§ 6-1.05. Procedures for issuance of dog license.

The City shall issue a license for a dog located in the City upon satisfaction of the following conditions:

(a)

Application. The owner of the dog to be licensed completes an application prepared by the City.

(b)

Fee. The owner of the dog to be licensed pays the fee required for a license, which fee shall be set by resolution of the City Council. No fee shall be required for:

(1)

Guide, signal or service dogs. Guide dogs, signal dogs or service dogs if such dogs are in the possession and under the control of, in the case of a guide dog, a blind person, or in the case of signal dog, a deaf or hearing-impaired person, or service dogs for the physically disabled.

(2)

Public entity dogs. Any dog owned by a public entity.

(c)

Rabies vaccination. Satisfactory proof is provided that the dog has been effectively vaccinated for rabies.

(1)

Vaccination records. Each veterinarian after vaccinating any dog shall sign a certificate of vaccination in duplicate in the form required by the Police Chief. The veterinarian shall keep one (1) copy and shall give one (1) copy to the owner of the vaccinated dog and the owner shall retain such copy in his possession.

(2)

Vaccination exception. In the event that a dog has a short-term illness, is pregnant or suffers from a long-term debilitating illness which in the opinion of a veterinarian contraindicates vaccination for rabies, such dog shall not be required to undergo vaccination during the period of such illness or pregnancy where a request for vaccination deferral has been approved by the Animal Control Officer and the Police Chief. Such request shall specify the duration of the requested deferral, and shall be signed by a veterinarian. The Animal Control Officer shall issue a license for such dog upon approval of the request for vaccination deferral and payment for the application license fee determined by resolution of the City Council. The owner or person having custody of such dog shall confine and shall keep such dog confined, for the duration of the deferral. Within fourteen (14) days after the expiration of the deferral, the owner or person having custody of such dog shall present the Animal Control Officer or the Police Chief's designee a certificate of vaccination in accordance with the provisions of this section.

(d)

Certificate and tag. Upon issuing a license, the City shall give to the owner of the licensed dog a certificate and tag evidencing issuance of the license and showing for reference the number of the license. A license shall be valid for the period determined by the City Police Department and indicated on the license certificate. The Police Department may upon request of the owner or custodian of such dog backdate such license so that its expiration date occurs concurrently with or prior to the expiration date of the vaccination; provided however, that where such backdating is performed, there shall be no reduction or discount of the license fee applicable to the license applied for, and such license shall be renewed within thirty (30) days after its expiration.

(§ 1, Ord. 666, eff. April 6, 2002)