§ 14-141. Licensing fees, tags, removal of tags.

(a)

License tags. Each owner of any dog or cat in the city shall present a certificate of rabies vaccination to the city manager and/or his designee. Upon payment of a license fee set by resolution and in the appendix A fee schedule, the city manager and/or his designee shall issue a serially numbered city tag bearing the year of issuance to be attached to the collar or harness of the animal. Such licenses shall run for a period of one year from the date of issuance. License fees shall not be required for guide dogs, government police dogs or for animals remaining in the city for a period of less than 30 days unless otherwise holding a valid license from another jurisdiction.

(b)

Duplicate tags. If a tag is lost, the owner shall immediately obtain another by presentation of the original certificate to the city manager and/or his designee and payment of a fee set by resolution and in the appendix A fee schedule.

(c)

Time frame for licensing. It shall be the duty of the owner or person responsible for any dog or cat brought into the city or acquired to have the dog or cat licensed in accordance with this division within 15 days after the dog or cat is brought into the city or acquired, or before the dog or cat reaches six months of age, whichever comes first.

(d)

Change of ownership. Upon change of ownership of a dog or cat, the new owner may have a current license transferred to his name upon payment of a transfer fee established by resolution of the city commission in the appendix A fee schedule.

(e)

Use of receipt or tag of another animal prohibited. No person shall use a license receipt or license tag for an animal that was issued for another animal.

(f)

Wearing of license tags. It is the responsibility of any owner, keeper or possessor of a domesticated dog or cat kept as a household pet within the city to cause such animal to wear at all times a metal tag bearing the legible number of a current license issued for such animal as provided for in this section.

(g)

Removal of collar, tag, muzzle. It shall be unlawful for any person other than the owner or keeper of a dog or cat to remove or take off or cause to be taken off or removed the collar, tag or muzzle upon a dog or cat within the city.

(h)

Animals exempt from wearing license tag. Dogs and cats contained on the owners property; racing greyhounds; hunting dogs, while engaged in a hunt; show dogs; or dogs engaged in obedience or K-9 training, while under the command or presence of the owner, trainer or other responsible custodian directly related to the racing, hunting, show or training activities, respectively, are exempt from wearing the license tag. If tattooed, a dog having an identifying tattoo registered with the animal control officer is also exempt from the requirements of wearing a license tag.

(Ord. No. 96-51, § 9(1), (2), (5)—(8), 10-7-1996; Ord. No. 20-02,§ 3, 8-19-2002)