Chapter 7.20
REGISTRATION AND OWNERSHIP OF ANIMALS
Sections:
7.20.010 Domestic animal registration.
7.20.030 Surrender of unwanted animals.
7.20.040 Sale and transfer of animals.
7.20.050 Wolf hybrids prohibited.
7.20.010 Domestic animal registration.
A. Within thirty days of entry into the city, all domestic animals twelve weeks of age or older are required to be registered by individual registration or as part of a kennel permit. It is unlawful to keep a domestic animal without complying with this subsection.
B. Domestic animals twelve weeks of age or older shall receive a city domestic animal registration tag only upon scheduling an appointment to rabies vaccinate at twelve weeks of age from a State of Alaska Department of Health and Social Services approved vaccinator.
C. A domestic animal’s keeper shall provide proof of rabies vaccination by a valid rabies immunization tag and/or a valid rabies certificate for the registration of a domestic animal.
D. A domestic animal registration tag shall be issued for individually registered domestic animals for a period that shall expire in conjunction with the expiration date of the rabies vaccination.
E. An individually registered domestic animal shall bear a city domestic animal registration tag securely fastened to its collar, chain collar, or harness at all times or the keeper must be able to produce a copy of the written registration or tag within twenty-four hours except:
1. While confined on the keeper’s premises; or
2. While in competition, in training, or while hunting.
F. It shall be unlawful for a kennel permittee to fail to produce documentation of domestic animal registration or immunization upon request of the animal control officer or agent.
G. If the keeper of a domestic animal changes, the new keeper shall, within fifteen days, have the current registration transferred to the new keeper’s name. It is unlawful to keep a domestic animal without complying with this subsection.
H. It shall be unlawful to use, or allow the use of, any domestic animal registration tag for an animal other than the animal for which the registration tag was issued.
I. Except as otherwise provided in this section, the keeper of a domestic animal shall comply with the animal rabies vaccination requirements governed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as described within 7 AAC 27.020(b). It is unlawful to keep a domestic animal without complying with this subsection.
J. Notwithstanding any other ordinance, registration of cats is not required but is encouraged. (Ord. 18-07 § 2 (part), 2019.)
7.20.020 Kennel permit.
A. A kennel permit is required to keep four or more domestic animals in the city. There is no limitation to the number of years that any individual may hold a kennel permit.
B. All domestic animals registered within the kennel permit must comply with Section 7.20.010.
C. Kennel permits will be issued by the city manager or designee upon determination that the kennel will not create a public nuisance or threat to public safety and that the applicant will provide humane care to each kept animal.
D. The kennel permit shall be issued for a period of thirty-six months from the date the permit was granted upon the condition that under any change of three or more animals the keeper shall update the registered permit.
E. Failure by the keeper to maintain an orderly, humane, and sanitary kennel or the permittee’s violation of this title may result in suspension or revocation of the kennel permit following an informal hearing on the animal control officer’s intent to suspend or revoke the permit.
F. An appeal of a denial, suspension, or revocation of a kennel permit must be made in writing and received by the city manager’s office within thirty days of the date the applicant or permitee is informed of the decision or mailed a written decision.
G. A decision regarding a kennel permit may be appealed to the city council. The city council will, after public hearing, make a finding as to whether a permit may or may not be properly issued. (Ord. 18-07 § 2 (part), 2019.)
7.20.030 Surrender of unwanted animals.
A. The keeper of an unwanted animal may surrender the animal for immediate adoption by bringing the animal to the animal control center and upon payment of applicable fees; provided, that:
1. The animal is more than twelve weeks old; and
2. The keeper provides an affidavit that the animal is not aggressive and has not harmed a person or another animal prior to being surrendered.
B. Acceptance of unwanted animals is at the discretion of animal control officer or agent and upon space being available at the shelter.
C. The animal control officer may waive the fees described in Section 7.10.050 if the officer determines that the waiver of such fee is reasonably necessary to ensure the humane care of an animal. (Ord. 18-07 § 2 (part), 2019.)
7.20.040 Sale and transfer of animals.
It is unlawful to purchase, sell, or give away any animal known, or should reasonably be known, to be unweaned, diseased, injured or otherwise physically defective without first disclosing to the buyer or recipient the nature of the disease, injury or defect. (Ord. 18-07 § 2 (part), 2019.)
7.20.050 Wolf hybrids prohibited.
It is unlawful to own, possess, keep, maintain, harbor, transport, sell or advertise for sale any wolf hybrid within city boundaries except as provided under 5 AAC 92.030 and any wolf hybrid that bites a human shall be immediately euthanized and its head submitted for rabies testing. (Ord. 18-07 § 2 (part), 2019.)