The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this article, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
(a) Cat – means any domestic or wild cat.
(b) Neutered male – means any male cat which by operation has been made infertile or one that has been certified by a licensed veterinarian as being naturally infertile.
(c) Owner – means any person owning, keeping, harboring or possessing any cat or any person operating a kennel.
(d) Secure enclosure – means any structure secure on four sides, top and bottom, and equipped with a gate or door that has a lock that secures the gate or door from being opened by anyone other than the owner, harborer, keeper or possessor of the cat as set forth in section 2-503(a).
(e) Spayed female – means any female cat which has been operated upon to prevent conception or one that has been certified by a licensed veterinarian as being naturally infertile.
(f) Veterinary hospital – means any establishment maintained and operated by a licensed veterinarian for the diagnosis and treatment of diseases and injuries of cats.
(Ord. 2011-08; Code 2012)
The animal control officer shall have the power to issue a complaint and notice to appear against the owner of a cat subject to, but not in compliance with, this chapter; provided, that no owner charged with violating the provisions of section 2-506 shall be convicted of a violation of section 2-506 if the owner produces in court, or at the offices of the animal control officer, a valid permit for the cat, issued prior to the issuance of the complaint and notice to appear.
(Ord. 2008-18; Code 2012)
(a) The owner shall confine within a building or secure enclosure every unspayed female cat in heat, in such a manner that such female cannot come into contact with another cat except for planned breeding.
(b) It shall be unlawful for the owner of any unaltered male or unspayed female cat to keep such cat in such manner as to cause a nuisance by attracting other cats.
(Ord. 2008-18; Code 2012)
Any business, individual, organization or entity engaged in the practice or business of breeding and/or selling cats, with or without monetary compensation, shall provide the city treasurer the following information within ten days after ownership of any cat is transferred:
(a) The date of the sale or transfer of ownership.
(b) Name and address of the new owner.
(c) Description of the cat sufficient for identification by an animal control officer.
(d) Approximate age of the cat.
(Ord. 2008-18; Code 2012)
No person shall own, keep or harbor within the corporate limits of this city any cat over six months of age without first obtaining a permit therefore from the city clerk. Such permit shall be obtained within 5 business days after the date City utility services begin. No permit shall be issued under this division except upon the presentation of a valid rabies vaccination certificate plainly showing the cat’s last vaccination is currently effective and payment of the applicable fee under this division.
(Ord. 2011-08; Code 2012)
The owner of a cat shall be required to have a permit for the cat upon the date it is brought into the city or attains the age of six months, whichever is later.
(Ord. 2008-18; Code 2012)
The permit and vaccination requirements of this division shall not apply to a nonresident cat owner who keeps the cat within the city for not longer than 30 days, provided that at all times such cat is under restraint.
(Ord. 2008-18; Code 2012)
Applications for cat permits shall be made with the city clerk or authorized agent upon forms provided by the city clerk, setting forth such information as necessary to properly implement the terms and provisions of this division. Such forms shall be completed by the applicant and submitted to the city clerk or authorized agent for validation, and after validation and payment of the permit fee, such forms shall serve as the cat permit.
(Ord. 2008-18; Code 2012)
No permit shall be issued under this division except upon the presentation of a valid rabies vaccination certificate plainly showing the cat’s last vaccination is currently effective and payment of the applicable fee under this division.
(Ord. 2008-18; Code 2012)
(a) The fees for the permit require by this division, shall be established by resolution of the governing body and collected by the City Clerk.
(b) No fee under this division shall be required of any animal shelter or veterinary hospital.
(c) Fees may be prorated.
(Ord. 2011-08; Code 2012; Ord. 2018-05)
The permit term shall be for a period of 12 consecutive months commencing on July 1st and ending on June 30th.
(Ord. 2011-08; Code 2012)
(a) Upon full compliance with the terms of this division, the city clerk or authorized agent shall issue a written permit to the applicant together with a durable permit tag stamped with an identifying number and so designed that it may be securely fastened to a collar.
