Chapter 5.30 Licenses
Chapter 5.30
LICENSES
Sections:
5.30.010 Licenses Required
5.30.020 Kennels, Fanciers' Facilities
5.30.030 License
5.30.040 Fees
5.30.050 Tag and Collar
5.30.060 Exemptions
5.30.070 Penalty
5.30.010 Licenses Required. No person shall own or operate a kennel or fanciers' facility without first obtaining a license. No person shall own or have custody of any dog over the age of six months without first obtaining a license.
5.30.020 Kennels, Fanciers' Facilities.
A. Nuisance. No kennel or fanciers' facility shall be maintained or operated in such a manner as to constitute a nuisance to persons owning or occupying land in the vicinity of the land on which the kennel or fanciers' facility is operated and maintained.
B. Inspection. Any complaint that a kennel or fanciers' facility is in violation of this section or this title shall be referred to the Animal Control Officer. The Animal Control Officer may inspect any kennel or fanciers' facility complained of to determine whether such kennel or fanciers' facility constitutes a health hazard or is otherwise in violation of any ordinance or regulation administered by the City. The Animal Control Officer shall inspect such kennel or fanciers' facility to determine whether it is a public nuisance or otherwise in violation of this title, and whether the dogs may be safely kept there. Such inspection shall be completed within five days after receipt of the complaint.
C. Violation. If the Animal Control Officer determines that the kennel or fancier's facility complained of is a health hazard, violates any ordinance or regulation or is a public nuisance, or that dogs may not be safely kept there, the owner shall be notified and shall be granted a reasonable length of time within which to remedy any deficiencies found and to comply with the requirements of this title. If, upon a second inspection after the expiration of the time granted in the notice, the kennel or fanciers' facility is still in violation, the Animal Control Officer may then revoke any license previously issued to the kennel or fanciers' facility.
D. All facilities shall have: 1) Adequate shelter for the animals from the elements; 2) Adequate provisions for keeping the animals on the owners' premises; 3) Adequate provisions for keeping the premises in sanitary condition; and 4) Adequate food and water supply.
5.30.030 License.
A. Application for a license for a dog kennel or fancier's facility shall be to the City Clerk or other licensing agent authorized by the City in accordance with this title, and shall provide: 1) The names and addresses of the owner(s) and the operator(s) of the kennel or fanciers' facility, the name of the facility, if any, and the number of breeds of dogs owned or kept; 2) A description of the facility including facts sufficient to determine whether the facility is to be licensed as a dog kennel or dog fancier's facility; 3) A copy of a current Alaska business license, if operating as a commercial facility.
B. Application for a license for a dog shall state the name and address of the owner and the name, breed, color, distinguishing markings, approximate weight, age and sex of the dog.
C. Immunization. No license or tag for a dog may be issued unless it is shown that the dog for which it is sought and all dogs covered by an application for a kennel or fanciers' facility license, have been vaccinated for rabies and the period of immunization provided by such vaccination has not expired. Such proof shall consist of completed rabies vaccination certificate in the form authorized or required by the Sate of Alaska or by direct confirmation by the veterinarian who administered the vaccination.
D. House-to-House Census. The City may, at the option of the City Council, and at such intervals as it deems appropriate employ suitable persons upon such terms and conditions as it sees fit, to make a house-to-house census and to issue license for dogs, kennels, or fanciers' facilities to owners then and there. The City may impose an additional charge of two dollars for each license issued in the course of such census. If the City is requested by residents residing within a twenty-miles radius of the City limits to register their animals, the cost of such registration shall be ten dollars; however, residents residing within the twenty-mile radius may come to the City Clerk's office and register with the City Clerk for the one-dollar registration fee.
E. License Transfer. No person shall use a dog license receipt or license tag issued for one dog on another dog.
5.30.040 Fees.
A. Dog License. A dog license shall be issued for a term of one year. The license fee shall be one dollar for each dog over the age of six months of age.
B. Kennel or Fancier's License. Each person, group of persons, corporation or other entity keeping a kennel or fancier's facility shall pay an annual license fee of five dollars, plus the requirements of subsection A of this section. Such license shall be issued for a term of one year, commencing on the date thereon stated.
5.30.050 Tag and Collar.
A. Issuance. Upon complying with the provisions of Section 5.30.030 and 5.30.040 of this title, there shall be issued to the owner for each dog a numbered receipt and a tag stamped with an identification number and the year for which issued.
B. Placement. A tag shall be issued for each dog. Every owner is required to see that the tag is securely fastened to the dog's choke chain, collar or harness, which must be worn by the dog at all times except when kenneled, fenced in harness, in competition, in training, or while hunting.
C. Lost Tag. In the event that the license tag issued for a dog is lost, the owner may obtain a replacement tag upon payment of $1.00.
5.30.060 Exemptions. If a dog owner moves into the City from another city and his dog is wearing a metal registration tag, this tag shall be adequate until its expiration date. At such expiration, the owner will be required to purchase a dog tag from the City Clerk. However, any dog owner moving into the City shall within 30 days register his dog with the City Clerk and present evidence of the dog's having received rabies immunization within the past twelve months. Failure to do so shall constitute a misdemeanor. The licensing requirement of this title shall not apply to any animal belonging to nonresidents of the City and kept within the City for no longer than thirty days, provided all such animals shall at all times while in the City be kept under restraint.
5.30.070 Penalty. Failure to have a license for any dog kennel or fancier's facility, as herein provided, is an infraction and is punishable, upon conviction, by a fine of not more than five dollars, and each day that any dog kennel or fancier's facility for which a license is required is owned, kept or harbored or maintained without having such a license is a separate offense.