A. A person commits an offense if he owns any dog or cat over four (4) months of age without having such dog or cat currently vaccinated against rabies.

B. A person commits an offense if he owns any dog or cat over four (4) months of age without having such dog or cat currently licensed with the City of Arlington.

C. A person who owns a dog commits an offense if he fails to display on such dog both a current rabies vaccination tag furnished by a veterinarian and a current license tag furnished by the City of Arlington.

D. A person who owns a dog or cat commits an offense if he displays on such dog or cat a rabies or license tag issued to another animal.

E. Each animal in violation of this Section constitutes a separate offense.

A. Written application for a dog or cat license and payment of the applicable license fee shall be made to the Animal Services Manager. The application shall include:

1. The name, telephone number and address of the applicant;

2. A description of the animal, including name, breed, color, gender and age; and

3. A currently valid rabies certificate issued by a licensed veterinarian showing that said dog or cat has been vaccinated within the preceding twelve (12) months.

B. The annual license fee shall be at an amount set by resolution of the City Council.

C. Support dogs which are professionally and specifically trained to assist disabled owners shall be exempt from the license fee.

D. If not revoked, such license will be effective for a period of one (1) year from the date of vaccination for rabies.

E. Upon acceptance of the license application, the Animal Services Manager shall issue the owner a metal license tag stamped with an identifying number for the dog or cat. The Animal Services Manager shall also issue the owner a license certificate which identifies the animal by age, gender, breed, color, name and owner, and which states the dates of issuance and expiration of the license.

F. In the event a license tag or license certificate is lost, the owner may obtain a duplicate tag or certificate after paying the applicable fee.

A. Any dog or cat may be impounded by the Animal Services Manager in any of the following circumstances:

1. Any dog or cat running at large in the City of Arlington;

2. Any dog not having affixed to and wearing on a collar or harness a valid City license tag and a tag furnished by a veterinarian showing that said dog is currently vaccinated against rabies; or

3. Any dog or cat whose license has been revoked,

4. A dog or cat that is suspected of having inflicted bodily injury on any human being or animal, or poses a threat to public safety; or

5. A dog or cat that has rabies or symptoms thereof, or that a person could suspect as having rabies, or that bites, scratches or otherwise creates a condition which may have exposed or transmitted the rabies virus to any human being or animal.

B. Disposition of Impounded Dogs and Cats.

1. If any dog or cat impounded under this Section is not called for by the owner within seventy-two (72) hours after notification of the impoundment or within seventy-two (72) hours of impoundment where the owner cannot be reasonably ascertained, the dog or cat shall be placed for adoption or euthanized .

2. If any dog or cat that is impounded by Animal Services, or brought to the Animal Services Center by a person other than the owner of that animal, and is wearing traceable identification; is readily observable as being sterilized or declawed in the best judgment of the Manager or his designee; or where an owner is known, such animal shall be held at the center for a minimum of seven (7) business days from the time the animal enters the Animal Services Center. Animal Services shall notify the owner, when known, of the impoundment. Unless the owner has notified Animal Services in writing of his intentions to claim the animal after that date, listing a date by which time that owner will reclaim the dog/cat and satisfy all applicable fees and this arrangement has been approved by the Animal Services Manager, the animal shall be placed for adoption or euthanized after the seventh (7th) business day.

3. The owner of any impounded dog or cat shall be permitted to repossess such dog or cat prior to disposition by the City upon the payment to the Animal Services Manager of the appropriate fees.

4. This subsection does not apply to any dog or cat placed in quarantine, that is the subject of a dangerous animal complaint, or whose license has been revoked.

A. All of the fees and refunds described herein shall be set by resolution of the City Council.

B. Impoundment Fees.

1. A pound fee will be charged for the impoundment of all dogs and cats.

2. The owner shall be required to purchase a spay-neuter coupon in addition to paying the impoundment fee. Said animal will be required to be spayed-neutered within thirty (30) days of receipt.

3. An additional fee will be required for the second and subsequent impoundment of the same dog or cat within the preceding twelve (12) month period.

