06-1283 City Code Dog Licensing Ordinance
CITY OF MERIDIAN
ORDINANCE NO. t9G -/293
BY THE CITY COUNCIL: BIRD, BORTON, ROUNTREE, WARDLE
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE 6, CHAPTER 2, OF THE MERIDIAN
CITY CODE REGARDING: DEFINITIONS AND CITY OF MERIDIAN DOG
LICENSES; PROVIDING FOR A WAIVER OF THE READING RULES; AND
PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Meridian deems it to be in the best
interest of the health, safety and welfare of its citizens to track and regulate dogs within
the City by providing for licensing thereof;
WHEREAS, authorizing the Idaho Humane Society, veterinarians' offices, and
pet product vendors to issue City of Meridian dog licenses on behalf ofthe City will
facilitate dog owners' compliance with City dog licensing requirements;
WHEREAS, the City of Meridian dog license fee schedule should be updated to
appropriately reflect costs of administration of the City's licensing program;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY
COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MERIDIAN, IDAHO:
Section 1.
That Title 6, Chapter 2, of the Meridian City Code is amended to
read as follows:
6-2-1: DEFINITIONS:
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall be defined as in this section provided:
ABANDONMENT: It shall be unlawful for any owner of an animal or his agent to
abandon said animal within the city limits. Abandonment means the desertion of said
animal for more than thirty six (36) hours.
ANIMAL: Every domesticated and tame living creature, except members ofthe human
race.
AT LARGE: Off the property of the owner and off the leash, cord, chain or effective
control of a responsible person.
CITY OF MERIDIAN DOG LICENSE: A valid. current dog license issued bv the City
of Meridian or its licensing designee.
AMENTMENTS TO DOG LICENSING ORDINANCE
PAGE 1 OF 8
CITY OF MERIDIAN DOG LICENSE TAG: A valid. current tag issued by the City of
Meridian or its licensing designee. which tag shall signify that the dog wearing it is duly
licensed by the City of Meridian.
CONFINED: The dog is restricted to the property of the owner by leash, cord, chain or
fence barrier.
CRUELTY TO ANIMALS: It shall be unlawful for any person to allow fighting,
torturing, beating, starving or other mistreatment of any animal in his care or charge,
whether belonging to himself or any other person. Any animal so treated may be
impounded for its protection and disposition.
DOG: Includes both male and female member of the canine family over the age of six (6)
months.
OWN: to be the owner thereof; or to keep. harbor. or possess; or to accept or maintain
custody. control. or care thereof.
OWNER: Any person owning, keeping. er-harboring, or possessing an animal. or
accepting or maintaining custody. control. or care of an a dog or otherwise responsible
f{)f Sl:leH animal.
VETERINARIAN: A graduate doctor of veterinary medicine licensed to practice in the
state of Idaho.
VICIOUS DOG: Any dog whose behavior or actions fall within one or more of the
following shall be declared a vicious dog:
A. Any dog which, when unprovoked, in a vicious or terrorizing manner, approaches
any person in apparent attitude of attack, which placed a reasonable fear in such a
person that such violence was imminent, upon the streets, sidewalks, any public
grounds or places, or private property not owned or possessed by the owner of the
dog; or
B. Any dog which, when unprovoked, attacks or bites another person or other
domestic animal upon the streets, sidewalks, any public grounds or places, or private
property not owned or possessed by the owner of the dog; or
C. Any dog with a prior history or documented incidents of attack or biting of persons
or other animals, or disposition to attack unprovoked, to cause injury or to otherwise
endanger the safety of persons or other domestic animals; or
D. Any dog owned or harbored primarily or in part for the purpose of fighting or
attacking people or any dog trained for fighting or attacking of persons.
Notwithstanding this definition of a vicious dog:
A. No dog may be declared vicious if an injury or damage is sustained by a person
who, at the time that such injury or damage was sustained:
AMENTMENTS TO DOG LICENSING ORDINANCE
PAGE 2 OF 8
1. Was committing a willful trespass or other crime or tort upon the premises
occupied by the owner ofthe dog (this does not require the owner to be present at
the time ofthe unlawful trespass or other crime); or
2. Was teasing, tormenting, abusing or assaulting the dog; or
3. Was committing or attempting to commit a crime.
B. No dog may be declared vicious if the dog was protecting or defending a person
within the immediate vicinity of the dog from an unjustified attack or assault.
