§ 5-3. Licensing.

(a)

Every resident person who owns, controls, manages, possesses or has part interest in any animal four (4) months of age or older, kept any time during the year, or every resident person who permits an animal four (4) months of age or older, to come upon, on or in, and to remain in or about his home, place of business or other premises in the area affected by this chapter (which does not include ear tipped feral cats in the approved TNR program), shall obtain from the police department, at no cost, a one-year license for such animal. An applicant for an animal license for any such animal shall present to the issuing officer a certification of inoculation against rabies signed by a licensed veterinarian, which certificate shall have been executed some time during the previous thirty-six-month period if a three-year type of vaccine is used or twelve-month period if a one-year type vaccine is used. In lieu thereof, if the holder of a kennel permit who owns such animal has personally administered a rabies inoculation to this animal, then prior to the issuance of a license, an affidavit shall be completed, signed and notarized at the police department attesting to the date of inoculation, the type of inoculation, and the length of inoculation. Such license shall be valid for the period of January first through December thirty-first each year.

(b)

The provisions of this section do not apply to owners who are nonresidents temporarily within the city for a period not to exceed fifteen (15) consecutive days, or who bring animals into the city for the purpose of participating in an animal show. Nor do the provisions of this section apply to owners of an animal properly and currently licensed by another municipality, except that this provision shall become void after the owner of the animal has lived in the city for a period of thirty (30) calendar days. Nor do the provisions of this section apply to authorized/designated participants in the TNR program.

(c)

Upon application, and presentation of the inoculation certificate, the city shall issue to the owner a license certificate and a metal tag, for each animal so licensed. The shape of the tag shall be changed every year and shall have stamped thereon the year for which it was issued and the number corresponding with the number on the certificate. Every owner shall provide each dog with a collar to which the license tag must be affixed and shall see that the collar and tag are worn at any time such animal is not on the owner's property. Owners of cats shall not be required to provide such animal with a collar, but any such cat picked up not wearing a collar and tag shall be treated as a stray. In case an animal tag is lost or destroyed, a duplicate shall be issued by the issuing officer upon presentation of the original certificate. Animal tags shall not be transferable from one (1) animal to another.

(d)

As authorized/designated by city council, animal control, and the local animal rescue group(s) so designated, along with their volunteers, are allowed to carry out TNR.

(Ord. No. 10811, § 1(III), 3-21-88; Ord. No. 12167 , § I, 8-17-2015)