(a) Definition and Prohibition. No person shall keep, maintain or have in his or her possession or under his or her control within the City any dangerous animal. A “dangerous animal” means and includes any wild mammal, reptile or fowl which is not naturally tame or gentle but is of a wild nature or disposition and which because of its size, vicious nature or other characteristics would constitute a danger to human life or property. Dangerous animals include, but are not limited to, the following:
(1) Any poisonous animal, fish or reptile
(2) Alligators
(3) Apes, chimpanzees, gibbons, gorillas, orangutans, siamangs
(4) Baboons
(5) Bears
(6) Bison
(7) Bobcats
(8) Cheetahs
(9) Crocodilians
(10) Constriction snakes
(11) Coyotes
(12) Deer
(13) Elephants
(14) Foxes
(15) Game cocks and other fighting birds
(16) Hippopotami
(17) Hyenas
(18) Jaguars.
(19) Leopards.
(20) Lions.
(21) Lynxes.
(22) Ostriches.
(23) Piranha fish.
(24) Pumas, also known as cougars, mountain lions and panthers.
(25) Rhinoceroses.
(26) Sharks.
(27) Snow leopards.
(28) Tigers.
(29) Wolves.
(b) Exceptions. This section does not apply to any circus or to any person while transporting any animal, fish, fowl or reptile through the City provided that the animal, fish, fowl or reptile is adequately restrained to avoid injury to persons or damage to property; the keeping of such animals in a bona fide, licensed veterinary hospital for treatment; the keeping of such animals for exhibit to the public by an exhibit or show temporarily within the City, for a period not to exceed seven days unless prior written approval for a longer period is received from the Mayor; or the keeping of such animals in bona fide educational or medical institutions, museums or any other place where they are kept as live specimens for the public view, or for the purpose of instruction or study. Dangerous or poisonous reptiles may be maintained by bona fide educational or medical institutions for the purpose of instruction or study, provided such reptiles are securely confined.
(c) Penalty. Whoever violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree. Each day that such violation continues shall be considered a separate violation.
(Ord. 16-84. Passed 3-26-84.)