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(A) A license for a dog or cat over six months of age may be purchased either on an annual basis or for the lifetime of the ownership of the animal (LIFETIME OF THE OWNERSHIP OF THE ANIMAL means the length of time the animal is alive or the length of time the individual owns the animal, whichever ceases first). Should an individual elect to purchase a lifetime license, evidence of the following must be submitted to the city’s animal control:
(1) That the animal is micro-chipped;
(2) That the animal is spayed or neutered; and
(3) That the animal is not on the potentially dangerous dog list or the dangerous dog list.
(B) Upon payment of the license fees as herein required, the city’s animal control, or its authorized agent, shall issue the following information:
(1) The name and address of the owner of the dog or cat;
(2) The license number of the tag issued for the dog or cat;
(3) The breed, age, color, sex and name of the dog or cat;
(4) Proof and date of rabies inoculation; and
(5) Such other information as the city may require for the purpose of identification.
(C) At the same time, the city’s animal control, or its authorized agent, shall deliver to the owner a metallic license tag, furnished by the city, bearing a designated license number. The tag shall be of such design as shall be adopted by the city, having die-stamped thereon the license number, the words “Columbus Dog Tag” or “Columbus Cat Tag” and the license type described in division (A) above for which the tag is issued. The metal tag so issued shall be attached to and kept upon the collar, harness or chain of the dog or cat so licensed, and the dog or cat shall wear the collar, harness or chain and attached tag throughout the balance of the license type described in division (A) above. All money received by the city under this chapter shall be promptly deposited with the city.
(D) An annual license is transferable for balance of the year upon notification to the city’s animal control. If no such notification is received, the last known owner will be held responsible. A license for the lifetime of the animal is non-transferable between owners and is non-transferable between animals; upon transfer of ownership of the animal, the new owner would need to apply for and purchase a new license as described in division (A) above.
(Prior Code, § 90.016) (Ord. 97-16, passed 8-4-1997; Ord. 00-36, passed 11-6-2000; Ord. 17-01, passed 1-3-2017) Penalty, see § 90.999
The license fee for either license type described in § 90.016(A) of this code for each dog or cat over six months of age shall be as set by resolution. All license fees shall be paid to the city’s animal control. The license fee shall be for the license period, or any such fraction thereof, and shall be due and payable on the expiration date as set forth herein. Annual licenses shall be issued for a calendar year and shall be effective from January 1 through December 31 and shall expire on December 31 of the calendar year in which they were issued. Lifetime licenses shall be issued upon request as set forth in § 90.016 of this code and shall expire either upon the death of the animal or upon the transfer of ownership of the animal, whichever may occur first.
(Prior Code, § 90.017) (Ord. 97-16, passed 8-4-1997; Ord. 00-36, passed 11-6-2000; Ord. 17-01, passed 1-3-2017)
The provisions of this chapter with respect to licensing shall not apply to a dog or cat owned by any person temporarily residing and keeping within the city the dog or cat for less than 30 days or any dog or cat brought into the city for bench or show purposes, provided the dog or cat remains near its owner or keeper or means of confinement. It shall be unlawful to bring any dog or cat into the city except in compliance with the laws and statutes of the state regarding the care, handling and treatment of dogs or cats.
(Prior Code, § 90.018) (Ord. 97-16, passed 8-4-1997) Penalty, see § 90.999
Statutory reference:
Authority to impose license tax, see Neb. Rev. Stat. § 54-603
REGULATIONS
(A) Animal neglect. It shall be unlawful for any person owning, keeping or harboring any animal to fail, refuse or neglect to provide such animal with adequate food, water, shade, shelter, living environment or veterinary care as may be necessary for diseased or injured animals. Any animal habitually kept outside or repeatedly left unattended outside shall be provided with a structurally sound, moisture-proof and wind-proof shelter large enough to accommodate and keep the animal reasonably clean, dry and comfortable. Adequate food, water, shade, shelter, living environment and care shall mean the following.
(1) Food. Each animal shall at suitable intervals, and at least once every 24 hours, receive a quantity of wholesome foodstuff suitable for the species’ physical condition and age, sufficient to maintain an adequate level of nutrition for the animal.