C. No dog owned, maintained, or kept for work as a law enforcement dog, either
currently or retired, may be declared vicious if the action that would be so defined by
this definition, took place while the dog was acting within its capacity for law
enforcement purposes.
6-2-3: CITY OF MERIDIAN DOG LICENSE REQUIRED; TAC; FEES:
A. City of Meridian Dog License Required: It shall be unlawful for any person to own,
harbor, keep or possess a dog which is more than six (6) months of age within the eCity
without first procuring a City of Meridian dog license therefore as provided by this
chapter; provided, however, that the provisions of this chapter shall not apply to any
person visiting in the eCity for a period not exceeding thirty (30) days, and owning ef
possessing a dog currently licensed, and bearing the license issued by another
municipality or other licensing authority.
B. Collar; Tag: Every dog shan at all times wcar a sl:lbstantial, durable collar, to which
shall be securely attaoocd the req1:1ired license tag. Every dog owner shall cause his dog to
wear. at all times. a durable, secure collar bearing a valid City of Meridian dog license
tag.
C. Imitation License Tag: It shall be unlawful for any person to cause or allow any dog
owned by him to wear a license tag issued for another dog or to wear any imitation of a
City of Meridian dog license tag.
D. Certificate of Rabies Vaccination Required: No City of Meridian dog license shall be
issued without presentation of a valid rabies vaccination certificate issued by a
licensed veterinarian. A rabies certificate shall be considered valid only if presented:
1. Within one (1) vear from the date of issue. where the dog was less than one (1)
year old when vaccinated; or
2. Within three (3) years from the date of issue. where the dog was one (I) or more
years of age when vaccinated.
G,E. License Term; Fees; Expiration:
1. License Term: All City of Meridian dog licenses within tho oity shall be valid
only in the calendar year issued and shall expire December 31 of that year.
AMENTMENTS TO DOG LICENSING ORDINANCE
PAGE 3 OF 8
2. City of Meridian Dog License Fee Schedule:
a. General License Fee: The owner or person, e~[oept senior citizens wbo are sixty
t':/o (62) years of age or older, having charge of any dog, except as otherwise
provided in this chapter, shall make application to the eCity for a City of Meridian
dog license and shall pay!! an animal license fee as follows:
Non.:neutered male dogs~ $15.00 Twenty-one dollars ($21.00)
Non.:spayed female dogs~ ~Twenty-one dollars ($21.00)
Neutered or spayed dogs~ +:-WSixteen dollars ($16.00)
Vicious Dogs: One hundred dollars ($100.00)
The City or its licensing designee shall allow the payment of the license fee for a
neutered or spayed dog only upon the dog owner's presentation of a certificate of
neuter or spay issued by a veterinarian or by the Idaho Humane Society shall be
required to be present at the time the lioense is applied for.
b. Exceptions To License Fee:
(i) The owner of any dog used by a visually impaired, hearing impaired, or
disabled person and used as a seeing eye dog, hearing ear dog, or guide
dog shall not be required to pay a license fee. The City or its licensing
designee shall allow this exception to the license fee only upon the dog
owner's presentation of certification ofthe dog owner's visual or hearing
impairment or disability by a licensed medical doctor.
(ii) The owner of any dog in training to serve as a seeing eye dog, hearing
ear dog, or guide dog shall not be required to pay a license fee. The City
or its licensing designee shall allow this exception to the license fee only
upon the dog owner's presentation of pro oft hat such dog is in training for
such purpose.
(iii) Any dog owned by a public entity or public agency.
3. Senior Citizens: Senior citiztlfls (tbose 62 years of age and over) shall pay a lioense
fee of five dollars ($5.00).
41. Lost Tags; Fee: A charge of five dollars ($5.00) shall be made for each lost City
of Meridian dog license tag reissued by the eCity or its licensing designee. The City
or its licensing designee shall reissue a dog license for this fee only upon verification
that the license tag sought to be replaced is for a current and valid City of Meridian
dog license, which verification shall be made by reference to the officiallog(s) of the
City or its licensing designee(s).
5.Certificate OfNel:lter Req1:1ired: .^.. certificate of neuter or spay issued by a
veterinarian or the Idaho Humane Society shaH be required to be present at tho time
AMENTMENTS TO DOG LICENSING ORDINANCE
PAGE 4 OF 8
the license is applied for iFl orear to seeure tRB license rate for a nButared or spayed
00g,.
