Title
An Ordinance to Amend Section 9:46 of Chapter 107 (Animals - Dog Licenses) of Title IX of The Code of The City of Ann Arbor (ORD-21-08)
Memorandum
The Dog Law of 1919 requires that all dogs in the State of Michigan be vaccinated against rabies and licensed locally as a method to provide proof of vaccination. The law offers several options for dog licensing throughout the year. Currently, the City’s dog license tags all expire at one time on May 30 of each year. Options are available for 1, 2 or 3-year tags at the City Clerk’s Office.
Staff is recommending several changes to the existing ordinance to better serve dog owners and to improve customer service and efficiency. The proposed changes would allow dog owners to purchase tags at any time of the year, corresponding with their pet’s rabies vaccination month. Expiration of the new tags would be on the same month as the rabies expiration. Tags would be sold as either one or three-year options, which corresponds with rabies expiration dates, and complies with State law. The current two-year option would be eliminated. Staff recommends adoption of this ordinance, noting that issuance of licenses year-round will eliminate the annual backlog that occurs with one single expiration date. Existing fees for one and three-year tags would remain as previously approved, which match the rates charged by the County Treasurer.
Staff
Prepared by: Jacqueline Beaudry, City Clerk
Reviewed by: John Reiser, Assistant City Attorney
Reviewed by: John Fournier, Assistant City Administrator
Approved by: Tom Crawford, City Administrator
Body
See Attached Ordinance