618.12 NUISANCE CONDITIONS PROHIBITED.

   (a)   No person shall keep or harbor any animal or fowl in the Municipality so as to create offensive odors, excessive noise or unsanitary conditions which are a menace to the health, comfort or safety of the public, or otherwise permit the commission or existence of a nuisance as hereinafter defined.

     (b)     Any animal which by biting or frequent or habitual barking, howling or yelping which constitutes a violation(s) of Section 618.07, or which in any way or manner injures or disturbs the quiet of any person or the community, or which disturbs or endangers the comfort, repose or health of persons, is hereby declared to be committing a nuisance.  It shall be unlawful for any owner, keeper or harborer of such animal to harbor or permit it to commit such nuisance.

   (c)   Any animal which scratches, digs, urinates or defecates upon any lawn, tree, shrub, plant, building or other public or private property, other than the property of the owner, keeper or harborer of such animal, is hereby declared to be a nuisance.

   (d)   No person, being the owner, keeper or harborer of any animal shall allow or permit such animal to commit a nuisance upon any school grounds, City park or other public property, or upon any private property other than that of the owner, keeper or harborer of such animal, without the permission of the owner of such property.  Where the owner, keeper or harborer of such animal immediately removes all feces deposited by such animal and disposes of same in a sanitary manner, such nuisance shall be considered abated.

   (e)   No person, being an owner, tenant, agent, occupant, or person in control of any property, shall cause or knowingly permit a nuisance by providing food for or feeding any stray dog, cat or other wildlife, including but not limited to, birds, water fowl, raccoons, opossums, skunks, rabbits, deer, and coyotes whether or not it creates an unsanitary condition; cause inconvenience, discomfort, or damage to another; or endanger the comfort, repose, health or safety of others; or in any way render other persons insecure in life or in the use of their property.

      (1)   This section does not apply to song birds fed from a stationary and off-ground/hanging bird feeder;

      (2)   This section shall not apply to a law enforcement officer, game officer or conservation officer enforcing the laws of the State of Ohio, or any local ordinances, nor to anyone officially authorized by the City to engage in an animal control program, including, without limitation, a feral cap Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Return Program or similar program.

      (3)   The City may also initiate a civil action in an appropriate court for injunctive and other relief for a violation of this section.

         (Ord. 2019-93.  Passed 8-5-19.)