6. Exception To License Fee: fJ1Y dog o'.vned and used by a blind, visually or heariFlg
impaired parSOFl and used as a seeiFlg eye or hearing ear dog or guide dog(s) in
training, shall be lioensed ar.nually at FlO cost to the OWFlar afld user of the dog. To
qaalify under tbis exoeption, the owner and user of the dog mast be medically
certified as baying a visual or Rearing impairmtlflt by a liooosed medical doctor.
F. Issuing Authoritv: City of Meridian dog licenses may be issued by the City Clerk,
Police Department, or Animal ControL or by a licensing designee duly authorized by the
City as set forth in this chapter.
G. Monthly Log; Unissued Tags: Each City department issuing dog licenses shall keep a
monthly log of all dog licenses issued, which log shall include the following information
as to each dog license issued:
1. Date of issuance;
2. Dog license tag serial number;
1.0 Amount of license fee paid;
4. Name, address, and telephone number of dog owner;
5. Description of dog to be licensed; and
{}.;- Verification of documentation of dog owner's compliance with all provisions of
this title, including, but not limited to, rabies vaccination certification, spay or
neuter certification if paying reduced license fee for spayed or neutered dog, proof
of dog owner's age and spay or neuter certification. if paving; reduced license f-ee
for OWFlers sixty two (62) vears or older, aFld/0r certification ofyisual or hearing
impairment or disability if seeking: exeHl.fltion from license fee.
Each City department issuing dog licenses shalL on a monthly basis, no later than the
fifteenth (15th) day of the month following the month for which fees are collected
and the monthly log is completed, submit to the City Clerk all license fees collected
and a COpy of its monthly log. The City Clerk shall conduct an accounting to
determine that the fees remitted correspond to the number and tyPe of dog license
tags issued by the City Department according to the monthly log. Each City
department issuing dog licenses shalL on a yearly basis, no later than the fifteenth
(15th) day of the January immediately following the expiration of the prior license
year, submit to the City Clerk all unissued dog license tags.
AMENTMENTS TO DOG LICENSING ORDINANCE
PAGE 5 OF 8
H. Licensing Designee: In order to facilitate the licensing of dogs within the City of
Meridian, the City may enter into agreements with the Idaho Humane Society,
veterinarians, or vendors of pet products doing business within the City of Meridian
("licensing designee"). which agreements shall authorize such licensing designee to issue
City of Meridian dog licenses on behalf of the City, except that no licensing designee
shall be authorized to issue vicious dog licenses. Such agreement shall specify the serial
numbers of all dog license tags provided to the designee. Such agreement shall also
include the following terms and conditions:
.L The term of such agreement shall be from January 1 to December 31.
2. The licensing designee shall agree to issue City of Meridian dog licenses in
accordance with all provisions set forth in this title.
.1. The City shall agree to provide the licensing designee with official City of
Meridian dog license tags, to be issued only upon verification of compliance with
all provisions of this title and payment of the appropriate license fee.
4. The licensing designee shall agree to keep a monthly log of all City of Meridian
dog licenses issued, which log shall contain the following information:
a. Date of issuance of dog license:
b. Dog license tag serial number;
C. Amount of license fee collected;
d. Amount of administrative fee retained;
e. Name, address, and telephone number of dog owner;
f Description of dog to be licensed;
&:. Verification of documentation demonstrating dog owner's compliance
with all provisions of this title, including, but not limited to, rabies
vaccination certification, spay or neuter certification if paying reduced
license fee for spayed or neutered dog, proof of dog owner's age and spay
or neuter certification if paying reduced license fee for owners sixty-two
(62) years or older, and/or certification of visual or hearing impairment or
disability if seeking exemption from license fee.
~ The City shall agree that the licensing designee may retain, as an administrative
fee, ten percent (10%) of each dog license fee collected on the City's behalf.
AMENTMENTS TO DOG LICENSING ORDINANCE
PAGE 6 OF 8
6. The licensing designee shall agree to remit to the City Clerk, on a monthly basis,
no later than the fifteenth (15th) day ofthe month following the month for which
fees are collected and the monthly log is completed:
~ All dog license fees collected on the City's behalf in the previous month,
less the ten percent (10%) administrative fee kept by the license designee;
b. A COpy of the previous month's log of dog licenses issued; and
c. Other information as required by the City Clerk.
