(A) Running at large prohibited. It shall be unlawful for the dog or cat of any person who owns, harbors, or keeps a dog or cat, to run at large. A person, who owns, harbors, or keeps a dog or cat which runs at large shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. Dogs or cats on a leash and accompanied by a responsible person or accompanied by and under the control and direction of a responsible person, so as to be effectively restrained by leash, shall be permitted in streets or on public land unless the city has posted an area with signs reading “Dogs or Cats Prohibited.”
(B) Cats. Cats shall be included as controlled by this division insofar as running-at-large, pickup, impounding, and boarding is concerned. All other provisions of this section shall also apply to cats unless otherwise provided.
(C) Vaccination.
(1) All dogs and cats kept harbored, maintained, or transported within the city shall be vaccinated at least once every three years by a licensed veterinarian qualified to practice in the state in which the dog or cat is vaccinated for:
(a) Rabies - with a live modified vaccine; and
(b) Distemper.
(2) A certificate of vaccination must be kept on which is stated the date of vaccination, owner’s name and address, the animal’s name (if applicable), sex, description and weight, the type of vaccine, and the veterinarian’s signature. Upon demand made by the City Clerk, the Animal Control Officer or a police officer, the owner shall present for examination the required certificate(s) of vaccination for the animal(s). In cases where certificates are not presented, the owner or keeper of the animal(s) shall have seven days in which to present the certificate(s) to the City Clerk or officer. Failure to do so shall be deemed a violation of this section.
(D) Limitation.
(1) It is unlawful for any residence in the city to possess, harbor, shelter or keep more than three adult dogs and cats, excepting veterinary hospitals and pet shops, or other establishments, properly licensed by the city. For purposes of this division (D), an ADULT ANIMAL shall be deemed to be any animal six months or older.
(2) Maintaining multiple animals. No more than a total of three adult dogs and cats may be maintained at one residence, at any time, without first obtaining a multiple animal license from the city. In no event shall more than a total of five adult dogs and cats be maintained at one residence.
(a) License procedure. Application for a multiple animal license must be made to the city and accompanied by the license fee that the City Council shall establish from time to time in the city fee schedule.
(b) Approval of contiguous property owners. The application for a multiple animal license shall be accompanied by a petition showing the approval of the occupants of privately owned real estate abutting the premises on which the multiple animal residence is to be located.
(c) Granting or denial of license; conditions. Whether or not all of the occupants of abutting property approve the application, the city may grant or deny the license. The multiple animal license will not be granted unless the city finds that the use of the applicant’s premises with multiple animals will not have any adverse effect upon adjacent properties or the occupancy thereof, and will not constitute a nuisance to the neighborhood. A license will only be granted if the keeping of the dogs or cats is incidental to the occupancy of the premises for residential purposes. The city may impose conditions on the granting of a license in order to minimize or mitigate possible adverse impacts.
(d) Reduction in number. Each license will be conditioned upon a requirement that the total number of animals maintained be reduced through attrition to no more than three within a time frame as designated by the city.
(e) Maintenance of property. Properties holding a multiple animal license shall be maintained in a clean and healthful condition at all times, and shall be open to inspection by the city at all reasonable times.
(f) Rejection of license; appeal process. If an application is rejected, the applicant shall be notified in writing of the decision of the city, the reason for the denial, and the applicant’s right to appeal the denial to the City Council. Within seven days of receiving the notice, the applicant must appeal the decision in writing to the city. The City Council will hear the appeal at a regularly scheduled meeting.
(g) Revocation. The City Council may revoke a multiple animal license for any violation of this chapter or any other law relating to the keeping of animals, after a hearing as provided in this division (D). The city shall give the licensee at least five days’ written notice of the meeting at which the revocation will be considered by mailing the notice to the licensee at the address in the application. The City Council will give the licensee an opportunity to be heard at the meeting.
(h) Multiple animal license fee. The multiple animal license fee shall be in such amount as provided in the fee schedule for the city.
(3) No person, firm, or corporation shall maintain in this city a kennel.
(Am. Ord. 135, passed 7-9-07; Am. Ord. 175, passed 11-28-11; Am. Ord. 219, passed 4-23-18; Am. Ord. 230A, passed 4-8-19) Penalty, see §
92.99