(A) It is unlawful for the owner, custodian or 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.
(1) Three or more separate episodes of such noise in a sequential 30-day period shall constitute a violation;
(2) Proof of disturbances shall be in the form of a written complaint to the Animal Protection Officer or designee or using the online ticket system on the city's website, by a person residing or employed in the area affected by the disturbance;
(3) Any such animal deemed a nuisance may be seized and impounded upon three separate episodes which were found to be nuisance violations by a court, either in the form of a finding following trial or guilty plea to charges or citations;
(4) Exceptions to division (A) are commercial pet facilities, farm animals in permitted zones, animal welfare facilities, veterinary hospitals or grooming parlors in compliance with city ordinances including, but not limited to those who can substantiate that such animal noise was caused by an injury or illness of the animal or by willful trespass, torment or abuse of the animals on its property by others.
(B) 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, such person shall immediately remove and lawfully dispose of such matter. It is unlawful for the owner, custodian or person exercising control of the animal to permit excrement or droppings from said animal to collect on the premises of said person, causing odor or unsanitary conditions.
(C) No person shall create a nuisance in the manner of which they care for an animal, including, but not limited to, the creation of noxious odors due to urine and/or feces. Additionally, it shall be a further violation of this section if the urine or feces create noxious gases, such as ammonia, beyond safe limits as recommended by the Iowa Occupational Health and Safety Administration for confined spaces, or which regardless of dangerous concentration,, are in sufficient concentrations to be a nuisance to neighboring property owners.
(D) It is unlawful for any person to feed and water any stray or feral animal. Owners shall only put out food and water sufficient to meet the needs of the animals under their care. For purposes of this chapter, a stray or feral animal is deemed to be an animal that is unowned, unclaimed, or a cat or dog that does not possess a collar, harness or microchip. This provision does not apply to the feeding of wild birds or squirrels.
(Ord. 2485, passed 11-27-2012; Ord. 2657, passed 10-13-2020; Ord. 2746, passed 6-11-2024)
Penalty, see § 10.99