(a)   Registration.  It shall be the duty of the Owner or Harborer of any dog maintained or Harbored within the corporate limits of the City to register each such dog with the City Clerk, to acquire from the City Clerk a license for each such dog in compliance with the provisions of this Article, and to maintain as current such registration and licensure in the manner provided in this Article throughout the period such dog remains in the City.  Registration is not transferable from Owner to Owner or from Animal to Animal.

(b)   Term.  All such licenses shall be issued for the then applicable calendar year, expiring on December 31st of such calendar year, and must be renewed on or by January 1st of the next calendar year.  The City Clerk shall issue a receipt for such registration and licensure, and for each renewal thereof, in the form of a tag of metal or other durable material stamped or engraved with the registration number and the year of registration.  It shall be the duty of the Owner or Harborer of each such dog to attach such tag to a suitable collar kept on the dog at all times.

(c)   Vaccination.  Except as otherwise provided in Section 3-402, it shall be the duty of the Owner or Harborer of any dog or cat maintained or Harbored within the corporate limits of the City to cause each such dog or cat to be vaccinated or inoculated with a recognized anti-rabies vaccine, and to cause each such dog or cat to be re-vaccinated or re-inoculated as often as necessary to maintain its effectiveness.  Any Person applying for a license for a dog, or for a renewal thereof, shall be required to present the City Clerk a certificate issued by a licensed Veterinary Hospital showing that the dog has been so vaccinated or inoculated.

(d)   License Registration Fees.  Any Person applying for a license for a dog shall pay a license registration fee in the amount of $20.00 for each such dog; provided, however, that the license registration fee shall be reduced to $10.00 upon presentation of a certificate by a licensed veterinarian, that such dog, if a male, has been Neutered, or that such dog, if a female, has been Spayed. The license registration shall be further reduced to $5.00 upon presentation of a certificate by a licensed veterinarian, that such dog has been microchipped. This information shall be maintained by the City.

(e)   Late Fees.  In the event a license is not acquired within thirty (30) days after a dog has attained the age of five (5) months, or a license is not renewed before sixty (60) days after the January 1st due date, a $10.00 late fee shall be assessed.

(f)   Exemption.  The foregoing provisions of this Article shall not apply to a dog or cat while it is under the age of five (5) months.

(g)   Ineligible Applicants for Registration.  The following Persons shall not own or harbor an Animal or be eligible or entitled to apply for or receive a registration or license for any dog, or to renew any license for any dog:

(1)   Any Person who, within the thirty-six (36) months immediately preceding such application, has been convicted of three (3) or more violations of this Chapter, or who resides in the same household with any Person who within the thirty-six (36) months immediately preceding such application has been convicted for three (3) or more violations of this Chapter;

(2)   Any Person who has been convicted as a Habitual Violator as defined in this Chapter.

(h)   Unlawful acts. It shall be unlawful for any Person to maintain or Harbor any dog within the corporate limits of the City which is required to be registered and licensed under the provisions of this Chapter, but which is not so registered or licensed.

(Ord. 4987-19; Ord. 4998-19; Ord. 5038-21)

No Person shall Own any dog, cat or ferret, five (5) months of age or older, within the City limits if such Animal is not currently vaccinated against rabies. Any Person Owning a dog within the City shall cause such dog to wear a collar or harness at all times to which shall be attached a current tag reflecting that the dog is vaccinated against rabies. The tag shall be situated on the collar or harness in such a manner that it may be easily visible at all times. Owners of cats and ferrets may retain proof of current rabies vaccination on their Person or Premises.

(Ord. 4987-19; Ord. 4998-19; Ord. 5038-21)

Any Person who shall be convicted of violating any provisions of this Article shall be punished by a fine as hereinafter provided. Each day that a violation of this Article occurs shall constitute a separate offense and shall be punishable hereunder as a separate violation. The fine prescribed above for the first conviction for a violation of a provision of this Article shall be an amount not less than $100 nor more than $200; and for the second conviction for a violation of the same provision shall be an amount not less than $200 nor more than $500; and for the third or any subsequent conviction for a violation of the same provision shall be an amount not less than $500 nor more than $1,000. The fine shall be in addition to any applicable court costs or impoundment fees.  For the purposes of this subsection, prior convictions shall include any past conviction of the same offense with a conviction date that is within five (5) years prior to the offense date of the offense prosecuted as a second, third or subsequent offense.

(Ord. 4987-19; Ord. 4998-19; Ord. 5038-21)