(A) Restraint. Except as herein provided, the owner of an animal within the city shall cause the animal to be restrained at all times.
(B) Animals in heat. The owner of an animal in heat shall confine the animal to the owner’s property, or any veterinary hospital/clinic, in a manner that the animal cannot come into contact with other animals, except for intentional breeding purposes.
(C) Leash required. The owner of an animal within the city shall cause the animal to be restrained by a leash, chain, or a cord of not more than six feet in length and in the custody of a person of sufficient age and maturity to adequately control the animal at all times while in a public place, including, but not limited to, school yards, playgrounds, parks, or streets.
(D) Animal noise. The owner of an animal within the city shall prevent the animal from becoming a nuisance by barking, baying, crying, or howling in any manner for an unreasonable length of time and/or at an unreasonable hour of the day. Persons aggrieved by an animal nuisance may make a complaint pursuant to § 92.02(D). Persons found to have violated the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.
(E) Cleaning up litter.
(1) The owner of an animal shall be responsible for cleaning up any feces of the animal and disposing of the feces in a sanitary manner.
(2) The owner of an animal shall not permit the animal to be on public property, or the private property of another, without having, in the owner’s immediate possession, a device for the removal of feces and a container for the transporting of the excrement to a proper receptacle located on the property of the animal owner.
(3) The owner of an animal shall remove feces left by the animal on public property or private property of another to a proper receptacle located on property of the animal owner.
(F) Animal care. The owner of an animal within the city shall provide the animal with sufficient, wholesome food and water, proper shelter, and protection from weather, veterinary care when needed to prevent suffering, and with humane care and treatment.
(G) Abuse prohibited. No person shall beat, torment, or otherwise abuse an animal, or cause or permit an animal fight.
(H) Guard dogs. A person who uses a dog for security purposes within the city shall post a warning notice at the entrance of the premises.
(I) Impounding and confinement.
(1) The animal control officer, or local law enforcement, may impound any animal running at large in violation of any of the terms of this section.
(2) The animal control officer shall provide proper sustenance and care for all animals impounded.
(3) The animal shall be impounded for not more than ten calendar days, or until claimed by the animal’s owner, whichever occurs first.
(4) Immediately upon impounding animals, reasonable efforts shall be made to notify the owner and inform the owner of the animal’s confinement, and the procedures for release of the animal to the owner.
(5) Any animal impounded hereunder may be reclaimed by the owner of the animal within ten calendar days after the impoundment. Before the owner shall be permitted to recover possession of the animal, the owner shall pay the animal control officer all required fees and costs of impoundment, and show proof of rabies and parvo vaccinations.
(6) An animal which is not redeemed within ten calendar days after impounding may be sold, given to a rescue facility, or disposed of in a sanitary manner by the animal control officer.
(7) Impound and boarding fees shall be determined by the city’s animal control contract.
(8) Proof of rabies and parvo vaccinations shall be presented before an animal is released. If the animal’s vaccinations are not current, the owner must show proof of pre-payment for the vaccinations at a licensed veterinary clinic before the animal is released. All fees must be paid before the animal may be retrieved from the pound.
(9) The owner of an impounded animal is responsible for all costs related to the impound and/or boarding of the animal. If the owner chooses not to retrieve the animal from the animal control officer, he or she may sign a release/waiver to the ten-day holding requirement.
(J) Breaking pound. No person shall break open, aid or assist, counsel or advise, the breaking open of the pound, or take or let out, or attempt to take or let out, any animal legally placed therein except the same be done by an officer duly authorized by law.
(Ord. 275, passed 12-1-2015) Penalty, see § 92.99