(a) Any person desiring to own, possess or keep more than five dogs and/or cats, or any combination thereof, on the premises of his residence or business at any one time, with the exception of a litter and/or portion of a litter of pups or kittens less than eight months old, shall first obtain a permit from the City as provided for in this section and shall additionally obtain such other licenses as may be required by the Ohio Revised Code.
(b) Permits for the keeping of dogs or cats in excess of five, or any combination thereof, as required by this section shall be obtained from the City, upon application to the Health Department and/or Planning Department. Permit applications shall be filed annually and no later than January 31 of each year, beginning in the year 2000. The original permit application fee shall be one hundred dollars ($100.00) which may be renewed annually for an additional fee of fifty dollars ($50.00). The original permit application fee shall be reduced to twenty-five dollars ($25.00) and renewed annually for an additional fee of twelve dollars and fifty cents ($12.50) upon satisfactory proof that all animals covered under the permit have been spayed or neutered. The application shall be made by the owner or keeper of the dogs or cats who shall provide such information as may be required by the Health Department and/or Planning Department. Upon application, the Health Department and/or Planning Department shall conduct an inspection of the permit premises to insure that all requirements contained in subsection (c) hereof are met by each permit applicant prior to issuance of that permit. This permit requirement shall be in addition to all other licensing requirements required by law, including zoning regulations.
(Ord. 60, 2004. Passed 10-18-04.)
(c) All owners or keepers of dogs and cats in excess of five, or any combination thereof, located within the City shall meet all of the following requirements.
(1) All animals shall be maintained in a healthy condition, or, if ill, shall be given appropriate treatment immediately;
(2) The quarters in which the animals are kept shall be maintained in a clean condition and in a good state of repair;
(3) Animal pens or enclosures shall be of sufficient size in order to provide reasonable freedom of movement to the animals contained therein;
(4) Food supplies shall be stored in rodent proof containers, and food and water containers shall be cleaned daily;
(5) Litter and/or bedding materials shall be changed weekly to prevent an odor nuisance;
(6) Feces shall be removed from yards, pens and enclosures daily and stored in tightly covered containers until final disposal;
(7) Yards, pens, premises and animals shall be kept free of insect infestation;
(8) The premises shall be fenced in by adequate fencing materials to prevent the escape of the animals and/or prevent access by the animals, either over, under or through the fence, to adjacent properties;
(9) The fenced-in area shall contain adequate square footage to provide reasonably adequate exercise areas for the animals;
(10) The animals shall be maintained so that no unreasonably loud and disturbing noises of such a character intensity and duration so as to disturb the peace, quiet and good order of the neighborhood shall be emitted from the premises.
(d) Hospitals, clinics and other premises operated by licensed veterinarians exclusively for the care and treatment of animals shall be exempt from the provisions of this section.
(e) Any person who violates any provision of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree.
(Ord. 27, 1999. Passed 5-17-99.)
(Ord. 27, 1999. Passed 5-17-99.)
(f) The permit application fee set forth in subsection (b) above shall be waived upon satisfactory proof presented to the satisfaction of the Health Department and/or Planning Department that the applicant possesses a valid permit for keeping of dogs or cats issued by a humane organization such as the Humane Society.
(Ord. 60, 2004. Passed 10-18-04.)