(a) No person owning, harboring or having the care of a vicious dog shall suffer or permit such animal to go unconfined on the premises of such person.
(b) No person owning, harboring or having the care of a vicious dog shall suffer or permit such dog to go beyond the premises of such person, unless such dog is securely leashed and muzzled or otherwise securely restrained.
(c) A vicious dog is "unconfined," as the term is used in this section, if such dog is not securely confined indoors or confined in a securely enclosed and locked pen or structure upon the premises of the person described in division (a) of this section. Such pen or structure must have secure sides. If the structure does not have a secure top, the sides shall extend to a height of six feet above the ground. If the pen or structure has no bottom secured to the sides, the sides must be embedded in the ground not less than two feet. The fence must be made of adequate material to restrain the dog.
(d) As used in this section, “vicious dog” means any dog which attacks a human being or another domestic animal one or more times without provocation, which attack results in any substantial injury to such human being or domestic animal; or
(e) Division (a) and (b) of this section are necessary controls on the unrestrained activity of vicious animals which threaten the safety of streets, parks, sidewalks, yards and all areas of the City. Lack of knowledge or lack of intent is not a defense to a violation of this section.
(f) (1) Whoever violates division (a) or (b) of this section shall be fined not more than five hundred dollars ($500.00) or imprisoned not more than 60 days, or both.
(2) In addition, any vicious dog which attacks a human being or another domestic animal may be ordered destroyed when, in the Court’s judgment, such vicious dog represents a continuing threat of serious harm to human beings or other animals. Any person found guilty of a violation of division (a) or (b) of this section shall pay all expenses, including shelter, food, veterinary expenses for the identification or certification of the breed of the animal, boarding and veterinary expenses necessitated by the seizure of any dog for the protection of the public and such other expenses as may be required for the destruction of any such dog.
(Ord. 84-O-16. Passed 6-12-84; Ord. 2018-O-38. Passed 12-11-18.)