§ 5-26. Prohibited animal permit, permit fees.

(a)

[Permit required.] A person commits an offense if he owns, possesses, exhibits, sells or harbors a prohibited animal within the city without a permit.

(b)

[Defense to prosecution.] It shall be a defense to prosecution under subsection (a) above that the owner or possessor:

(1)

Holds a valid prohibited animal permit issued under this section; or

(2)

Is a governmental entity.

(c)

[Permits.] A permit for the possession of one or more prohibited animals at a single location may be issued only to:

(1)

A zoo open to the public;

(2)

A research institution;

(3)

A member of a nonprofit wildlife society involved in education or research;

(4)

An individual currently in accordance with state and/or federal guidelines;

(5)

An animal exhibition, rodeo or circus, of which the animal is an integral part;

(6)

A nonprofit animal rehabilitation organization currently in accordance with state and/or federal guidelines.

(d)

Prohibited animal permits—Classification.

(1)

A temporary prohibited animal permit may be issued to a person providing prohibited animals for animal exhibitions on one or more occasions during a 12-month period. The permit is valid for one month from the date of issuance.

(2)

A permanent prohibited animal permit may be issued to a research institution, an individual researcher, or a member of a nonprofit wildlife society involved in education or research. The permit is valid for one year from the date of issuance.

(e)

[Change in location of permitted animal.] A person holding a prohibited animal permit shall notify the animal control division immediately in writing of any change in the permitted location for the animal. This requirement does not apply to the transporting of the animals:

(1)

In or out of the city,

(2)

To or from a veterinary clinic.

(f)

[Fees.] The fees for a prohibited animal permit are set forth in schedule A [article VIII] at the end of this chapter.

(g)

[Nontransferable, nonrefundable.] A prohibited animal permit is nontransferable and the permit fee is nonrefundable.

(h)

[Fee waiver.] Permit fee may be waived for a charitable, nonprofit organization.

(Ord. No. 10-1843, § 1, 1-5-2010)