executed and verified by a veterinarian in accordance with § 14-91. The certificate must show the date of inoculation, the type of vaccine, the rabies tag number, a brief description of animal, the sex, the breed, and the owner's name.
C.
Any person making application for a reduced fee license shall be
required to present a receipt from a veterinarian, properly executed
and verified, that the dog has been spayed or neutered.
D.
Upon receipt of a proper application and current certificate of rabies
vaccination, proof of spaying or neutering, if applicable, and payment
of the license tax, the treasurer shall issue the appropriate dog
license and tag. The treasurer shall issue a license receipt for the
amount of the tax and which states the name and address of the owner
or custodian, the date of payment, the year for which issued, the
serial number of the tag, and whether the dog is a neutered male,
spayed female, male, or female, and deliver the metal license tags
to the owner or custodian. The treasurer shall retain the information
shown on the license receipt, open to public inspection, during the
period for which such license is valid.
E.
It shall be unlawful for any person to make a false statement in
order to secure a license to which he is not entitled.
[Code 1991, § 4-33]
A.
A dog license shall consist of a license receipt and metal tag of
a style and design approved by the treasurer and the Chief of Police.
The tag shall be stamped or otherwise permanently marked to show the
name of the City, the sex of the dog, the calendar year for which
issued, and a serial number.
B.
Dog tags for each calendar year shall be sold in serial and numerical
order, beginning November 1 of the prior year, and shall remain on
sale until October 31 of the calendar year covered by such tags.
[Code 1991, § 4-34]
If a dog license tag is 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 tag
has been lost, destroyed or stolen, he 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
and the date issued on the face of the original license receipt. The
fee for a duplicate tag for any dog shall be $1.
[Code 1991, § 4-35]
A.
It shall be unlawful for any dog owner or custodian to permit any
dog to be off the property of such owner or custodian without displaying
a valid City dog license tag. Dog license tags shall be securely fastened
to a substantial collar by the owner or custodian and worn by such
dog. The owner of the dog may remove the collar and license tag required
by this article when:
B.
Any dog not wearing a collar bearing a license tag of the current
calendar year shall prima facie be deemed to be unlicensed. The burden
of proving that such dog has been licensed or is otherwise not required
to bear a tag shall be on the owner of the dog.
C.
Dog license receipts shall be carefully preserved by the licensees
and exhibited promptly upon request for inspection by any animal control
officer or other officer.
[Code 1991, § 4-36]
On December 31 of each year, or within 30 days thereafter, the
treasurer shall forward to the City Manager a report of all unsold
tags of the calendar year, along with an annual report of all receipts
for dog license tax sales. Such reports for unsold tags and receipts
on hand shall be submitted separately.
