(A) The owner or responsible person shall follow all parts of this chapter.
(B) The owner or responsible person shall attach a current rabies tag, city license and permanent identification to their dog or cat collar with the owner's name or phone number at all times when off the owner or responsible person's property, unless the animal is microchipped and the microchip registration is up to date and valid. Rabies vaccinations must be kept up to date in the owner's name.
(C) The owner or responsible person shall maintain proof of rabies vaccination or, alternatively, the name of a veterinarian who possesses proof of rabies vaccination.
(D) It shall be unlawful for an animal to run at large. A third violation of running at large by an unaltered animal shall result in mandatory spaying/neutering of the animal, at the owner's expense.
(E) It shall be unlawful to harbor or maintain animals in such a condition as to create unhealthful or unsanitary conditions for humans or animals occupying the premises.
(F) It is unlawful for a person to abuse any animal.
(G) It is unlawful for a person to leave an animal unattended in a standing or parked vehicle when the outdoor temperature is greater than a heat index of 75ºF or under a wind chill of 50ºF. If the Animal Protection Officer or police officer determine the animal is in immediate danger, they may remove the animal by whatever means is necessary without liability, for the purpose of taking the animal into protective custody.
(H) It is unlawful for an animal to be transported in the open bed of a pickup truck or other open-topped vehicle, except when the animal is secured inside a crate or kennel or is secured by a leash or tether sufficiently short to keep the animal inside the pickup box or other open-topped vehicle at all times. No person shall transport an animal in a box, container, or cage without proper ventilation and proper space requirements for that animal. No animal shall be transported behind a vehicle with use of a trailer hitch mount or any type of carrier outside or off the rear of the vehicle.
(I) It is unlawful for any owner, custodian or person exercising control of any animal to permit or allow such animal to discharge feces or waste matter on any property in which such person has no proprietary interest. In the event any such animal does discharge or deposit such matter in such a location, and the owner, custodian or person exercising control of the animal is present or otherwise observes or becomes aware of the same, such person shall immediately remove and lawfully dispose of such matter. It is unlawful for the owner or responsible person to permit excrement or droppings from said animal to collect on the premises of said person, causing odor or unsanitary conditions.
(J) It is unlawful for any owner to not provide adequate grooming when necessary to avoid disease and ensure the animal's coat is healthy.
(K) It is unlawful for the owner or responsible person exercising control of an animal to allow or permit such animal to cause serious annoyance or disturbance to any person or persons by frequent or habitual howling, yelping, barking or otherwise; by running after or chasing persons, bicycles, automobiles or other vehicles.
(L) A rabies vaccination is required for any cat or dog over four months of age in accordance with the Compendium of Animals Rabies Control as compiled by the National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians, Inc. All vaccines used shall be of a type approved by Iowa Department of Health. Any animal for whom a veterinarian has provided an exemption statement that a rabies vaccination would be detrimental to the animal's health shall be exempt from the provisions of this section, until such time as a veterinarian opines the exemption is no longer applicable. The applicability of any exemption must be proven by the owner wherever proof of rabies is requested by the city.
(M) The city shall distribute to all licensed or established shelters, breeders, veterinarians, pet stores, and pet adoption businesses or pet adoption non profit agencies the substance of this section and encourage widespread dissemination of the same to all owners and responsible persons coming in contact with any of the above referenced entities.
(Ord. 2657, passed 10-13-2020)