A. Vicious Animals; Generally: It shall be the duty of the owner of any animal to prevent such animal from biting any person in the village.
No animal shall be deemed "vicious" because of its breed, or, if it attacks or menaces anyone who has tormented or abused it, or, if it is a professionally trained animal for law enforcement.
Any animal, which may unprovokedly bite any person or domestic animal in the village, is declared to be a public nuisance and such animal may be apprehended and impounded by the animal warden, police officer or other person charged with the enforcement of this chapter.
The owner of any impounded vicious animal which has bitten any person or domestic animal on two (2) occasions within a twenty four (24) month period, shall not redeem such animal unless he or she shall remove such animal from the village immediately upon redemption and shall not thereafter keep, harbor or otherwise maintain such animal in the village at any time.
No owner or keeper of a vicious animal shall sell or give away the animal.
B. Confinement Of Vicious Animals: It is unlawful for any person to keep or maintain any vicious animal unless such animal is at all times confined within the owner's house, garage or dog run.
A vicious animal may be allowed out of the owner's house, garage, or dog run provided that the animal is securely muzzled.
A vicious animal may be allowed off of the exclusively owned property of the owner if the animal is muzzled and under the direct control and supervision of the owner or keeper of the animal with a chain having a tensile strength sufficient to restrain the animal and not exceeding three feet (3') in length.
Any vicious animal, which is not confined as described in this chapter, may be apprehended and impounded by the warden or police officer.
The owner shall have no right to redeem such dog or cat unless he or she shall remove the same from the village upon redemption, and shall not thereafter keep, harbor or maintain such dog or cat in the village at any time.
C. Reporting Bites: Anyone having knowledge or reason to believe that any animal in the village has bitten a person shall report within twenty four (24) hours, so far as is known, the name and address of the owner and circumstances of the animal bite. Such report concerning bites shall be made to the police department.
It shall be the duty of the owner or any person having the custody or control of the dog, cat, or other animal to deal with the same or cause same to be dealt with, and to observe the restrictions and regulations as provided for by statute. The animal warden or police department may provide assistance in connection with the foregoing on notification or request. (Ord. 2013-34, 12-10-2013)