(a) No person shall cruelly mistreat, abandon or withhold from a domestic animal food, water , shelter that protects from the elements , exercise or medical treatment , necessary to sustain normal health and fitness or to end suffering or abandon any domesticated animal to die, or intentionally, knowingly or recklessly leave an animal unattended and confined in a motor vehicle when physical injury to or death of the animal is likely to result, or ride an animal when it is physically unfit, or bait or harass any animal for the purpose of making it perform for a person's amusement, or cruelly chain, tether or confine outside any animal or use, train or possess any domesticated animal for the purpose of seizing, detaining or maltreating any other domesticated animal.
(b) Exceptions. Nothing in subsection (a) of this section shall be deemed to prohibit:
(1) Any action by licensed veterinarian done in accordance with accepted standards of veterinary care.
(2) Any action taken by a law enforcement officer pursuant to the interests of public health and safety.
(3) Any act done in self-defense or done to defend another person or animal.
(4) Any action to train domesticated animals using customary and accepted methods.
(Ord. 13-23. Passed 9-19-13.)