(A) An owner shall not allow any animal owned or regularly kept by that owner at to run at large within the town. Any dogs found running at large shall be subject to impoundment by an Animal Control Officer.
(B) Owners of animals running at large may be issued a violation notice and be subject to monetary penalties as provided for herein, in addition to having their animals impounded.
(C) It shall be the duly of every owner to exercise reasonable care and take all necessary steps to protect other people, property and animals from injuries or damage which might result from his or her animal’s behavior.
(D) It shall be the duty of every owner of a dog to ensure that the dog is restrained to the owner’s property and remains:
(1) Securely and humanely enclosed within a house, building, fence, pen or other enclosure out of which it cannot climb, dig, jump or otherwise escape; and that such enclosure is securely locked at any time the dog is left unattended;
(2) Securely and humanely restrained by chain, cable or trolley, or other tether of sufficient strength to prevent escape; and
(3) On a leash and under the control of a competent person; or off a leash and obedient to that person’s command and that person is present with the animal any time it is not restrained as provided for in divisions (D)(1) or (D)(2) above while on its owner’s property.
(E) The following additional precautions shall be taken by owners of vicious or dangerous dogs.
(1) In addition to the requirements in division (D)(1) above, the owner of a dangerous or vicious dog who maintains the dog out-of-doors shall enclose the entire area where the dog is kept with a perimeter fence. Within this perimeter fence, the vicious or dangerous animal must be humanely confined inside a pen or kennel of adequate size. The pen or kennel may not share common fencing with the perimeter fence. The kennel or pen must have secure sides and a secure top attached to all sides. The sides must either be buried two feet into the ground, sunken into a concrete pad or securely attached to a wire bottom. The gate to the kennel shall be of the inward-opening type and shall be kept locked, except when tending to the animal’s needs such as cleaning the kennel or providing food and water.
(2) Whenever the dog is outside of its enclosure as provided for in this division (E), but on the owner’s property, it must be attended by the owner and restrained by a secure collar and leash of sufficient strength to prevent escape. The leash shall be no longer than ten feet, and the animal must be kept at least 15 feet within the perimeter boundaries of the property unless the perimeter boundary is securely fenced.
(3) No vicious or dangerous dog shall be chained, tethered or otherwise tied to any inanimate object such as a tree, post or building, outside of its own enclosure as provided for in this division (E).
(F) The owner of any guard dog or watchdog must confine such dog within a perimeter fence and meet the following conditions.
(1) The fence shall be sufficient to prevent the dog’s escape, with all points of ingress and egress securely locked at all times.
(2) A beware of dog sign shall be conspicuously displayed on each exterior side of the enclosure for each 50 feet of enclosure, with a minimum of two, as well as a sign on each ingress or egress point to the enclosure. Signs shall be a minimum of 140 square inches.
(G) The chaining of dogs is discouraged, but permitted in strict compliance with the following.
(1) The dog must be able to reach fresh food and water 24 hours a day.
(2) The chain must be at least 12 feet in length.
(3) The weight of the chain must not cause undue stress or injury to the dog’s neck or body.
(4) The chain must be attached in a manner so that it cannot wrap around vertical items such as a barrel, pole or tree, and must move freely in all directions.
(5) The dog must have easy and convenient access to adequate shelter 24 hours a day.
(6) The shelter or doghouse must be kept clean and sanitary and in good repair so the dog does not injure itself on nails, wood pieces, metal pieces and the like. A shelter from weather must be provided during all seasons of the year.
(Ord. 2016-12, passed 9-6-2016) Penalty, see § 132.99