(a) Any owner of a dangerous animal as defined in Section 506.03 on the effective date of this chapter who intends to keep such dangerous animal within the City shall have 90 days, from the effective date of this chapter to register such dangerous animal with the Director of Public Safety or his or her designee. The fee of such registration shall be fifty dollars ($50.00). Registration shall take place annually thereafter. Registration shall include providing the name and contact information of the owner of the dangerous animal, the location where the dangerous animal shall be kept, and any other information deemed necessary to ensure the safety of the public by the Director of Public Safety or his or her designee. Registration shall be rejected and the dangerous animal shall be removed from the City if the owner fails to show proof annually of compliance with the following conditions:
(1) That the dangerous animal has been implanted with a microchip or similar device approved by the Director of Public Safety, for purposes of identification. Such information contained on the device shall be maintained in a database by the Division of Animal Control along with a photograph of the dangerous animal;
(2) That the owner has obtained liability insurance with an insurer authorized to write liability insurance in the State, providing coverage for each occurrence, subject to a limit, exclusive of interest and costs, of not less than one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000), because of damage or bodily injury to, or death of, a human being caused by the animal, and that such insurance policy is paid in full for the entire period of registration.
(b) The following terms, conditions and restrictions shall apply to the handling of a dangerous animal registered pursuant to this chapter:
(1) The dangerous animal, while on the premises of its owner or custodian, shall be confined indoors or in a securely enclosed pen or “dog run” area which shall have sides six feet high and a secure top, and its bottom secured to its sides or imbedded at least one foot into the ground;
(2) The dangerous animal, while off the premises of its owner or custodian, shall be securely muzzled, leashed with a chain not longer than three feet having tensile strength of not less than 300 pounds, and under the control of a person 18 years of age or older who is physically capable of restraining the animal;
(3) Any government or utility company employee and anyone else who comes on the property, with implied consent or peaceably and lawfully, shall immediately be informed of the animal's dangerousness.
(c) The owner of a dangerous animal shall immediately notify the Director of Public Safety or his or her designee of the change of any information contained in the registration of the dangerous animal, including but not limited to a change in the address where the animal is kept and if the animal has been removed from the City.
(d) Registration of the dangerous animal shall be revoked and such animal shall immediately be removed from the City and cannot be returned upon the occurrence of any of the following:
(1) The dangerous animal bites any person or other animal;
(2) Failure to comply with any provision of this chapter;
(3) Removal of the dangerous animal for more than seven calendar days from the City except for a reasonable period to permit boarding where the owner is unavailable to care for the animal, where the owner elects to travel with the animal in lieu of boarding, or when seeking medical attention by a licensed veterinarian for the animal;
An order to remove a dangerous animal shall be issued by the Director of Public Safety or his or her designee upon conviction of a violation of this chapter by a court of competent jurisdiction or by a finding that any circumstance in Section 506.04(d) has occurred by the Director of Public Safety or his or her designee after a hearing.
(e) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 506.01, any owner of a dangerous animal, except for those defined in Section 506.03, may keep such dangerous animal within the City after 90 days from the effective date of this chapter, provided that the owner adheres to all lawful orders of the Director of Public Safety or his or her designee which are deemed necessary to ensure the safety of the public, including but not limited to any precautions identified in Section 506.04(a) and (b).
(Ord. 9596-2009. Passed 6-29-09.)