(A) General. It shall be unlawful for any person to fail to provide their animals with appropriate food, water, and veterinary care when needed to prevent suffering; and all persons shall provide their animals with humane care and treatment to include protection from weather if needed by a certain class of animals. All animal living areas must be cleaned and maintained regularly so as to promote proper health for the animals. It shall be considered inhumane treatment for anyone except a licensed veterinarian to crop a dog's ears or tail. If any dog is restrained by a chain, leash, or similar device, it shall be designed and placed to prevent choking or strangulation. Such chain or leash shall not be less than ten feet in length and either on a swivel designed to prevent the animal from choking itself or else on a chain run. Such chain or leash shall be attached to a leather or nylon collar or harness and not directly to the dog's neck.
(B) It shall be unlawful for any person to abandon any animal for a period in excess of 24 hours, without providing adequate food and water, or abandoning any animal on public or private property. In the event that an animal is found to be abandoned, such animal shall be taken by the ACO or police officer, and impounded in the Animal Shelter or other facility. Such animal, if taken from private property, shall be kept for not less than seven days in accordance with the procedures set forth in § 90.05(A) herein. In the event that an animal is so abandoned, the owner or harborer, if any, who has been charged with the animal's care, shall be subject to criminal complaint for violation of this section.
(C) It shall be unlawful for any person to neglect, beat, cruelly ill-treat, or torment any animal or cause or permit any dog fight, cock fight, or other combat between animals. For the purpose of this division, neglect, cruel ill-treatment, and torment of an animal shall be defined as a failure by a person to adhere to the requirements and provisions of division (A) of this section. In the event that there is a reasonable cause to suspect that an animal is being beaten, cruelly ill-treated, neglected, or tormented, or involved in combat, custody of such animal may be taken by the ACO or police officer, impounded, and be held as evidence in the Animal Shelter or other facility. Upon a finding by the court that the animal has been neglected, beaten, cruelly ill-treated, or tormented, or involved in a dog fight, cock fight, or other combat between animals, the animal shall become the property of the county. In addition, the animal shall become the property of the county and disposed of in a manner consistent with § 90.05(A). Any animal observed by the ACO or police officer to be in immediate danger may be removed from such situation by quickest and most reasonable means available.
(D) It shall be unlawful for any person to own or possess any bird or animal with the intent that such bird or animal be engaged in an exhibition of fighting, Further, it shall be unlawful to stage, cause, instigate, permit, observe, or attend any dog fight or cock fight, or other combat between animals or between animals and humans.
(E) Any animal(s) found involved in a violation of any portion of this section may be confiscated by a peace officer or ACO and held in a humane manner. Upon conviction of this charge, all animal(s) confiscated shall become the property of the county and the owner of the animal(s) shall have responsibility to reimburse the county all veterinary fees for medical treatment and board fees provided the animal(s).
(F) Poisons. No person shall place any poisonous substance which may be harmful to any animal as described herein in any location where it may be readily found and eaten by such animal.
(G) No person, firm, organization, or group shall raise or kill a dog or cat for food, the skin, or fur.
(H) No person, firm, organization, or group shall mutilate any animal, whether dead or alive, except during a post mortem by a veterinarian or person qualified.
(I) No person, firm, organization, or group shall engage, or cause, or allow any other person to engage in a sexual act with any animal.
(Ord. KOC 04-840-184, passed 11-2-2004; Ord. KOC 06-840-447, passed - -2006; Ord. KOC 12-840-138, passed 9-4-2012; Ord. KOC 19-840-504, passed 5-7-2019) Penalty, see § 90.99