(A) An owner shall confine animals in such a manner as to avoid injury to the animals or to others and to ensure compliance with all aspects of this chapter, including but not limited to access to adequate food, adequate water, and easy access to adequate shelter, and adequate protection from the elements.
(B) An owner using a fenced yard to confine an animal must ensure the fence is of sufficient height, condition and security to prevent escape or removal of the animal.
(C) An owner using an enclosure to confine the animal must:
(1) Use a secure enclosure constructed of chain link or similar material with all four sides enclosed;
(2) Use an enclosure of sufficient height to prevent the animal from escaping from such enclosure and cover the enclosure with adequate materials to provide the animal with adequate shelter and shade and adequate protection from the elements;
(3) Ensure the width of the enclosure is at least twice the length of the animal and the length of the enclosure is at least four times the length of the animal, as measured from the tip of its nose to the base of its tail. The area of the enclosure shall be 50% larger for each additional animal, using the length of the largest animal as the base measurement. Size requirements do not include space taken by a doghouse, shelter or similar structure whether inside or outside the enclosure. Each additional animal must be provided its own individual adequate shelter.
(D) An owner may use a chain or tether to restrain an animal under the following conditions:
(1) No animal shall be restrained by a chain or tether for more than eight hours in a 24-hour period.
(2) The chain or tether must be at least ten feet in length or three times the length of the animal, whichever is longer, as measured from the tip of the nose to the base of the tail.
(3) The chain or tether must be attached to a stable, fixed object and to a properly fitting collar or harness worn by the animal, and said collar or harness shall not be a choke or pronged collar.
(4) The chain or tether shall not weigh more than one-eighth of the animal's body weight.
(5) The chain or tether must have swivels on both ends.
(6) Chaining or tethering must be done in a manner to prevent the animal or tether from becoming entangled with other objects or animals or from extending over an object or edge that could result in strangulation or injury to the animal.
(7) Chaining or tethering must be done in a manner to permit the animal to consume adequate food and adequate water and access to adequate shelter.
(8) The chained or tethered animal must not permit the animal to leave the property of the owner, nor allow the animal to pass onto, over or across any public sidewalk, street, alley or private property other than the owner's.
(E) It is unlawful for the owner of an animal to allow or permit such animal to pass upon the premises of another thereby causing damage to, or interference with, the premises of another.
(F) It is unlawful for any person to allow an animal to run at large within the city. The fact that the animal is running at large without the knowledge or permission of the owner is not a defense to a violation of this section.
(G) Animals walked on a leash may be restrained with choke or pronged collars if the animal requires said collars for appropriate and safe control, and where no injury to the animal will result.
(H) All animals on city-owned property such as parks, in city owned buildings, and bike paths must be on a leash, with the exception of Law Enforcement K-9s. However, animals may be off their leashes in areas officially delineated by the city as official dog parks.
(Ord. 2485, passed 11-27-2012; Ord. 2657, passed 10-13-2020; Ord. 2746, passed 6-11-2024)
Penalty, see § 10.99