(2) Water. Each animal shall at all times have access to an adequate supply of clean, fresh, potable water for the species’ physical condition and age, and such water shall be provided either free-flowing or in a receptacle. Snow or ice is not an acceptable water source. If water pans or dishes are used, such pans or dishes shall have weighted bottoms or be mounted or secured in a manner that prevents tipping.
(3) Shelter. Each animal shall have convenient access to adequate shelter throughout the year. Any artificial shelter shall be structurally sound and maintained in good repair to protect the animal from injury and from the elements. It shall be of sufficient size to permit the animal to enter, stand, turn around and lie down in a natural manner. Any shelter which does not protect the animal from temperature extremes or precipitation, or which does not provide adequate ventilation or drainage, does not comply with this section. The shelter and any other spaces accessible to the animal and all bedding for the animal shall be maintained in a manner which minimizes the risk of the animal contracting disease, being injured or becoming infested with parasites.
(4) Medical care. Each animal shall receive care and medical treatment for debilitating injuries, parasites and disease, sufficient to maintain the animal in good health and to minimize suffering.
(5) Living environment. Any animal being confined in any sort of shelter or restrained in any way shall be provided space to walk and lie down in and said space shall have adequate drainage such that the animal shall be free to walk and lie down without coming into contact with standing water.
(6) Tethering. If any animal is restrained by a chain, leash, wire cable or similar restraint, such restraint shall be designed and placed to prevent the choking or strangulation or entanglement with other objects. Any tethering device must be attached to a properly fitting collar or harness. Choke chain collars, prongs or pinch collars or any collar devised for training so that it chokes or pinches the animal when pulled is prohibited for the purposes of tethering an animal. The tethering device must be at least ten feet in length but shall not allow the animal to leave the property on which it is tethered.
(7) Enclosure.
(a) If any animal is kept in an enclosure, the enclosure shall be constructed in a manner and of material designed to minimize the risk of injury to the animal and shall encompass sufficient usable space to keep the animal in good condition. When a dog is confined outside a residence, the following minimum space requirements shall be used:
Size of Dog | Enclosure Size (sq. ft) |
Extra-large (over 75 lbs.) | 48 |
Large (not over 75 lbs.) | 40 |
Medium (not over 50 lbs.) | 32 |
Small (not over 20 lbs.) | 24 |
(b) An additional 16 square feet shall be required for each dog sharing a pen with another.
(B) Leaving animals in unattended vehicle. It shall be unlawful for any person to place or confine an animal or allow an animal to be confined in a motor vehicle or trailer in such a manner or under such conditions or for such periods of time as to endanger the health or well-being of the animal including, but not limited to, extremes of heat or cold, lack of food or water or any other circumstances which may cause suffering, disability, injury or death.
(C) Abandonment of animals. It shall be unlawful for any person to abandon any animal within the city. Abandonment shall mean leaving an animal for a period of time in excess of 24 hours without appropriate provisions having been made for the feedings, watering and care of such animal or leaving an animal unattended with the intent to discontinue care and maintenance of the animal.
(D) Authority to remove and impound. If the lead animal control officer reasonably believes that a violation of this section exists, said officer is hereby authorized and empowered to seek a warrant from the appropriate court to enable the officer to enter private property in order to inspect, care for or impound the animals which show signs of animal neglect or abuse.
(E) Owner’s cost. Any person or persons violating this section shall bear full cost and expenses incurred by the city in the recovery, care, medical treatment, impoundment cost and disposal of said animals, including removal from a motor vehicle or trailer.
(F) Animal seizure. Whenever an animal has been seized pursuant to a warrant issued by the court, the release or disposition of the animal shall be within the sound discretion of the court. Upon conviction of the owner for a violation of this section, the court may order that the animal be destroyed in a humane fashion, and any such impoundment or disposal costs incurred by the city shall be taxable to the person so convicted.
(Prior Code, § 90.030) (Ord. 97-16, passed 8-4-1997; Ord. 06-36, passed 12-18-2006) Penalty, see § 90.999
(A) Rabies vaccine. Any person owning or possessing a dog, cat or other animal, including, but not limited to ferrets, within the corporate limits must have the animal vaccinated with a federally licensed, three-year rabies vaccine by a duly licensed veterinarian. The vaccination must be boosted in one year if the animal is less than 12 months old and then every three years thereafter.
