(a)   No person shall own, keep or harbor any dog within the city limits after it has reached the age of twelve (12) weeks unless such dog is licensed as provided in this section. Written application for such license shall be made to the city clerk and shall state the name and address of the owner and the name, breed, age, color and sex of the dog. The license fee then due, if an, shall be paid at the time of making application, a numbered receipt given to the applicant, and a numbered tag shall be issued to the owner.

(b)   No dog license shall be issued by the city until the license applicant exhibits to the city clerk a certificate or writing signed by a veterinarian clearly demonstrating that the dog for which the license is being sought has been vaccinated against rabies by such veterinarian and the date when such dog must be revaccinated. No license shall be issued unless the certificate or writing shall clearly demonstrate that the dog is effectively vaccinated against rabies.

(c)   It shall be unlawful for any person to use or attempt to use any false information or altered certificate of spaying or vaccination to obtain a dog license under this division, or to exhibit to the city clerk for the purpose of obtaining a license a certificate of the spaying or vaccination of a dog other than the dog for which the license is sought.

(d)   All dog licenses shell be issued for one year beginning January 1.

(e)   If a license tag issued for a dog shall be lost, the owner may obtain a duplicate tag upon the payment of $5.

(f)   No person shall use for any dog a license receipt or license tag issued for another dog.

(g)   Hospitals, clinics, and other premises operated by licensed veterinarians for the care and treatment of animals are exempt from the provisions of this division, except where such duties are expressly stated.

(h)   The licensing requirements of this division shall not apply to any dog belonging to a nonresident of the city and kept within the city for no longer than 30 days, provided that all such dogs shall at all times while in the city be kept within a building, enclosure or vehicle, or be under restrain by the owner

(i)    There shall be issued to the owner of every licensed dog a numbered tag, stamped with the number and the year for which it is issued.

(j)    Every owner is required to see that the tag is securely fastened to the dog’s chain, color, or harness, which must be worn by the dog at all times when the dog is in the city limits.

(Ord. 528 § 1, 1968; Code 2016; Code 2021)

All dogs in the city shall be vaccinated against rabies. Such vaccination shall be the type to protect such dogs from rabies and as generally and customarily prescribed by a doctor of veterinary medicine. All owners of dogs in the City shall keep the rabies vaccination current and up to date.

(Ord. 528 § 2, 1968; Code 2016)

It is unlawful for any owner or person in charge of any dog to permit any such dog to run at large within the city; provided, that any dog kept securely tied or kept within the private premises of the owner or person in charge of such dog, or led by a chain, rope or strap by some person in charge of such dog shall not be deemed to be running at large.

(Ord. 528 § 3, 1968)

(a)   It shall be the duty of the police officers of said city to take into custody and impound any dog found running at large in said city, or any dog which is not bearing a current license tag issued by the city, or any dog for which a current certificate of inoculation has not been issued by a licensed veterinarian for such dog, or is all cases where the owner keeper, or harborer of said dog fails, neglects or refuses to produce such current certificate on demand.

(b)   Each dog so taken shall remain impounded for no more than three full days unless sooner reclaimed as hereinafter provided.  During said three day period upon request to the City Office by a person seeking to reclaim a dog so impounded and furnishing satisfactory proof to the Chief of Police or officer acting for him, that the claimant is the owner of entitled to the possession of said dog, it shall be delivered to the claimant at the place of impoundment upon payment to the City of Belleville of the following fees:  $10.00, plus the sum of $15.00 per day or a fraction thereof for feeding and care, for the first reclaiming of said dog; or $20.00 plus the sum of $15.00 per day or a fraction thereof for feeding and care for the second, and for each subsequent reclaiming of the same dog, if it is owned or was in the possession of the same person or a person in the same immediate family, as when last previously impounded.

(c)   If the City of Belleville, at any given time, does not have sufficient or available facilities to house a dog, it will be the officer’s discretion to impound the dog.  The officer may contact facilities in surrounding communities for available space, with the City being charged that facilities’ current rates for housing.  In the event no space is available, the animal will remain at large, with the exception of incidents involving a bite and aggressive or destructive behavior.  In those cases, temporary holding of the animal will be utilized until other arrangements can be made.

(Ord. 674 § 1; Ord. 528 § 4; Ord. 794; Ord. 917; Ord. 955; Code 2016; Code 2021)

In order to capture or subdue any dog so being taken into custody, police officers are authorized to employ all necessary proper and humane means, including the injection of drugs by projectile or otherwise to temporarily quiet or immobilize such dog.

(Ord. 528 § 6, 1968)

If any impounded dog shall not be claimed and the required sums paid as above provided within the three-day period, the City will make any effort to find the animal a suitable home, otherwise, the animal may be killed in a humane manner. The animal may be sold by the City to any person for any sum he deems reasonable, and the proceeds paid into the city general fund.

(Ord. 528 § 5, 1968; Code 2016)

It is unlawful for any person, other than a duly authorized officer, to break open or attempt to break open the dog pound, or to take or release from the pound any dog kept therein, or to interfere or attempt to interfere with or hinder the performance by any police officer of the city of any of his duties under this chapter.

(Ord. 528 § 7, 1968)

Any owner, applicant or other person found guilty of violating any of the terms of this chapter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall, upon conviction therefor, be subject to a fine of no less than fifty dollars nor more than five hundred dollars, plus court costs, and shall in addition thereto be liable and responsible to any person who suffers or sustains any personal injury or damages because of such dog.

(Ord. 528 § 8, 1968; Code 2016)