ARTICLE 2.600  LICENSE REQUIRED

Sec. 2.601     Generally

All dogs and cats four (4) months of age or older which are kept, harbored, or maintained within the corporate limits of the city shall be licensed. Cat and dog licenses shall be issued by the animal control officer or his agents upon payment of the required fee for each cat or dog. The license fee for cats and dogs shall be as set forth in the fee schedule found in the appendix of this code. Before a city license will be issued, the owner of the cat or dog must present a certificate from a licensed veterinarian showing that said cat or dog has been vaccinated in accordance with the requirements of Section 2.501 of this code, as now or hereafter amended. If the veterinarian is unable to verify the same, or that such prior vaccination is now undocumented, the owner shall sign an affidavit stating the veterinarian or clinic, the address, date and owner of the animal at the time the vaccination occurred. The owner shall state his name and address, breed, color, and sex of the cat or dog to be licensed. Said license shall be valid for one year from the date of issuance. (Ordinance 1173 adopted 11/10/03)

Sec. 2.602     Tag and Collar

Upon payment of the license fee, the city shall issue to the owner a license certificate and a metal tag having stamped thereon the year for which it is issued and the number corresponding with the number of the certificate. Such tag shall be securely attached to a collar or harness around the neck of the animal, whenever the dog or cat shall be off the premises of the owner. In case a tag is lost, a duplicate will be issued by the animal control officer or his agent, upon presentation of the receipt showing the payment of license fee for the calendar year. Tags shall not be transferable from one animal to another, and no refunds shall be made. (1977 Code of Ordinances, Chapter 3, Article 5, Section 4A)

Sec. 2.603     Revocation of Registrations

(a)     The chief of police or his designee may revoke any cat or dog registration after a hearing for any one or more of the following reasons:

(1)     Impoundment of a cat or dog by the city more than three (3) times during a  twelve-month period.

(2)     More than three (3) final convictions of a person for violating this article when such convictions relate to the cat or dog which is being considered for revocation of its registration certificate.

(3)     Any combination of (1) and (2) totaling three (3) incidents.

(4)     Upon a determination that the cat or dog is a vicious cat or dog, as defined by this article.

(b)     Upon revoking the registration of any cat or dog, the chief of police shall notify the owner of the cat or dog of said action in writing. Written notification shall be deemed made  when a certified letter, return receipt requested, addressed to the last known mailing address of the cat or dog's owner is deposited in the U.S. Mail.

(c)     Upon the expiration of ten (10) days after written notification of revocation is deposited in the U.S. Mail, as provided above, no cat or dog which has had its registration revoked shall be kept, maintained, or harbored within the city limits.

(1977 Code of Ordinances, Chapter 3, Article 5, Section 4B)

Sec. 2.604     Fees for Licenses

Fees provided for in the fee schedule found in the appendix of this code.(Ordinance 1005 adopted 5/22/00)

Sec. 2.605     Reporting Bites

Every physician or other medical practitioner who treats a person or persons for any animal bite shall within twelve (12) hours report such treatment to the Watauga Police Department or animal control officer, giving the name, age, sex, and precise location of the bitten person or persons and such other information as the officer or agency may require.  (1977 Code of Ordinances, Chapter 3, Article 5, Section 5)

Sec. 2.606     Reporting Suspected Rabies

Any veterinarian who clinically diagnoses rabies or any person who suspects rabies in a dog, cat, or other domestic or wild animal shall immediately report the incident to the Watauga Police Department or animal control officer, stating precisely where such animal may be found. If a known or suspected rabid animal bites or scratches a domestic animal, such incident shall also be reported as required above. (1977 Code of Ordinances,  Chapter 3, Article 5, Section 6)

Sec. 2.607     Quarantine of Dogs and Cats

Any dog or cat which has bitten or scratched a person shall be observed for a period of ten (10) days from the date of the bite or scratch. The procedure and place of observation shall be designated by the investigating officer or responsible agency, in compliance with state law. If the dog or cat is not quarantined on the owner's premises, quarantining shall be by impoundment in Watauga's Animal Shelter, or designated shelter, or at any licensed veterinary hospital of the owner's choice. Stray dogs and cats whose owner cannot be located shall be quarantined in the Watauga Animal Shelter or designated shelter. The owner of any dog or cat that has been reported to have inflicted a bite on any person shall on demand produce said dog or cat for impoundment, as prescribed in this article. Refusal to produce said dog or cat constitutes a violation of this article, and each day of such refusal shall constitute a separate and individual violation. Any wild animal which has bitten a person shall be caught and killed and the brain of such animal immediately submitted to a qualified laboratory for rabies examination. The expense for such examination shall be borne by the City of Watauga.  (1977 Code of Ordinances, Chapter 3, Article 5, Section 7)

Sec. 2.608     Creating a Health Hazard

Any person who shall harbor or keep on his premises, or in or about a premises under his control, any dog or cat or pet animal, and who shall allow his premises to become a hazard to the general health and welfare of the community, or who shall allow his premises to give off noxious or offensive odors due to the activity or presence of such animals, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.  (1977 Code of Ordinances, Chapter 3, Article 5, Section 8)

Sec. 2.609     Wild Animals

No person, except in a medical research project under institutional supervision, circus, amusement park or zoo, may own or harbor any of the following types of wild animals in the city:

(1)     Bear;

(2)     Venomous snake;

(3)     Tiger;

(4)     Ape;

(5)     Alligator;

(6)     Fox;

(7)     Raccoon;

(8)     Ringtail;

(9)     Bobcat;

(10)     Coyote;

(11)     Marten;

(12)     Fowl to include chicken, hawk, pigeons, turkey and duck;

(13)     Lion; or

(14)     Any other wild animal capable of or inclined to do serious bodily harm to humans or other animals or fowl.

(Ordinance 1300, sec. X, adopted 12/11/06)