ARTICLE VI: ANIMAL CRUELTY

Section

   4-601   General

   4-602   Failure to provide adequate food

   4-603   Failure to provide adequate water

   4-604   Failure to provide adequate shelter

   4-605   Provide reasonable care

   4-606   Animal cruelty

   4-607   Cruel restraint prohibited

   4-608   Leaving animals unattended in vehicles

   4-609   Authority for Animal Control Officer to act

   4-610   Penalties

§ 4-601 GENERAL.

   All animals shall be kept, and treated, under sanitary and humane conditions, and it shall be unlawful for any person to violate one, or more, of the sections of this article.

Penalty, see § 4-610

§ 4-602 FAILURE TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE FOOD.

   All animals, unless otherwise indicated in this article, shall be given, at suitable intervals not to exceed 24 hours, a quantity of wholesome foodstuff in a container suitable for the age, and species, of the animal, and sufficient to maintain a healthful level of nutrition.

§ 4-603 FAILURE TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE WATER.

   (A)   All animals shall have constant access to a supply of clean, fresh, potable water, or a supply of clean, fresh potable water provided at suitable intervals.

   (B)   If access is not constant, then adequate amounts of water must be provided at least twice in a 24-hour period. If water is provided at intervals, it must remain in the animal’s enclosure for at least one hour during each interval.

§ 4-604 FAILURE TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE SHELTER.

   (A)   All animals shall be provided with adequate shelter from the weather at all times. It shall be within the discretion of the Town Animal Control Officer to determine what constitutes adequate shelter.

   (B)   Examples of inadequate shelter include, but are not limited to, the following:

      (1)   Underneath outside steps, decks, and stoops;

      (2)   Underneath houses;

      (3)   Inside, or underneath, motor vehicles;

      (4)   Inside metal, or plastic, barrels;

      (5)   Inside cardboard boxes;

      (6)   Inside temporary animal carriers or crates;

      (7)   Shelters located in flood-prone areas; and

      (8)   Shelters surrounded by waste, debris, obstructions, or impediments that may endanger an animal.

§ 4-605 PROVIDE REASONABLE CARE.

   Failure, or refusal, of any owner of a sick, diseased, or injured animal to provide proper medical treatment for the animal is prohibited. A sick, diseased, or injured animal shall go no longer than 24 hours without veterinary care.

§ 4-606 ANIMAL CRUELTY.

   Animal cruelty is prohibited. Examples of animal cruelty include, but are not limited to, the following:

   (A)   Allowing a collar, rope, or chain to become embedded in, or cause injury to, an animal’s neck;

   (B)   Allowing a choke, or pinch, collar to be used as a primary collar when the animal is left unsupervised;

   (C)   Allowing a dog, or cat, to be left outside in inclement weather, or extreme temperatures, without adequate shelter;

   (D)   Intentionally allowing animals to engage in a fight;

   (E)   Allowing animals to live in unsanitary conditions;

   (F)   Allowing animals to live in crowded conditions;

   (G)   Failure, or refusal, to obtain medical treatment for an animal when, in an Animal Control Officer’s opinion, such treatment is needed;

   (H)   Trapping a dog, or cat, without the use of a recognized humane live animal trap;

   (I)   Permitting any exhibit, function, or activity where animals are being cruelly treated, or animals run the risk of causing injury to the public or themselves. The Town Animal Control Officer shall have the authority to inspect, and to close down, public exhibits of animals which are part of fairs, carnivals, festivals, fund raising events, petting zoos, and any other activity, or function, carried out in the corporate limits of the town if it is determined that animals are being cruelly treated, abused, or run the risk of causing injury to the public, or themselves;

   (J)   Animals being confined to, or restrained on, the premises of a vacant, or abandoned, structure;

   (K)   Failure to provide adequate drainage to prevent surface water from standing in the area of the pen, or enclosure, where the animal is kept. It shall be within the discretion of the Town Animal Control Officer as to what constitutes adequate drainage; and

   (L)   Failure, or refusal, to report injured domestic animals.