(a)   The word dog, wherever used in this article without qualification is intended to mean female as well as male dogs.

(b)   The word cat, wherever used in this article without qualification is intended to mean female as well as male cats.

(Ord. 200; Code 2021)

It shall be unlawful for any person to own, keep or harbor any dog over three (3) months of age within the corporate limits of the city without first having paid a yearly license tax thereon.

(Ord. 200; Code 2021)

It shall be the duty of the owner, keeper or harborer of any dog/cat to register the same with the city clerk, who shall issue a receipt therefor in the form of a tag of metal or other durable material, Having stamped or engraved thereon the registration number and the year of registration, which tag shall be attached to a suitable collar and kept on the dog at all times. All such registrations shall expire December 31 of each year after the registration of any dog.

(Ord. 200; Code 2021)

When it shall appear to the satisfaction of the city clerk that any tag or check has been accidentally lost, he or she shall, upon presentation of the veterinarian’s certificate and upon the receipt of two dollars ($2.00) issue a duplicate of such tag or check.

(Ord. 200; Code 2021)

Any person making application for a license for a dog/cat shall be required to present to the city clerk at the time of making such application a certificate issued by a licensed veterinarian showing that such dog has been vaccinated or inoculated with a recognized anti-rabies vaccine and showing that the inoculation so administered to such dog will be effective for the entire period of time for which such license is issued. A killed virus-vaccine inoculation will be considered as an acceptable vaccination for only a one (1) year period. A modified-living-virus vaccine inoculation will be considered as an acceptable vaccination for a period of two (2) years.

(Ord. 200; Code 2021)

Any person who shall allow any dog to habitually remain or to lodge or to be fed within his home, store, yard, enclosure or place, shall be deemed and considered as keeping and harboring said dog within the meaning of this article.

(Ord. 200; Code 2021)

Any person who shall own, keep or harbor any dog or dogs more than three (3) months of age within the corporate limits of the city shall pay to the city an annual tax on each such dog as follows:

Dog/cat:                                        $7.00

Such tax shall be due and payable on January 1 of each year or upon the date of acquisition of any such dog. There will be a 90 day grace period from January 1 to March 31, or for obtaining a new animal, without a fee.

(Ord. 200; Code 2021)

It shall be unlawful for the owner, keeper or harborer of any dog to permit such dog to run at large in the city at any time. Any dog shall be deemed to be running at large when found off the premises of the owner, keeper or harborer of such dog. It shall he lawful for any enforcing officer or the mayor to pursue and rapture such dog so running at large, or to kill such dog if he cannot otherwise capture the same: Provided, That no such dog shall be held to be running at large when such dog is merely passing along the streets, avenues, alleys or public places of the city while in the charge, care and control of its master or keeper.

(Ord. 200; Code 2021)

It is hereby made the duty of enforcement officers or the city dog catchers to capture all dogs found running at large in the city or all dogs not having a collar with the registration tag or check thereon as provided in 2-203 of this article, and place them in an amount to be provided for that purpose; and if the owner, keeper or harborer of any such captured dog does not appear within forty-eight (48) hours after such impounding, and claim such dog and pay any tax due and impounding fees, then such dogs shall be disposed of: Provided, That the provisions of this section shall not apply to dogs not owned or harbored within the city, unless they be found at large without any master or owner.

(Ord. 200; Code 2021)

Whenever any dog has bitten a person, it shall be the duty of the owner or harborer of such dog, or any enforcement officer of the city or any other person having knowledge of such incident to report the same to the health officer who may order that the dog be quarantined on the owners premises or impounded at the owner’s expense for a period of not less than ten (10) days and until such time as the health officer finds that such dog shows no evidence of having rabies. If it is determined that such dog is suffering from rabies, it shall be forthwith destroyed; otherwise it shall be released from quarantine.

(Ord. 200; Code 2021)

The mayor is hereby authorized, and it is hereby made his duty whenever, in his opinion the danger to the public safety from rabid dogs, or dogs with hydrophobia, is made imminent, to issue a proclamation ordering all persons owning, keeping or harboring any dog in said city, to muzzle the same with a good and sufficient wire muzzle, completely enclosing the head of said dog; or confine the same in a good and sufficient enclosure from which said dog cannot escape, or fasten said dog by means of chains, on the premised where the owner, keeper, or harborer may reside.

(Ord. 200; Code 2021)

Any person or persons violating the mayor’s proclamation as provided for in 2-211 of this article, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction, thereof, shall be punished by a fine of not less than $25 nor more than $100, plus court costs and imposed fees, or confined in the county jail not less than five (5) days, nor more than thirty (30) days, or by both such fine and imprisonment, and shall be committed to the county jail until such fine is paid: Provided, That any dog which appears upon any street, alley or any public place in said city with or without the owner or keeper, during the time the proclamation provided for in 2-211 of this article, is in force and effect, without being securely muzzled with a good and sufficient wire muzzle, shall be killed whenever found by any law enforcement officer, or duly authorized dogcatcher in said city.

(Ord. 200; Code 2021)

Every person claiming a dog impounded under this article, shall cause said dog to be licensed and pay the dog pound charges therefor in such amount as the governing body of the city may determine to be necessary to pay the expense of said dog pound from time to time.

(Ord. 200; Code 2021)

Any person violating the provisions of this article shall, upon conviction thereof, be fined in any sum not exceeding on hundred dollars ($100), or be imprisoned not to exceed thirty (30) days, or be both so fined and imprisoned.

(Ord. 200; Code 2021)