(a) No person shall keep, maintain or have in his possession, or under his control within the City, any of the following animals other than in compliance with the provisions of this section:
(1) Any animal, reptile or fowl which has been declared to be protected or endangered by the U.S. Department of the Interior, the State Division of Natural Resources or the Ohio Revised Code.
(2) Any animals, reptile or fowl for which possession requires any permit, registration or licensing by any agency of the U.S. Government or any agency of the State or the Ohio Revised Code, without first obtaining and displaying such permit, registration or license from the appropriate agency.
(3) Any animal, reptile or fowl belonging to a species which is commonly wild or which is not indigenous to this State without first registering such animal, reptile or fowl with the proper City authorities and Federal and State authorities as required.
(4) Any vicious animal, reptile or fowl, whether wild or domestic, that without provocation, has caused serious physical harm or death to any person or domestic animal.
(5) Any dangerous animal, reptile or fowl whether wild or domestic, that without provocation, has chased or approached in either a menacing fashion or an apparent attitude of attack, or has caused or attempted to cause physical harm to any person or belongs to a species which is commonly wild and because of its size, nature or other characteristics would constitute a risk of danger to any person or property, unless such animal, reptile or fowl is confined in a locked building, pen or enclosure which has a top and is so constructed as to prevent the animal, reptile or fowl from escaping or the entry of an unsuspecting or unauthorized individual.
(b) No owner, keeper or harborer of any dangerous or wild animal, reptile or fowl shall fail to do either of the following:
(2) When transporting or transferring a dangerous animal, reptile or fowl from one location to another, to contain it in a suitable locked container or attached to a chainlink leash no longer than six feet in length, muzzled and controlled by a person who is of suitable age and discretion to insure safe management and transport.
(c) Whoever violates subsection (a) or subsection (b)(2) hereof, is guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree on the first offense and of a misdemeanor of the first degree on each subsequent offense. Additionally, the Court may order the owner, keeper or harborer of a dangerous animal, reptile or fowl to obtain liability insurance, with an insurer authorized to write liability insurance in this State providing for coverage of not less than fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) in each occurrence of injury or damage. The court in the alternative, may order the dangerous animal destroyed by a licensed veterinarian, officers of the County Dog Warden or the Humane Officer. (ORC 955.99)
Whoever violates subsection (b)(l) hereof is guilty of a minor misdemeanor.
(Ord. 1988-17. Passed 5-23-88.)