(A) Every person owning or keeping any dog which has a set of permanent canine teeth shall, not later than March 1 of each year or within 30 days after he becomes owner or keeper of the dog, procure from the Finance Director/Recorder a license for the dog by paying to the Finance Director/Recorder a license fee. The license fee shall be in an amount as established by resolution of the City Council for each dog, except that the fee shall not be greater than a lesser amount as established by resolution of the City Council for each spayed female or neutered male dog for which a veterinarian's certificate of operation for the spaying or neutering of the dog is presented to the Finance Director/Recorder. If the person fails to procure the license within the time provided by this section, an additional penalty in a sum established by resolution of the City Council for each dog shall be assessed.

(B) The Finance Director/Recorder shall at the time of issuing the license and as a part thereof supply the licensee, without charge, with a suitable tag having legibly stamped with dies across one side thereof, to wit: year license issued, license No. and to be imprinted with “City of Hermiston, OR.” The tag shall be fastened by the licensee to a collar and kept on the dog at all times when not in the immediate possession of the licensee. The license fee shall be the only license or tax required for the ownership or keeping of a dog within the city.

(C) This section does not apply to dogs owned by dealers, breeders or exhibitors where they are kept in kennels exclusively for sale or exhibition purposes, or while the dogs are being transported by dealers, breeders or exhibitors to and from a dog show or fair. No license shall be required for the dogs kept for these purposes until they are sold or otherwise disposed of to another person.

(D) No license shall be required to be paid for any dog owned by a blind person who uses it as a guide. A license shall be issued for the dog upon filing with the Finance Director/Recorder an affidavit by the blind person showing the dog to come within this requirement.

(E) The Finance Director/Recorder shall keep a record of dog licenses in a special book for such purposes.

(Ord. 1503, passed 3-26-84)