(A) Owners of animals in violation of § 90.10 for the first time may pay a fine to the city in the amount of $25 within seven days of the issuance of a citation. Owners that fail to pay such fine within seven days and owners of animals cited for second and subsequent violations shall be required to appear in Municipal Court for such violation(s) and court costs shall be assessed on such cases.
(B) (1) Animal neglect and abandonment is a violation upon first conviction and for each offense, punishable by imprisonment or a fine not to exceed $500, or both, and a violation punishable by imprisonment or a fine not to exceed $500, or both upon the second and all subsequent convictions. All fines and penalties for a first conviction of animal neglect or abandonment may be waived by the Court provided that the person found guilty of animal neglect or abandonment show that adequate, permanent remedies for the neglect or abandonment have been made. Reasonable costs incurred for the care and maintenance of neglected or abandoned animals may not be waived. This division (B) shall not apply to the provisions of RSMo. § 578.007.
(2) In addition to any other penalty imposed by this division (B), the court may order a person found guilty of animal neglect or abandonment to pay all reasonable costs and expenses necessary for:
(a) The care and maintenance of neglected or abandoned animals within the person’s custody or ownership;
(b) The disposal of any dead or diseased animals within the person’s custody or ownership;
(c) The reduction of resulting organic debris affecting the immediate area of the neglect or abandonment; and
(d) The avoidance or minimization of any public health risks created by the neglect or abandonment of the animals.
(C) Unless stated otherwise in this chapter, any person violating any provisions of this chapter shall be deemed guilty of a violation and shall be punished by a fine of not more than $500 or imprisonment in jail for not more than 90 days. Each day’s violation shall be deemed a separate violation.
(Ord. 05-006, passed 10-18-2005)