(A) It shall be unlawful for any person to keep or maintain any animal which has been found to be a vicious animal, unless such animal is at all times kept in an enclosure. The only times that a vicious animal may be allowed out of the enclosure is if it is necessary for the owner or harborer to obtain veterinary care for the vicious animal or to comply with the order of a court of competent jurisdiction, provided that said vicious animal is securely muzzled and restrained within a chain having a tensile strength of 500 pounds and not exceeding three feet in length, and shall be under the direct control and supervision of the owner or harborer of the vicious animal.
(B) Any animal which has been found to be a vicious animal and which is not confined to an enclosure shall be impounded by an animal control officer and shall be turned over to a licensed veterinarian for destruction by lethal injection.
(C) Any animal which has been found to be a vicious animal shall be spayed or neutered within 14 days of the date of the written notice of determination, and the owner or keeper must provide written proof of spaying or neutering to the community service section.
(D) No owner or harborer of a vicious animal shall sell or give away any vicious animal.
(E) Work dogs are exempt from this section, provided, an attack or injury to a person occurs while the dog is performing duties as expected. To qualify for exemption under this section, each such dog shall be currently inoculated against rabies.
(F) The City Attorney may file a complaint to enjoin all persons from maintaining or keeping a dangerous or vicious animal, to abate the same, and to enjoin the owner of such animal from permitting such animal to leave his premises when not under control by leash per this section. Upon the filing of a complaint in the circuit court, the court, if satisfied that this nuisance may exist, shall grant a preliminary injunction with bond in such amount as the court may determine enjoining the defendant from maintaining such nuisance. If the existence of the nuisance is established, the owner of such animal shall be in violation of this section, and in addition, the court shall enter an order restraining the owner from maintaining such nuisance and may order that such animal be euthanized.
(G) Penalty. The fines for violating this § 91.27 are as shown in the table below.
(Ord. 3584, passed 8-11-08; Am. Ord. 3773, passed 8-25-14)