§ 11-31 DUTY OF OWNER TO CONTROL DOGS.

   (a)   All dogs within the territorial boundaries of the town or its extraterritorial jurisdiction shall remain under their owners’ or custodians’ immediate control.

   (b)   For the purpose of this section, IMMEDIATE CONTROL BY THE OWNER OR CUSTODIAN shall be construed to mean:

      (1)   Restrained upon the property of the owner or custodian of the dog either by being tied, chained, within the confines of a fence designed to restrain the dog, or an electronic operated, invisible fence sufficient to restrain the dog upon the property of the owner or custodian; or

      (2)   While being walked or exercised off the premises or property of the owner or custodian, the dog must be restrained by a leash connected to a collar or harness, sufficient to restrain the dog from breaking loose, the leash to be not longer than 25 feet in length (retractable).

   (c)   The provisions of subsection (b)(1) above shall be enforced in the same manner, using the process outlined in § 11-28.

   (d)   A first and second violation of Article II, shall be treated as a civil penalty under this code of ordinances. (See § 1-5). All third and subsequent violations of Article II, by an owner shall be treated as a criminal penalty under this code of ordinances. (See § 1-5).

(Ord. passed 9-2-1993; Ord. passed 11-4-1999) Penalty, see § 1-5