A. Prohibition; Definition: It shall be unlawful for any person to keep or harbor a fierce or vicious animal. For the purpose of this section, the term "vicious animal" shall mean any animal that, without provocation, bites or attacks humans or other animals, or in a vicious or terrorizing manner approaches any person or other animal in an apparent attack posture whether or not the attack is consummated, or any dog that has been trained for dog/animal fighting, or any dog that is kept for the purpose of dog/animal fights.
B. Keeping For Fighting Or Attacking: No person shall possess or harbor or maintain care or custody of any dog for the purpose of dogfighting, nor shall any person train, torment, badger, bait, or use any dog for the purpose of causing or encouraging the dog to attack human beings or other domestic animals. (1980 Code § 19-37)
C. Police Or Guard Dogs:
1. Exception: Subsections A and B of this section shall not apply to police canines or to guard dogs as defined in section 5-8-1 of this chapter.
2. Confinement; Warning Signs:
a. Guard dogs shall be confined to an enclosed area adequate to ensure that they will not escape or shall be under the absolute control of a handler at all times when not securely enclosed.
b. The owner shall post warning signs next to all exterior doors or gates which state that such a dog is on the premises. Such warning signs shall be clearly visible from a distance of fifty feet (50'). (1980 Code § 19-37; amd. 2015 Code)
D. Removal Of Animal From City:
1. A person harboring or keeping a vicious animal may have the animal removed from the city.
2. If the animal is again found within the city or if the person chooses not to remove it from the city, an animal control officer shall immediately seize such vicious animal which shall be held for seven (7) days. If by the end of the impoundment period, the person keeping, harboring, or sheltering said vicious animal has not petitioned the court seeking return of the animal, the animal shelter shall euthanize the animal. (1980 Code § 19-37)
E. Violations; Penalties: A person violating subsections A and B of this section shall be guilty of a simple misdemeanor and shall be subject to penalty as provided in section 1-4-1 of this code. In addition, the court may order the destruction or other disposition of the animal involved. (2008 Code § 19-37; amd. 2015 Code)