(A) No animal shall run at large in the city. Any animal found so running at large shall be impounded by the Chief of Police and the owner or person having possession of the animal and allowing it to run at large shall be guilty of a violation of this section. The herding or picketing of animals upon unenclosed land without the consent of the owner or person having control of the land, or in or upon any street, alley, parkway, public ground or railway lands in the city, shall be deemed running at large.
(B) In the case of a dog or a cat, whenever such an animal is found upon any public street, alley, sidewalk, parkway or unenclosed place, it shall be deemed running at large, unless the dog or cat is firmly held on a leash or is in an enclosed vehicle.
(C) In the event any dog is deemed running at large and, without provocation, chases or approaches any person in an apparent attitude of attack, on any public property or in any place outside or over the boundaries of its owner’s property, the dog may be declared aggressive by the Chief of Police after a review of the facts in each case.
(1) Once a dog has been declared aggressive, notice of the declaration shall be served upon the owner of record within three days following aggressive dog declaration.
(2) Upon receipt of notice of aggressive dog declaration, the owner may request a hearing regarding the determination by providing written notice to the Chief of Police within five days following receipt of aggressive dog declaration. Upon receipt by the Chief of Police, the request for hearing shall be forwarded to the Mayor for the scheduling of an administrative hearing before the Mayor or his or her designee. The determination of the Mayor or his or her designee is final.
(D) In the event any dog is declared aggressive, the owner, within ten business days of the declaration, must procure and maintain in effect liability insurance, including coverage of claims arising from conduct of the owner’s animal, in an amount not less than $100,000. The insurance shall include a provision whereby the city is a holder of the policy and the policy shall not be allowed to expire or be cancelled without at least 30 days’ notice to the city and the Chief of Police. Additionally, any dog declared aggressive must, while off of the owner’s property, be muzzled and restrained by a substantial chain or leash, not exceeding four feet in length.
(Ord. 07-55, passed 10-23-2007)