C. License or Vaccination Fee. If license or vaccination of an impounded dog or cat is not current, the owner shall be required to pay for these items. The owner shall be given a receipt for the vaccination payment which can be redeemed by his veterinarian by submitting the receipt. Failure to obtain the vaccination within forty-eight (48) hours of reclaiming shall authorize impoundment.

D. Boarding Fee. In addition to the above fee, if the dog or cat is not picked up within seventy-two (72) hours, an additional fee will be charged for each twenty-four (24) hour period thereafter.

E. All necessary veterinary and drug costs incurred by the animal while it is in custody shall be charged to the owner.

The Animal Services Manager shall be authorized to place for adoption dogs or cats impounded by the City under the following conditions:

A. The Animal Services Manager shall determine whether a dog or cat is healthy enough for adoption and its health and age adequate for vaccination. However, such decision by the Animal Services Manager shall not constitute a warranty of the health or age of the animal.

B. There will be an adoption fee for all dogs and cats at an amount set by resolution of the City Council.

C. Requirements for Adoption of Dog or Cat Age Four (4) Months or Older.

1. Vaccination Fee.

a. In the event said adopted dog or cat age four (4) months or older is not vaccinated, a fee in an amount set by resolution of the City Council shall be paid for the issuance of a rabies vaccination certificate which the adopting person is to present to any veterinarian within one (1) week for vaccination against rabies of the adopted dog or cat. The veterinarian may present the certificate with a statement verifying the vaccination to the Animal Services Manager for receipt of the prepaid fee or the veterinarian's fee for administering the vaccination, whichever is less.

b. A person commits an offense if after adopting a dog or cat four (4) months of age or older he knowingly fails to obtain a rabies vaccination for such animal within one (1) week of the adoption date.

c. It shall be presumed that the person failed to have the animal vaccinated if within ten (10) days of the adoption date he has not presented the Animal Services Manager with proof of the vaccination. Such proof shall be in the form of a receipt from the veterinarian administering the vaccination.

d. The Animal Services Manager shall be authorized to reimpound any dog or cat adopted under this subsection if the vaccination is not obtained within the required time. In such case there shall be no refund of the adoption fee, and ownership of the animal shall revert to the City.

2. License Fee. In the event the adopted dog or cat age four (4) months or older is not licensed, the adopting person shall present to the Animal Services Manager the license fee as set forth in Section 3.02.

D. Requirements for Adoption of a Dog or Cat Under Four (4) Months of Age.

1. Vaccination Fee.

a. In the event the dog or cat to be adopted is under four (4) months of age, the vaccination will not be required until the animal is at least three (3) months of age but no older than four (4) months of age. A fee in an amount set by resolution of the City Council shall be paid for the issuance of a rabies vaccination certificate which the adopting person is to present to any veterinarian in Tarrant or Dallas County. The veterinarian may present the certificate with a statement verifying the vaccination to the Animal Services Manager for receipt of the prepaid fee or the veterinarian's fee for administering the vaccination, whichever is less.

b. A person who adopts a dog or cat under this subsection commits an offense if he knowingly fails to obtain a rabies vaccination for such animal within the age limits required in this subsection.

c. It shall be presumed that the person failed to have the animal vaccinated before it turned four (4) months of age if within seven (7) months of the adoption date he has not presented proof of the vaccination to the Animal Services Manager. Proof shall be in the form of a receipt from the veterinarian administering the vaccine.

d. The Animal Services Manager shall be authorized to reimpound the adopted dog or cat under this subsection if the vaccination is not obtained within the required age limits. In such case there shall be no refund of the adoption fee, and ownership of the animal shall revert to the City.

2. License Fee.

a. Within one (1) week after a dog or cat, which was under four (4) months old when adopted, is vaccinated against rabies, the adopting person shall furnish to the Animal Services Manager the original adoption receipt and proof of vaccination to receive the City license.

b. The adopting person shall pay the Animal Services Manager the license fee as set out in Section 3.02.