7. The licensing designee shall agree to remit to the City Clerk. on an annual basis,
no later than the fifteenth (15th) day of the January immediately following the
expiration of such agreement:
a. All unissued dog license tags from the previous year; and
b. Other information as required by the City Clerk.
.& The agreement shall stipulate that upon the licensing designee's remittance of
fees, logs, and/or unissued tags, the City Clerk shall conduct an accounting to
determine that the fees remitted correspond to the number and tyPe of dog license
tags issued by the designee according to the designee's log. The designee shall
agree that in the event of a discrepancy between the log, fees remitted to the City,
and/or unissued dog license tags, the designee shall remit to the City an amount of
money sufficient to rectify the discrepancy.
9. The City shall include in such agreement any and all other terms it deems
necessary and/or in the best interests of the City.
Section 2.
That all ordinances, resolutions, orders, or parts thereof or in
conflict with this ordinance are hereby voided.
Section 3.
That pursuant to the affirmative vote of one-half (1/2) plus one (1)
of the Members of the full Council, the rule requiring two (2) separate readings by title
and one (1) reading in full be, and the same is hereby, dispensed with, and accordingly,
this Ordinance shall be in full force and effect on ~~a,I-!f I Sft ,200ft 7
\ ~ ~SSED by tbe City Connell of tbe City of Meridian, Idaho, tbi. ~ay
of ~1rvf:i.e..J , 2006.
AMENTMENTS TO DOG LICENSING ORDINANCE
PAGE 7 OF 8
)APPROVED by Ibe Mayor oflbe City of Meridian, Idaho, this (C('0-daY
of --I,)ecem.~- ,2006.
APPROVED:
, , , ,M'A '\1'(') '" 1/
" ,\\\'~l Of ME/l, I,>,
,,\ ::\" . <, ,~, <:;..
"(j~ ".nO~l0J"'J //
~ #p'."-' "h '" ~.
~ .. <So' --;::.
~ ~ ~
, ~
, -
- -
dI~ft-~1 91 "E1&L'" 00 ~
CITY CLERK f ~ ~,..... {p 0 ;-
~ ~~ --0"]' 1S,," . x'" :...~.
~ ~.... ,-...
"A CbuN .c\ ,"':
1'/ ~ "
'11/ T'l. ""
1111 ,\\
'1/'"111111'\
~J.Lt'l cf
ATTEST:
AMENTMENTS TO DOG LICENSING ORDINANCE
PAGE 8 OF 8
NOTICE AND PUBLISHED SUMMARY
OF ORDINANCE PURSUANT TO I.C. § 50-901(A)
CITY OF MERIDIAN ORDINANCE NO. 06- /2 2 3
PROVIDING FOR AN AMENDMENT TO MERIDIAN CITY
DOG LICENSING ORDINANCE
An Ordinance of the City of Meridian amending Title 6, Chapter 2, of the Meridian City
Code. A full text of this ordinance is available for inspection at City Hall, City of
Meridian, 33 East Idaho Avenue, Meridian, Ida4o,,1 ThisiOTOinance shall become
effective upon passage and publication. �c* k"
Mayor and City Council of the City of Nleri 'an
By: William G. Berg, Jr., City Clerk, _
First Reading: Z / 9 O 6 Ado � '''
4 a ,
Rule as allowed pursuant to Idaho Code § 5(f�,Qi�t1I,by suspension of the
NO
Second Reading: Third'Rtaliig:
STATEMENT OF MERIDIAN CITY ATTORNEY AS TO ADEQUACY OF
SUMMARY OF ORDINANCE NO. 06- l Z $
The undersigned, William L.M. Nary, City Attorney of the City of Meridian,
Idaho, hereby certifies that he is the legal advisor of the City and has reviewed a copy of
the attached Ordinance No. 06 8 3 of the City of Meridian, Idaho, and
has found the same to be true and complete and provides adequate notice to the public
pursuant to Idaho Code § 50-901A(3).
DATED this l ��da
y of Cin�� , 2006.
William. L.M. Nary, City Attorne
AMENDMENTS TO DOG LICENSING ORDINANCE
PAGE 1 OF 1