Pets

No person shall own, keep, or harbor within the city any dog, cat, or ferret four months of age or older unless such animal has a current rabies vaccination, as determined by the T.D.H. The animal must be revaccinated before the expiration of the first and each subsequent current vaccination period.

(Ord. No. 96-07, § 2, 6-24-1996; Ord. No. 2003-28, § 2, 11-24-2003; Ord. No. 2015-181, 6-8-2015)

(a) Registration required. No owner within the city limits shall have in his/her possession a dog or cat four months of age or older unless said dog or cat is currently registered with the city. No dog or cat shall be registered unless it has current vaccination. 

(b) Renewal. A registration shall be renewed no later than the date of expiration of the current vaccination period for which it was issued. 

(c) Vaccination required. A registration certificate and tag can be obtained with proof of vaccination at the Shoreacres City Hall. 

(d) Tags. Upon acceptance of the registration application and payment of the license fee, the regulatory authority shall issue a durable tag, stamped with an identifying number. The owner of such animal must attach the tag to a collar or harness and said collar or harness must be worn by the animal at all times. The tag or receipt for payment of said tag shall be presented to the regulatory authority upon demand. Failure to present the license tag or receipt shall constitute a violation of this chapter. 

(e) Fee. A fee of $4.00 shall be assessed for each registration tag issued. The regulatory authority shall maintain a record of the identifying numbers of all tags issued. If the tag has been lost, a duplicate can be obtained from city hall for a fee of $2.00. 

(f) Exemptions. The registration requirements of this section shall not apply to: (1) An animal under the age of four months of age. (2) Animals that are owned by or in custody of persons who are nonresidents of the city traveling through the city temporarily or sojourning therein for a period not to exceed 30 days. (3) Dogs or cats brought into the city exclusively for the purpose of entering them in any dog or cat show or exhibition.

(Ord. No. 96-07, § 3, 6-24-1996; Ord. No. 2003-28, § 3, 11-24-2003; Ord. No. 2015-181, 6-8-2015)

(a) The owner of every dog, cat or ferret shall see that the dog, cat or ferret wears at all times a collar or harness to which the registration tag will be attached.

(b) If the registration tag is lost or destroyed, the owner shall apply in writing or in person at city hall for a replacement tag by presentation of proof of current vaccination and/or presentation of certificate of registration that is to be replaced accompanied by a fee of $2.00.

(Ord. No. 96-07, § 4, 6-24-1996; Ord. No. 2015-181, 6-8-2015)

(a) Dogs and cats. It shall be unlawful for any person to keep, harbor, posses, maintain or allow to be kept, harbored, possessed or maintained more than four dogs or four cats or any combination of said animals with the total number not exceeding four over four months old, upon or within any premises owned, occupied or under control of any person within the city except where specifically exempt in this chapter.

(b) Birds. It shall be unlawful for any person to keep, harbor, possess, maintain or allow to be kept, harbored, possessed or maintained more than 12 domestic or pet birds, over the age of three months, including, but not limited to, parakeets, finches, racing pigeons, parrots, canaries, and doves, upon or within any premises owned, occupied or under control of any person within the city except where specifically exempt in this chapter.

(c) Exemptions. The provisions of this section limiting the number of animals shall not apply to the following:

(1) Kennels.

(2) Animal shelters.

(3) Circuses.

(Ord. No. 96-07, § 6, 6-24-1996; Ord. No. 2003-28, § 4, 11-24-2003; Ord. No. 2015-181, 6-8-2015)

It shall be unlawful for any person to fail to promptly remove and dispose of, in a sanitary manner, feces left by a dog or cat being handled by that person on property, public or private, other than the premises of the owner or handler of such dog or cat. This section shall not, however, apply to handicapped persons using guide dogs or to peace officers while using animals in the discharge of law enforcement activities.

(Ord. No. 96-07, § 13, 6-24-1996; Ord. No. 2003-28, § 12, 11-24-2003)