3. Core Vaccine Fee.

a.  In the event an adopted dog or cat age (6) weeks or older is not vaccinated against Canine Distemper (CDV), Infectious Canine Hepatitis (ICH), Canine Parvovirus (CPV), Canine Parainfluenza Virus, Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis (FVR), Feline Calicivirus (FCV), or Feline Panleukopenia (FPL) there will be a core vaccination fee at an amount set by resolution of the City Council.

b. Upon payment of the core vaccination fee, the dog or cat will be provided such service by the Animal Services Manager.

c. In the event the adopted dog or cat is under (6) weeks of age, a voucher will be presented to the adopting person which the person may present to Animal Services, for rendering such service, upon the adopted dog or cat reaching (6) weeks of age.

4. Microchip Fee

a. In the event an adopted dog or cat does not have microchip identification there will be a microchip implantation at a fee at an amount set by resolution of the City Council.

b. Upon payment of the microchip fee, the dog or cat will be provided microchip implantation by the Animal Services Manager.

E. Sterilization.

1. Written Agreement. A person adopting a dog or cat that has not been sterilized shall sign a written agreement that they will have the animal sterilized:

a. By the thirtieth day after adoption if the dog or cat is an adult; or

b. By the thirtieth day after a specified date estimated by the Animal Services Manager to be the date an adopted infant female dog or cat becomes six (6) months old or an adopted infant male dog or cat becomes eight (8) months old.

2. Fee.

a. A person adopting an unsterilized animal shall pay the Animal Services Manager a sterilization fee in an amount set by resolution of the City Council, and shall receive a spaying or neutering certificate.

b. Within the sterilization date, the adopting person shall present the certificate to the licensed veterinarian in Dallas or Tarrant County who performed the sterilization of the adopted animal.

c. The veterinarian may present the certificate to the Animal Services Manager, along with a statement verifying that the animal was sterilized, for receipt of the prepaid fee or the veterinarian's fee, whichever is less.

3. Offense.

a. A person who signs a sterilization agreement commits an offense if he fails to have the animal sterilized on or before the sterilization completion date stated in the agreement.

b. If the sterilization date falls on a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday, the deadline is extended to the first day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday.

c. The Animal Services Manager may extend the sterilization deadline for thirty (30) days upon presentation by the adopting person of a written report by a licensed veterinarian stating that the life or health of the adopted animal may be jeopardized by surgery. There is no limit to the number of extensions that may be granted under this subsection.

4. Confirmation of Sterilization.

a. A person who signs a sterilization agreement shall deliver to the Animal Services Manager a letter signed by the veterinarian who performed the surgery. The letter shall be delivered in person or by mail not later than the seventh day after the date on which the animal was sterilized. The letter shall state that the animal has been sterilized, briefly describe the animal and provide the date of sterilization.

b. If an adopted animal dies on or before the sterilization completion date, the adopting person shall deliver to the Animal Services Manager a signed letter stating that the animal is dead. The letter shall be delivered not later than the seventh day after the date of the animal's death, and shall describe the cause of death if known and provide the date of death. This letter shall be in lieu of the letter required in Subsection (E)(4)(a).

c. If an adopted animal is lost or stolen before the sterilization date, the adopting person shall deliver to the Animal Services Manager a signed letter stating that the animal is lost or stolen. The letter shall be delivered not later than the seventh day after the date of the animal's disappearance and shall describe the circumstances surrounding the disappearance and the approximate date of disappearance. This letter shall be in lieu of the letter required in subsection (E)(4)(a).

5. Prosecution.

a. If the Animal Services Manager does not receive a letter under Subsection (E)(4) before the expiration of the seventh day after the sterilization completion date, he shall file a complaint against the adopting person in the Arlington Municipal Court.

b. In a prosecution of a person for failing to sterilize an adopted animal by the sterilization completion date, it shall be presumed that the failure of such person to deliver to the Animal Services Manager a letter required by Subsection (E)(4) is the result of the person's refusal to have the adopted animal sterilized. The person may rebut this presumption at trial with the proof required by Subsection (E)(4).

6. Reclamation of Animal. The Animal Services Manager may reclaim an adopted animal after the expiration of the seventh day after the sterilization completion date, if the Animal Services Manager has not received a letter as outlined in Subsection (E)(4). In such case there shall be no refund of the adoption fee, and ownership of the animal shall revert to the City.