§ 90.127 KEEPING STRAY ANIMALS.

   (A)   It shall be unlawful for any person in the county knowingly and intentionally to harbor, feed, keep in possession by confinement, or otherwise allow to remain on his or her property, any animal which does not belong to him or her, unless he or she has, within 72 hours from the time the animal came into his or her possession, notified the animal control office or person designated by the Health Director. Upon receiving the notice, the animal control officers may take the animal and place it in an animal shelter and shall deal with it as provided by the animal shelter policy.

   (B)   It shall be unlawful for any person to refuse to surrender any stray animal to animal control or any person duly authorized by the Health Director, or his or her designee, upon demand.

   (C)   Any person or organization who fails to notify the county animal control officer, or any person designated by the Health Director, within 72 hours of coming into possession of an animal that does not belong to him or her, shall be deemed the temporary custodian of the animal, and shall be subject to compliance with all provisions of this chapter.

(Ord. passed 10-6-2008) Penalty, see § 90.999

PERMITS

§ 90.140 SECURITY DOGS.

   (A)   It shall be unlawful to keep, maintain, or use any dog in the county for the purpose of protecting any commercial or industrial property, or person on the property, unless a permit has first been obtained from the Health Director, in accordance with the provisions of this section, and unless the permit shall remain unsuspended and unrevoked. A warning sign shall be posted near entrances and exits to property declaring a security dog is present.

   (B)   It shall be unlawful to keep, maintain, or use any patrol or security dog in the county for the purpose of protecting any residential property, or person on the property, unless a permit has first been obtained from the Health Director, in accordance with the provisions of this section, and unless the permit shall remain unsuspended and unrevoked.

   (C)   The Board of Health shall promulgate regulations and a fee schedule for the issuance of permits, and shall include requirements for humane care of all security dogs, and for the compliance with this section and other applicable laws. The Board of Health may amend the regulations from time to time as deemed appropriate for public health and welfare and for the protection of security dogs.

   (D)   The Health Director may revoke any permit if the person holding the permit refuses or fails to comply with this chapter, the regulations promulgated by the Board of Health, or any other applicable law.

   (E)   Regulation standards include keeping the animal in an enclosure with a fence six feet high, or higher, if the animal control officer, considering the history, size, and strength of the dog, determines a higher fence is necessary, and a warning sign (i.e., “Security Dog On Premises”) which must be visible from 20 feet on all sides of the fence. The owner is required to notify the animal control officer immediately if the dog gets loose or attacks a person or another animal.

(Ord. passed 10-6-2008) Penalty, see § 90.999

§ 90.141 COLLECTING FOR RESALE.

   (A)   It shall be unlawful for any person to collect any dog or cat for the purpose of resale unless a permit for the same shall have been obtained from the Health Director in accordance with the provisions of this section, and unless the permit remains unsuspended and unrevoked, in addition to a valid U.S.D.A. license pursuant to the Federal Animal Welfare Act (7 U.S.C. §§ 2131 et seq.).

   (B)   The Board of Health shall promulgate regulations and a fee schedule for the issuance of permits, and shall include requirements for humane care and transportation of all cats and dogs for the compliance with the provisions of this chapter and other applicable laws. The Board of Health may recommend changes to the regulations from time to time as deemed appropriate for public health and welfare, and for the protection of collected dogs and cats, not inconsistent with state or federal laws.

   (C)   The Health Director may revoke any permit if the person holding the permit refuses or fails to comply with this chapter, the regulations promulgated by the Board of Health, or any state or federal law governing the protection and keeping of animals.

(Ord. passed 10-6-2008) Penalty, see § 90.999

§ 90.142 SPAY OR NEUTER OF ADOPTED ANIMALS.

   Any group, organization, or entity offering animals for adoption in the county must provide proof of sterilization for every animal, six months of age or over, and prior to adoption. Any adult animal must be spayed or neutered prior to being placed into a home.

(Ord. passed 10-6-2008)