A. No dog or cat over the age of three (3) months shall be kept, harbored, or maintained within the Town of Parachute unless such animal’s owner has the dog or cat inoculated by a licensed veterinarian, obtains a vaccination certificate from the veterinarian, and also obtains from the Town Clerk a license for each dog. Such vaccination and licensing shall be performed before January 1st of each year, and licenses shall be issued by the Town Clerk for the period of January 1st through December 31st of each year. Any person who acquires or harbors any dog or cat shall, within fourteen (14) days after acquiring such animal, have the same inoculated and, if required, licensed.

B. The provisions of this section shall not be intended to apply to dogs and cats whose owners are nonresidents temporarily within the Town, nor dogs and cats brought into the Town for the purpose of participating in any animal show, field trial or race, nor to seeing-eye dogs properly trained to assist blind persons, when such dogs are actually being used by blind persons for the purpose of aiding them in going from place to place. For purposes of this section, a person shall be deemed a resident if he remains in the Town of Parachute for a period of thirty-two (32) days.

C. All dogs or cats which are brought into the Town of Parachute by a resident shall be in compliance with the laws and rules and regulations of the state of Colorado regarding the handling of the animals, and shall have been vaccinated not less than thirty (30) days, nor more than twelve (12) months prior to importation. A metal tag denoting vaccination shall be firmly affixed to the collar or harness of the dog, and shall be evidence of compliance with this section.

If the imported dog or cat has not had such vaccination when imported, such animal shall be vaccinated in accordance with the provisions of this chapter within fourteen (14) days of its importation, subject to the exceptions provided for above. If an imported dog remains in the Town more than thirty (30) days, the dog shall also be licensed in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.

D. All imported dogs shall also be licensed in accordance with the provisions of this chapter within fourteen (14) days of importation, subject to the exceptions provided for above, or upon obtaining a license from another municipality within the State of Colorado.

E. Any person who knowingly keeps any dog or cat within the Town of Parachute which has not been vaccinated against rabies, and licensed, as required in this chapter, commits a noncriminal municipal offense. (Ord. 529 §1, 2005; Amended Ord. 792 §5, 2021)