(a) It shall be unlawful for any person to treat any animal cruelly which shall include, but not be limited to: fail to provide adequate shelter, adequate shade, or adequate food, water, air, space, or necessary veterinary care for an animal he or she owns; abandon any animal; subject any animal to conditions detrimental to the health or general welfare of any animal; or to cause or procure such act or omission. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit otherwise lawful shooting, hunting, or trapping of birds or animals nor to prohibit the Animal Services Department or veterinarians from trapping by cage traps, chemical immobilization or other acceptable means, or destroying animals in a humane manner in accordance with this chapter or state law.
(b) The following conditions shall not constitute adequate shelter:
Metal barrels;
Underneath outside steps, decks, or stoops;
Inside of vehicles;
Underneath vehicles;
Inside metal containers; or
Rooms, sheds, or other buildings or structures without windows or proper ventilation.
It shall be unlawful not to have the dog house or shelter secured in a manner as to keep the doghouse or shelter from tipping over, rolling away, or sliding in such a way as to prevent or hinder the animal from being able to get inside.
Chaining or tethering an animal to a stationary object for a period of time or under conditions that an Animal Control Officer deems harmful or potentially harmful to the animal is unlawful. Examples of improper chaining or tethering include, but are not limited to the following:
Using a length or weight of a chain or tether that is not appropriate for the size, weight, and age of the animal;
Attaching a chain or tether to a pinch, prong, or choke chain or other training collars or devices;
Allowing an animal to be chained or tethered such that the animal is not confined to the Owner’s property or such that the chain or tether can become painful or uncomfortable or will not allow access to adequate food, adequate water, adequate shade, or adequate shelter;
Using a chain as a primary collar.
It shall be unlawful for the animal’s enclosure, which includes any area to which a chained or tethered animal has access, to be excessively muddy or contain standing water, contain excessive excrement, or be otherwise unsanitary. An animal’s enclosure shall be free of objects or contaminants that are likely to cause injury or be detrimental to the health of the animal, including but not limited to, rusty or jagged metal objects, broken glass, or harmful chemicals or agents.
(Amend. of 3-1-2010; Amend. of 6-6-2016; Amend. of 5-1-2023)