(A) No person shall harbor, hold for sale, sell, keep, or maintain in the town any dangerous animal or attack dog, unless:
(1) Such person or entity shall first submit a written application for and obtain from the Animal Control Agency a dangerous animal/attack dog permit, which application shall be accompanied by a current photograph of the animal being registered, and written proof of liability insurance in the minimum sum of $300,000;
(2) The dangerous animal/attack dog owner at all times maintains liability insurance covering possible injury or damages caused by said dog in a minimum amount of $300,000 coverage, and written agreement that the Code Enforcement Department will be notified within 24 hours, excluding Sundays and holidays, in the event that said insurance coverage is canceled or discontinued;
(3) The dangerous animal/attack dog is at all times confined in an escape-proof enclosure which protects the public from coming into direct contact with the dangerous animal/attack dog;
(4) The dangerous animal/attack dog, when not confined, is muzzled and reined or tethered to its master, owner, or keeper, who must be over the age of 18 years and who, at all times, must maintain control over the animal to prevent injury to any person or animal;
(5) The dangerous animal/attack dog, at all times, wears the registration tag issued by the town designating said animal as a registered dangerous animal/attack dog;
(6) If, in the event that the animal is lost or escapes, the same will be reported immediately to the town and to the town’s designated Animal Control Agency; and
(7) The property on which the dangerous animal/attack dog is kept is posted with signs clearly visible from the closest street advising the general public that a dangerous animal/attack dog is on the premises.
(B) Upon licensing a dog hereunder, the Animal Control Agency shall assign a specific number of ownership to said dog without duplication. This number shall be tattooed on and through the skin on the inside of the rear leg of said dog. The tattooing shall be done by a licensed veterinarian and shall be made by use of permanent tattoo ink. The tattoo shall be not less than one inch long and not less than one-quarter inch high. A person, corporation, club, or organization shall not tattoo any number over or upon the number tattooed on a dog pursuant to this section so as to deface the number, nor shall any such person or organization remove or otherwise deface the number tattooed on a dog pursuant to this section so as to deface the number or prevent identification of the dog.
(C) Duly authorized members of the police or other law enforcement department, including, but not limited to, game wardens, conservation officers, and other law enforcement officers, shall be exempt from the provisions of this section in the performance of their law enforcement duties.
(1996 Code, § 71.23) (Ord. 2002-4, passed 5-1-2002) Penalty, see § 90.999