Certificate of Vaccination & tag required

• 5-1-112 - Vaccination Required—Certificate of Vaccination

• A.   The owners or keepers of all dogs, cats, and ferrets are required to have their animals vaccinated against rabies with an approved vaccine administered by a licensed veterinarian. The veterinarian shall issue the owner or keeper of the animal a vaccination certificate, and such owner or keeper shall retain such certificate until the vaccination is renewed. At the time of the vaccination, a metal tag shall be issued by the veterinarian showing the name of the veterinarian, the tag number, and the year of issuance.
  B.   No person shall own, keep or harbor any dog, cat or ferret within the city limits unless such dog, cat or ferret six months of age or older is vaccinated for rabies by a licensed veterinarian.
  C.   Any person who adopts a dog, cat or ferret from the city's animal shelter shall have such animal vaccinated by a licensed veterinarian within two weeks from the date of adoption or within two weeks after the animal reaches the age of six months.
  (Ord. 2005-11, Amended, 04/22/2005; 97-33, Amended, 07/22/1997)
  State Law reference— City's power to regulate dogs, 11 O.S. Sec. 22-115.
  (Ord. 2007-06, Amended, 03/15/2007)

• 5-1-113 - Tag and collar required—Removal—Nontransferable—Inspection—Offense

• A.   Every owner or keeper of a dog or cat is required to affix the tag issued by a licensed veterinarian for rabies vaccination to a collar to be worn by the dog or cat at all times. It shall be unlawful for any person other than the owner or keeper to remove the collar from the dog or cat.
  B.   No person shall use a rabies tag or veterinarian certificate for any dog, cat, or ferret other than for that dog, cat, or ferret to which the rabies tag or veterinarian certificate was issued.
  C.   A city animal welfare officer or any police officer may require an owner or keeper to provide proof of rabies vaccination on any animals while responding to a complaint or investigating offenses. Any owner or keeper not possessing a current rabies certificate for such dog, cat, or ferret six (6) months of age or older may be cited by the animal welfare officer or police officer.
  (97-33, Amended, 07/22/1997)
  (Ord. 2007-06, Amended, 03/15/2007)
  (Ord. No. 11-37, § 2, 8-9-2011)

5-5-501 - License for dogs and cats

A.  Except as specifically provided for herein, it shall be unlawful for any person to own, possess, keep or have under his control more than a total of three (3) dogs or cats, including any combination thereof, over six (6) months of age. The owner of every dog or cat shall, obtain a license for each such animal from the Animal Welfare Division.

1.  An "A" license will be issued for a dog or cat that has been spayed or neutered, provided the owner or keeper presents a rabies vaccination certificate issued by a licensed veterinarian indicating a valid current rabies vaccination, a certification that the animal has been altered, and upon the payment of required license fees as provided in the fee schedule, and any additional information deemed necessary by the Animal Welfare Division at the time of registration.

The "A" license will be valid for the term of the animal's current rabies vaccination certificate at the time of application. An "A" license may be renewed by the owner through Animal Welfare Division consistent with the term of the most recently issued rabies vaccination certificate. A renewal fee will apply for an "A" license if the animal's rabies vaccination certificate expired prior to seeking renewal.

2.  An annual "B" license will be issued for a dog or cat that is intact (has not been spayed or neutered), provided the owner or keeper presents a rabies vaccination certificate issued by a licensed veterinarian indicating a valid current rabies vaccination and upon payment of required license fees as provided in the fee schedule, and any additional information deemed necessary by the Animal Welfare Division at the time of registration.

The "B" license will be valid for one (1) year or the term of the animal's rabies vaccination certificate if less than one (1) year, at which time the owner or keeper must renew the "B" license and provide proof of current rabies vaccination for the one (1) year renewal term, and upon payment of renewal fees as specified in the fee schedule.

All currently valid "B" licenses issued prior to April 10, 2007 will be exempt from the renewal fees only, provided the "B" license remains valid by timely renewal. Should the owner or keeper allow the "B" license to expire, the owner or keeper will be subject to any and all fees and renewal fees associated with a "B" license thereafter.

B.  It shall be unlawful for any person to own or keep four (4) or more but not more than seven (7) dogs or cats, or any combination thereof, over six (6) months of age, without obtaining a special handler's license per additional animal over three (3) from the city and pay the appropriate fee as provided in the fee schedule. The special handler's license is in addition to the "A" or "B" license required under paragraph A.

1.  The special handler's license will be valid for one (1) year from the anniversary date the license was issued. Licenses issued to owners or keepers of altered animals will need to validate the license with required documentation at that time. Owners or keepers of unaltered animals will need to renew the license with required documentation and pay the annual renewal fee as provided in the fee schedule. All renewals and validations are subject to property and housing inspection by an animal welfare officer. No permanent outdoor housing will be allowed.

2.  Certain organizations operating in the city, along with their affiliated foster homes, are recognized by the city as being "animal rescue groups" and will not be required to purchase a special handler's permit for dogs or cats held under their care. The maximum number of animals allowed housed in this situation remains at seven (7), to include any personal dogs or cats belonging to the individual. The stray dogs and cats shall be neutered or spayed and housed in a manner as not to create a nuisance. Should the animals become a nuisance, with abatement action and/or convictions/costs resulting from complaints being registered with the Animal Welfare Division and/or citations being issued for animal related violations at the rescue site, the exemption privilege will be revoked and a special handler's license will not be granted. All rescue sites are subject to inspection by the Animal Welfare Division for compliance with the provisions of this chapter.

C.  It shall be unlawful for any person to own or keep eight (8) or more dogs or cats, or any combination thereof, over six (6) months of age, without obtaining an annual kennel license from the city and pay the annual fee as provided in the fee schedule. The kennel license is in addition to the "A" or "B" license required under paragraph A.

D.  An intact animal license or "B" license is not a license to breed or reproduce.

E.  If the ownership of such animal is transferred, the transferring owner must first obtain a (BAT) permit as required in Section 5-1-106, and the new owner of such animal must obtain a new city license from the city and pay the required license fees as provided in the fee schedule.

F.  The dogs and cats will at all times be kept in accommodations that are suitable in respect of construction, size of quarters, number of occupants, exercising facilities, temperature, lighting, ventilation and cleanliness and as to not cause a nuisance as outlined in Section 5-1-107 of this code. The dogs and cats will be adequately supplied with suitable food, fresh water, bedding material, and adequately exercised. Any license and/or permit may be refused or withheld on the grounds that such conditions are not suitable for the breeding or housing of dogs or cats.

G.  The special handler's license will not be issued for animals on city campground property.