(b) The tag issued under this section, or an engraved tag provided by the owner carrying the same information as set out in subsection (a), shall be securely attached to the collar of the cat for which such permit and tag is issued and shall be worn at all times the cat is off the premises of the owner.
(c) If a tag issued for a cat is lost, a new tag may be obtained from the city clerk upon payment of a replacement fee of $1.
(d) No person shall attach a tag to any cat other than the one for which the tag was issued.
(Ord. 2008-18; Code 2012)
A permit shall be valid only in the permit year for which issued. A new permit shall be obtained for each permit year and a new permit fee paid.
(Ord. 2008-18; Code 2012)
(a) Late charge. If a person obtains a permit within 5 business days after either the expiration of an existing permit term or the date on which a permit is required, no late penalty will be charged; if, however, the applicant fails to make application and obtain a permit within such 5-day period, a late charge of $2 shall be assessed for each month the applicant is delinquent in making application, not to exceed a total of $24. The late charge shall be added to and collected with the regular permit fee. Any portion of a month shall be considered as a full month for the purposes of late charge computation.
(b) Applications and renewal forms. The city clerk shall be authorized to mail application forms for permits and reminder notices to any cat owner of which the treasurer has record.
(c) Delinquency notice. A complaint alleging violation of the renewal provisions of the permit issued under this division and a notice to appear shall be issued against the owner of a cat subject to, but not in compliance with, the renewal provisions of this section, provided that the city clerk has issued at least ten days in advance thereof a delinquency notice by United States mail, first class, postage prepaid, to the owner at the last known address of the owner. A delinquency notice shall include at least the following:
(1) A title that is a delinquency notice.
(2) A statement of late payment charges the owner must pay.
(3) A warning that failure to purchase the applicable permit will result in the issuance of a complaint and notice to appear and subject the owner to potential court costs.
(d) Complaint and notice to appear. The complaint and notice to appear issued under this section shall charge the owner with violations of the particular applicable ordinance and order the owner to appear in municipal court at a particular date and time.
(e) Fines. Any person charged with violation of this division shall, upon a plea or finding of guilt, be sentenced to a fine of not less than $50. The sentence shall not be subject to a reduction or parole unless the person who is convicted or pleads guilty provides evidence that a permit was purchased prior to the plea or finding of guilt. However, in no event shall the sentence be reduced or paroled to a fine of less than $25.
(Ord. 2008-18; Code 2012)
The animal control officer may take into custody and impound all cats not bearing a current registration tag.
(Ord. 2008-18; Code 2012)
If, by a tag or other reasonable means, the owner can be identified, the animal shelter or its designated agent shall, as soon as possible upon impoundment, notify the owner by telephone or mail of the impoundment of the cat.
(Ord. 2008-18; Code 2012)
Impounded cats shall be kept for a period of not less than 72 hours unless sooner claimed by the owner.
(Ord. 2008-18; Code 2012)
(a) The owner shall be entitled to resume possession of any impounded cat, except as provided in this section, upon compliance with the permit provisions of this article and payment of the impoundment fees set forth in this section to the animal shelter.
(b) The impoundment fee for a cat shall be established by resolution of the governing body and collected by the City Clerk.
(c) No owner shall be allowed to redeem any cat impounded for being a public nuisance, unless such redemption is authorized by any court having jurisdiction.
(d) No owner shall be allowed to redeem any cat found to be rabid or any cat which has been bitten by a rabid animal, unless such redemption is authorized by any court having jurisdiction.
(e) No owner shall be allowed to redeem any cat when, in the judgment of the animal shelter, the cat should be destroyed for humane reasons.
(f) If a person is adjudicated guilty of the crime of cruelty to animals and the court is satisfied that an animal owned or possessed by such person would be in the future subjected to such crime, such animal shall not be returned to or remain with such person. Such animal may be turned over to an animal shelter or licensed veterinarian for sale or other disposition.
(Ord. 2011-08; Code 2012; Ord. 2018-05)
If an impounded cat shall not be redeemed within the detention period set forth in section 2-518, then the cat shall be deemed abandoned and title thereto shall pass to the animal shelter by operation of law.
(Ord. 2008-18; Code 2012)