Any animal that has bitten a person when unprovoked may be deemed vicious if:
(A) The person bitten files a criminal complaint for the purpose of having the animal declared vicious;
(B) If an animal bites or attempts to bite a human, the animal shall be impounded at the County Animal Shelter for quarantine period. After an animal has been impounded at the County Animal Shelter three times within a 365-day period for the purpose of quarantine, the Director of the County Animal Shelter may petition to have the animal declared a vicious animal;
(C) It shall be unlawful for any person to keep or harbor within the limits of the county an animal known to be vicious unless it is at all times kept on the owner’s or harborer’s property securely confined indoors or in a securely enclosed and locked outdoor pen or shelter suitable to prevent the entry of persons other than the owner of the animal and designed to prevent the animal from escaping. Such pen or structure must have minimum dimensions of five feet by ten feet, must have secure sides and must be at least seven feet high, and have a secure top. If it has no concrete, cement, or asphalt bottom, the sides must be imbedded into the ground no less than two feet. The enclosure must also provide protection from the elements for the animal. A vicious animal shall be transported to or from the indoors and the securely enclosed and locked outdoor pen or shelter only if such animal is muzzled and restrained by a suitable chain or leash not exceeding six feet in length and under the control of a responsible adult. The muzzle must be made in a manner that it will not cause injury to the animal or interfere with its vision or respiration but will prevent the animal from biting any person or animal;
(D) A vicious animal shall be permitted off the owner’s or harborer’s property only if such animal is muzzled and restrained by a substantial chain or leash not exceeding six feet in length and under the control of a responsible adult and only for the purposes authorized by KRS 258.235. The muzzle must be made in a manner that will not cause injury to the animal or interfere with its vision or respiration but must prevent the animal from biting any person or animal;
(E) When any animal is required by this section to be confined, it shall also be required that a conspicuous notice be posted at the place of confinement of such a nature as to warn the public of the nature of the animal therein confined; or
(F) No person under the age of 18 years shall be permitted to own, harbor, or handle a vicious animal.
(Ord. 2015-11, passed 1-13-2016) Penalty, see § 92.99