(A) Control by owner outside premises. It is unlawful for any owner of any dog, regardless of the dog’s age, licensed or unlicensed, to permit the dog, at any time, to leave or be beyond the premises upon which the dog is usually kept, except when accompanied and controlled by the owner or some responsible person acting for the owner; and when so accompanied, the dog must be secured by means of a collar or harness, with chain or leash attached thereto, and held by the owner or person acting for the owner.
(B) Running at large prohibited.
(1) Every owner, harborer or person having the custody, control or possession of any dog shall keep the dog confined to the premises and property of the owner, harborer or custodian, except as hereinafter provided.
(2) No owner, harborer or person having the custody, control or possession of any dog shall permit, allow or suffer the dog:
(a) To run or be at large as hereinbefore defined; and/or
(b) To go about or on the premises or property of any other person within the City without the permission of the person.
(C) Vicious or dangerous dog regulations.
(1) Owners of dangerous or vicious dogs who maintain their animals out of doors must do so in a pen, kennel or other enclosure out of which the animals cannot climb, dig, jump or otherwise escape on their own volition. The pen, kennel or other enclosure must be of adequate size to humanely confine the dogs. The pen, kennel or other enclosure may not share common fencing with the area or perimeter fencing of the property upon which it is maintained. The pen, kennel or other enclosure must have a secure top attached to all sides, and the gate of the pen, kennel or other enclosure must be locked in a manner that only the owner of the dangerous or vicious dog can open and close the gate.
(2) Except when being transported and securely confined within a vehicle, no dangerous or vicious dog shall be permitted off the property of its owner, except when it is restrained by a secure leash and harness, the length of which shall not exceed 6 feet, and securely muzzled so as to prevent the dangerous or vicious dog from biting another individual or animal.
(D) Harboring.
(1) No person shall be permitted to own, possess, maintain or harbor any dog on or about their premises in a manner as to create unsanitary or unhealthy conditions, obnoxious odors and/or other nuisances.
(2) It is unlawful for any person to harbor or keep any dog which by constantly or habitually barking, howling or yelping shall cause annoyance or disturbance to the neighborhood.
(3) Any person who shall allow any dog to remain and be lodged and be fed within his or her home, store, enclosure or elsewhere on his or her premises shall be considered to be harboring the animal within the terms and meaning of this chapter.
(E) Inoculation.
(1) (a) It shall be the duty of every person who owns or harbors a dog in the City to have the dog inoculated with anti-rabic vaccine by a veterinarian or other qualified person within 6 months of birth, and to have the dog inoculated again at the time of the expiration of the previous administration of an anti- rabic vaccine.
(b) Failure to so have the dog inoculated shall constitute and be deemed a misdemeanor and shall be subject to punishment as hereinafter provided. Furthermore, it shall be unlawful for any person to own, keep or harbor a dog in the City unless the dog shall have been inoculated with anti-rabic vaccine as aforesaid.
(2) It shall be the duty of each veterinarian or other qualified person, after every inoculation of a dog with anti-rabic vaccine, which dog is owned or controlled by a resident of the City, to furnish the person with a certificate in which shall be recorded the name and address of the owner or keeper, name and age of the dog and the date upon which the inoculation was administered.
(3) It shall be the responsibility of the owner to maintain and produce the inoculation certificate upon demand of an animal control officer.
(F) Number of vicious or dangerous dogs per household. It is unlawful for any person or persons to keep or harbor more than 1 vicious or dangerous dog, as defined by this chapter, in or on the premises, residence or apartment of the owner or of any person who has custody of such a dog.
(G) Liability insurance requirement.
(1) The owner of any vicious or dangerous dog, as defined herein, or the owner of any dog involved in a biting incident of record with any police agency or health department, shall be required to obtain and keep in force, liability insurance or homeowners’ or renters’ insurance coverage, in an amount of not less than $100,000, protecting against any injury or death caused by such dog. Proof of such insurance coverage shall be provided to any police or code enforcement officer upon request.
(2) In the event the owner shall be a minor, the minor’s parent or guardian shall be required to provide such insurance coverage on the minor owner’s behalf.
(3) Each owner shall be required to obtain such insurance coverage within 30 days of locating within the City or from the date of purchase or acquisition of any such dog covered hereunder.
(4) Any owner found to be in violation hereof shall have such dog confiscated and impounded until the provisions hereof are met.
(H) Pet microchip requirement.
(1) The owner of any vicious or dangerous dog, as defined herein, or the owner of any dog involved in a biting incident of record with any police agency or health department, shall also be required to obtain and embed into such dog a pet microchip which shall contain the owner’s name, address and dog identification code thereon. Such pet microchip shall provide for better management and control of such dog, permit easy identification of the owner, allow for identification and enforcement of the provisions of this chapter against irresponsible dog owners and to assess damages against such owner to any injured party which may be caused by such dog.
(2) In the event the owner shall be a minor, the minor’s parent or guardian shall be required to obtain the pet microchip for such dog on the minor owner’s behalf.
(3) Each owner shall be required to obtain such pet microchip within 30 days of locating within the city or from the date of purchase or acquisition of any such dog covered hereunder.
(4) Any owner found to be in violation hereof shall have such dog confiscated and impounded until the provisions hereof are met.
(1995 Code, §6.08.020) (Am. Ord. O-2008-017, passed 7-14-2008)
Penalty, see § 96.99