(A) Definition of terms. For the purpose of this section, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly requires a different meaning.
AT LARGE. Off the premises of the owner and not under the control of the owner or member of his or her immediate family either by leash, cord, chain or other restraint attached to the animal and held by the person in control of the animal.
CAT. Both male and female.
OWNER. Any person or persons, firm, association or corporation, owning, keeping or harboring a cat.
(Prior Code, § 8.08.010)
(B) Registration fee.
(1) Each owner or keeper of a cat within the limits of the town shall cause the same to be registered in the office of the Town Treasurer.
(2) Such registration shall be for a period to commence on May 1 of each year and to expire April 30 of the following year, and such registration fee must be paid and a registration tag obtained on to before May 1 of each year or within 30 days of the time a cat is newly brought into the town, as the case may be.
(3) Such owner or keeper shall pay for such registration fee $1 for each cat. No such registration shall be issued until proved satisfactory to the Town Treasurer that the cat has been vacated for rabies within two years of the date of application for registration.
(Prior Code, § 8.08.015)
(C) Running at large prohibited.
(1) Every person who owns, keeps or harbors any cat who knowingly permits such cat to run at large upon the public thoroughfare, upon school grounds or other public property is guilty of maintaining a public nuisance and is, therefore, guilty of a misdemeanor.
(2) It is declared a public nuisance for a cat or other animal to destroy property or other pets, to bite, scratch or chase after persons not trespassing on the property of the animal’s owner.
(3) Any person aggrieved by a nuisance cat may file a complaint in the Town Court, charging the owner with violation of this section.
(4) Upon a third conviction of violation of this section, the nuisance animal may be seized and taken up by any law enforcement officer and put to death.
(Prior Code, § 8.08.020)
(D) Duty of poundmaster. It shall be the duty of the poundmaster to take up and impound every cat running at large contrary to the provisions of this section. If an impounded cat be redeemed within 48 hours after said cat is impounded, the poundmaster shall give notice of such impounding to the owner in the manner prescribed by the laws of the state after which and in conformity thereto the poundmaster shall offer the impounded cat for sale, and if no bid to an amount equal to the charges of the poundmaster against said animal is received therefor, the impounded cat shall be killed by him or her; provided, any person may redeem an impounded cat upon the payment to the poundmaster of an amount equal to the poundmaster’s charges for keeping said animal.
(Prior Code, § 8.08.030)
(E) Rabid cats.
(1) Upon issuance of an order to show cause, the Town Judge shall direct the Police Department to capture any cats suspected of suffering from rabies and impound at the expense of the owner, pending the hearing on said order to show cause. In the event any physician shall indicate to the Town Judge that there is a possibility that the cat is suffering from rabies, the animals shall be impounded for such period as the Town Judge deems advisable for the purpose of ascertaining if said animal is suffering from rabies.
(2) During any period that said cat is so impounded on the order of the Town Judge, the owner shall be liable to the town for the cost of the care of said animal while impounded.
(Prior Code, § 8.08.035)
(F) Kennel license.
(1) Each owner or keeper of five or more adult cats within the limits of the town shall be required to obtain a kennel license from the Town Treasurer. Such owner or keeper shall pay for such license the sum of $500.
(2) As used in this division (F), unless the context otherwise indicates, ADULT shall be intended to mean any cat more than six months old.
(3) Each owner required to obtain a kennel license shall provide the Town Clerk with a certificate executed by a doctor of veterinary medicine stating that the cats in the kennel are in good health and that they have received all necessary vaccinations. Thereafter, a similar certificate executed by a doctor of veterinary medicine shall be provided to the Town Clerk at least annually.
(Prior Code, § 8.08.050)
Penalty, see § 90.99