(A) License Required. All dogs four (4) months or older kept, harbored or maintained in the city for at least thirty (30) consecutive days in a calendar year must be licensed and registered. Dog licenses shall be issued by the city, upon payment of a license fee, which license shall expire annually. The owner shall state, at the time application is made for such license, their name and address and the name, breed, color and sex of each dog owned or kept by them.

(B) Tags. Each dog licensed under the terms of this chapter shall receive, at the time of licensing, a tag on which shall be inscribed the name of the city, the number of the license and the year in which it expires. The tag shall be attached to a collar or harness which shall be worn by the dog at all times except as otherwise provided in this chapter. Whenever a dog tag is lost, a duplicate tag shall be issued upon application by the owner and payment of a fee to the city.

(C) Counterfeiting or Transferring Tags Prohibited. No person shall counterfeit or attempt to counterfeit an official dog tag or remove such tag from any dog for the purpose of willful and malicious mischief, or place a dog tag upon a dog unless the tag was issued to that dog.

(D) Transfer of Ownership. Whenever the ownership of a dog has been changed, the new owner must secure a new license.

(E) Tag to Be Worn. It shall be the duty of the owner of any dog kept within the limits of the city to cause the license tag to be securely attached to the dog’s collar and kept upon the dog at all times during the license period. Absence of the license tag from the neck of any dog shall be prima facie evidence that the dog has not been licensed or vaccinated as provided in this chapter. Any such dog shall be deemed to be unowned.

(F) Impound. The animal control officer may apprehend and impound any dog found without a current valid license tag.

(G) When Tag Need Not Be Worn. Dogs while being used for police work, while hunting, while being exhibited at American Kennel Club approved shows, while engaged in races approved by the Arizona Racing Commission or while being transported to and from such events, need not wear a collar or harness with a valid license attached; provided, that they are properly vaccinated and licensed.

(H) Guide Dogs. A service dog belonging to a handicapped or disabled person who is a resident of this state or any bona fide nonprofit organization which is in the business of breeding, raising or training such dogs shall, upon application by the owner or organization to the city and on presentation of proper proof, be licensed pursuant to this chapter without payment of a fee.

(I) License Fees. The license fee schedule will be set from time to time by the city council. (Ord. No. 2004-14, § 4, 7-6-04; Ord. No. 2004-20, §§ 1, 2, 9-21-04. 1976 Code § 6-3-2)