(B) Proof of vaccination. The owner of any animal must be ready, willing and able at all times when called upon to do so by a police officer or animal control officer to furnish proof that the animal has been vaccinated with a rabies vaccine in accordance with division (A) above if it applies to the animal. The proof which must be furnished shall be a certificate from a licensed veterinarian, identifying the animal in detail and stating the date on which it was vaccinated with anti-rabies vaccine.
(Prior Code, § 90.031) (Ord. 97-16, passed 8-4-1997; Ord. 98-24, passed 7-6-1998) Penalty, see § 90.999
(A) Dog or cat. It shall be unlawful for the owner of any animal to allow his or her dog or cat to run at large, whether licensed or not, or to go in and upon the private premises of others within the city or upon the streets or property of the city. It is further declared unlawful for any owner of any female dog or cat, whether licensed or not, to allow the female animal, while in heat, to run at large or be kept outside of a closed building, tightly fenced yard or suitable means of confinement. Any dog or cat found to be running at large shall be impounded by the animal control officer or police officer as provided in § 90.145 of this code. The animal shall not be released until the shelter fees provided for herein are paid.
(B) Livestock, fowl and exotic animals. The running at large or herding of any horses, cattle or other such animals commonly known as livestock, the picketing or tying out of any such animals upon or in any public street or other public or private grounds in the city not owned by or under the lawful control of the owner or person in charge of the livestock or the running at large of any chicken, pigeon or other fowl or animal, whether domestic, wild or exotic within the city is hereby declared to be a nuisance and is hereby prohibited.
(Prior Code, § 90.032) (Ord. 98-24, passed 7-6-1998) Penalty, see § 90.999
It shall be unlawful for any person to own an animal which by continued or frequent animal noise annoys any neighborhood or person or chases any person or vehicle to the annoyance of the person or operator of the vehicle. The provisions of this section shall not apply to any animal shelter owned or operated by the city and animals kept therein.
(Prior Code, § 90.033) (Ord. 97-16, passed 8-4-1997; Ord. 06-36, passed 12-18-2006) Penalty, see § 90.999
(A) No person shall own, keep, harbor, or allow to be in or upon any premises occupied by that person or under that person's charge or control, any dangerous dog without said dog being confined and subject to all restrictions placed upon such dogs by the state as provided in Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 54-617 through 54-624. Any city law enforcement officer or other authority designated by the Mayor and City Council is authorized to kill such dog if found acting in a threatening manner to the officer or the public.
(B) The owner of the dog declared to be a dangerous dog has the right to appeal such determination. The owner must file a written request with the City Clerk's office within 48 hours (Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays excluded) of receiving actual notification of the declaration of the dog as dangerous. At the time of the request, said owner shall pay a non-refundable appeal fee as set by resolution. The appeal fee may be waived if the request is made and accompanied by a sworn itemized declaration of the appellant dog owner demonstrating indigence. The City Attorney will review such request within five days of the receipt of the request to determine indigence (Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays excluded) and report to the City Clerk prior to the scheduling of the hearing. INDIGENCE is defined
as the inability to pay the appeal cost without prejudicing the appellant's ability to provide economic necessities for the appellant or the appellant's family. Failure to request such a hearing within 48 hours or to appear at the appeal hearing as scheduled will result in the determination remaining in full force and effect. The Erna Badstieber Paws and Claws Adoption Center shall be entitled to request the appeal hearing without the appeal fee.
(C) The Appeal Board shall consist of a three-person committee chosen by the Chairperson of the Public Property, Safety, and Works Committee and to consist of any three elected officials. The City Administrator shall serve as an alternate member of the Appeal Board in the event that three elected officials are not available. Once a hearing request for an appeal hearing is received, a hearing before this Committee will be scheduled by the City Clerk for a date and time no later than ten days from the receipt of the written request from the dog owner (Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays excluded) unless special accommodations are necessary. The hearing shall be limited to the victim, if available, along with the reporting form from the investigating law enforcement officer who has rendered a declaration of dangerous in accordance with this section and the defense offered by the owner. The decision of the Committee will be final. The owner may appeal the Committee's finding to the District Court of Platte County, Nebraska.
(Prior Code, § 90.034) (Ord. 97-16, passed 8-4-1997; Ord. 13-12, passed 7-15-2013; Ord. 14-08, passed 8-4-2014; Ord. 23-18, passed 11-20-2023) Penalty, see §
90.999
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