(A) Animal at large. It shall be unlawful for an owner or person having custody or control of any animal to run at large.
(B) To allow such animal to repeatedly run at large, whether wearing a collar and tag or not, throughout the county constitutes a public nuisance. Any and all animals found running at large shall be immediately impounded by officer of Animal Management or any sheriff. The officers may pursue the animal onto private property to capture such animal.
(C) It shall be the duty of every owner or custodian of any animal to exercise reasonable care and take all necessary steps and precautions to restrain their animal so as to protect other people, property, and animals from injuries or damage which might result from the animal's behavior. If the owner or custodian of any animal is a minor, the parent or guardian of such minor shall be jointly responsible for the minor's violation of this chapter.
(D) It shall be the duty of every owner or custodian of any animal to ensure that the animal is kept under restraint and that reasonable care and precautions are taken to prevent the animal from leaving the real property limits or its owner, possessor, or custodian, and to ensure that the animal is:
(1) Securely and humanely enclosed within a house, building, fence, pen or other enclosure out of which it cannot climb, dig, jump, or otherwise escape on its own volition.
(2) Securely and humanely restrained by chain or tether not weighing more than 1/8 of the pet's body. The chain or tether shall be at least ten feet in length and have swivels on both ends, as to reduce the likelihood of entanglement. Any chain or tether must be attached to a properly fitting buckle-type collar or harness worn by the animal, and may not be wrapped around the animal’s neck.
(3) No pet shall be tethered more than 12 hours in a 24 consecutive hour period. Dogs under the age of six months shall not be tethered for more than one hour and shall be under the direct supervision of the owner or person having custody at all times while being on a tether.
(E) Annoyance or disturbance created by animal. It shall be unlawful for any person to keep or harbor within the county any animal that creates a nuisance, or which by loud, frequent or habitual barking, howling or yelping causes annoyance or disturbance to the area within which the barking, howling or yelping may be heard.
(Ord. 2017-6A, passed 6-20-17)