Sec. 3-35. - Dog license; fees; penalty; senior citizen discount.

(a)

Every owner or keeper of a dog shall annually in the month of April cause that dog to be licensed from the ensuing May 1 in the office of the city clerk; and shall pay the city clerk for the license, so issued, $10.00. Additionally, there shall be a $1.00 surcharge for each dog license issued by the municipality which shall be deposited in the city's spay/neuter account to fund low-cost spay/neuter programs. In addition, the municipality shall charge an additional fee of $2.00 per license, that fee to be used exclusively by the city for the enforcement of laws pertaining to animals; for a total of $13.00 per dog license {R.I.G.L. 4-13.1-9(d)}; with the exception of senior citizens who shall, upon proof that they have attained the age of 65 years, pay the sum of $5.00 for said license. All licenses issued shall be valid in every city or town during the then current year; provided that any person, who shall become the owner or keeper of a dog, shall cause such dog to be licensed as aforesaid within 30 days after the person becomes the owner or keeper; provided further, that the city clerk shall not issue any license under this section unless the dog has been inoculated against rabies for the period during which such license would be valid, and has provided proof that the dog has been spayed or neutered, or has a written report from a licensed veterinarian stating that the life of the dog would be jeopardized by the spay/neuter surgery and that this health condition is likely to be permanent.

(1)

For any dog not spayed or neutered the fees above shall not apply. Any owner or keeper of a dog which is not spayed or neutered shall be required instead to get an intact dog license. Any owner or keeper of an intact dog shall annually in the month of April cause that dog to be licensed from the ensuing May 1 in the office of the city clerk; and shall pay the city clerk for the license, so issued, $30.00. Additionally, there shall be a $1.00 surcharge for each dog license issued by the municipality which shall be deposited in the city's spay/neuter account to fund low-cost spay/neuter programs. In addition, the municipality shall charge an additional fee of $2.00 per license, that fee to be used exclusively by the city for the enforcement of laws pertaining to animals; for a total of $33.00 per intact dog license; with the exception of senior citizens who shall, upon proof that they have attained the age of 65 years, pay the sum of $15.00 for said license. All licenses issued shall be valid in every city or town during the then current year; provided that any person, who shall become the owner or keeper of a dog, shall cause such dog to be licensed as aforesaid within 30 days after the person becomes the owner or keeper; provided further, that the city clerk shall not issue any license under this section unless the dog has been inoculated against rabies for the period during which such license would be valid.

(b)

Every person, owner or keeper of a dog not licensed and/or not collared according to the provisions of this chapter, shall be fined pursuant to section 3-16, and that fine shall be in addition to all other lawful fees.

(Ch. 449, § I, 5-6-08)

Cross reference— Dog licenses, G.L. 1956, § 4-13-4; § 4-24-9; § 4-13.1-9(d).