Dog Licenses

Municipal Code requires all dogs in the City over six months old to be licensed.   The owner must present a certificate signed by a licensed veterinarian showing the dog has been vaccinated against rabies and the vaccination will not expire within six months from the date of issuance of the license.   

In addition to being a City law, licensing also provides the Animal Control Officer with a means of identification for reuniting lost pets with their owners.  Dogs kept in a State licensed kennel for breeding and sale purposes are exempt. 

DOG LICENSE

Sec. 7-41. License required.

The owner of any dog six months old or over, except dogs kept in kennels for the purpose of breeding and sale, shall be responsible for applying for and acquiring a license for such dog as of January 1 of each year.

Sec. 7-42. Application.

The owner of any dog for which a license is required shall, on or before January 31 of each year, apply in writing on forms provided by the city clerk for a license for each dog owned by the applicant, which application form shall be signed by the owner. The application shall show the breed, sex, age, color, approximate weight, markings and name of the dog and the address and telephone number of the owner.

Applications for a license for dogs over which ownership is acquired after January 31 or which dog has reached the age of six months shall be made within one month from the date of acquisition, or within one month after the dog reaches the age of six months.

Sec. 7-43. Evidence of rabies vaccination required.

No dog shall be licensed hereunder unless there is submitted by the owner evidence that the dog to be licensed has been vaccinated against rabies as required by section 7-49 and the certificate of vaccination signed by a licensed veterinarian which shows that the vaccination certificate will not expire within six months from the date of the issuance of the license.

Sec. 7-44. Exemptions.

(a)   The license fees hereinafter provided shall not apply to dogs owned by nonresidents temporarily within the city for a period of not more than 30 days, but shall apply to the dogs of any owner becoming a resident of the city within 30 days after establishing such residence.

(b)   A license shall not be required of seeing eye and hearing ear dogs nor to kennel dogs.

Sec. 7-45. License fee.

The individual dog license fee shall be two dollars per calendar year or fraction thereof. The head of the family shall be liable for payment of the license fee on any dog owned, harbored or kept by any member of the family. One dollar penalty shall be added to the license fee if not paid prior to July 1.

Sec. 7-46. Issuance of tags.

When a dog is registered for licensing, a record of the breed, color, name of dog and name of owner, together with the number of the license issued, shall be made of record in the city clerk's office. The city shall issue a license tag for each dog licensed, and such license tag shall be securely fixed to a suitable collar or harness on each dog licensed and worn by such dog at all times.

Sec. 7-47. Tag not transferable.

The dog tags required by this article shall not be transferable from one dog to another, and no refund shall be made on any dog license fee because of the death of the dog or by reason of the owner leaving the city before the expiration of the license period.

Sec. 7-48. Duplicate tag.

Upon the filing of an affidavit that the license tag has been lost or destroyed, the owner may obtain another tag on the payment of $0.50. The city clerk shall keep a proper record of the issuance of duplicate tags.

Sec. 7-49. Rabies vaccination required for dogs and cats.

(a)   The owner of all dogs and cats six months old or older shall obtain a current rabies          vaccination for such animal from a licensed veterinarian and obtain a tag evidencing the same. Said vaccination tag shall be attached to a substantial collar or harness on the animal by the owner, and shall at all times be kept on the animal for which the vaccination was given.

(b)   The dogs exempted from licensing requirements by section 7-44 are not exempted from being required to be vaccinated.