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(a) The owning, keeping or harboring of any wild, dangerous, poisonous or exotic animal, including, but not limited to the animals listed below, is hereby prohibited within the City limits.
(1) All crotalid, elapid and venomous colubroid snakes;
(2) Apes: chimpanzees (Pan); gibbons (Hylobates); gorillas (Gorilla); orangutans (Pongo); and siamangs (Symphalangus);
(3) Baboons (Papoi, Mandrillus);
(4) Bears (Ursidae);
(5) Bison (Bison);
(6) Cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus);
(7) Crocodilians (Crocodilia) when 72 inches in length or more;
(8) Constrictor snakes when 14 feet in length or more;
(9) Coyotes (Canis latrans);
(10) Deer (Cervidae), including all members of the deer family, for example, white-tailed deer, elk, antelope and moose;
(11) Elephants (Elephas and Loxodonta);
(12) Foxes (Canis vulpes);
(13) Game cocks and other fighting birds;
(14) Hippopotami (Hippopotamidae);
(15) Hyenas (Hyaenidae);
(16) Jaguars (Panthera onca);
(17) Leopards (Panthera pardus);
(18) Lions (Pantheraleo);
(19) Lynxes (Lynx);
(20) Monkeys, old world (Cercopithecidae);
(21) Ostriches (Struthio);
(22) Piranha fish (Characidae);
(23) Pumas (Felis concolar), also known as cougars, mountain lions and panthers;
(24) Rhinoceroses (Rhinocero tidae);
(25) Sharks (class Chondrichthyes);
(26) Snow leopards (Panthera uncia);
(27) Swine (Suidae);
(28) Tigers (Panthera tigris);
(29) Wolves (Canis lupus); and
(30) Wolf hybrids or any hybrid of a domestic dog with a wild canis.
(b) The owning or keeping of any fowl, including, but not limited to domestic geese, ducks, turkeys, and chickens within the City limits is hereby prohibited. However:
(1) Schools are not prohibited from raising chicks and/or ducks for educational purposes; and
(2) When finished or no later than two weeks after the chicks and/or ducks have hatched, the schools must give the fowl to a farm authorized to handle such animals.
(c) The owning, harboring, or keeping of a pit bull within City limits is prohibited.
(d) No livestock, including, but not limited to horses, mules, cattle, sheep, goats and swine shall be owned or maintained within the City limits.
(e) Licensed pet shops, menageries, zoological gardens and circuses shall be exempt from the provisions of division (a) of this section if all of the following conditions are applicable:
(1) The location conforms to the provisions of the City Zoning Code.
(2) All animals and animal quarters are kept in a clean and sanitary condition and maintained so as to eliminate objectionable odors.
(3) Animals are maintained in quarters so constructed as to prevent their escape.
(4) No person resides within 50 feet of the quarters in which the animals are kept.
(5) Pit Bulls are not brought into City limits.
(f) The Stearns Homestead, located at Permanent Parcel 450-18-1, and currently operated by the Parma Historical Society, is hereby exempted from the restrictions of this section to the extent that it keeps and maintains horses, mules, cattle, sheep, goats, swine, dogs, cats, chickens, ducks, geese and other similar types of animals or fowl generally considered to be farm animals for purposes of public display.
(g) No exemption granted pursuant to any division of this section shall be construed, nor is it intended by the City as a guaranty or warranty of any kind, whether express or implied, to any person, including, without limitation, the general public, persons residing or passing near the applicant's premises or the applicant, either in general or individually, as to the danger of persons residing or passing near the applicant's premises or the applicant, either in general or individually, as to the danger or lack thereof, or degree of risk to health or safety, of any animal, specifically or generally, or of any premises where any animal is maintained or kept pursuant to such exemption.
(h) The lack of knowledge of intent is not a defense to a violation of this section.
(i) Whoever violates division (c) of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree.
(j) Whoever violates or fails to comply with any of the other provisions of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the third degree. A separate offense shall be deemed committed each day during or on which a violation or noncompliance occurs or continues.
(Ord. 45-06. Passed 11-20-06; Ord. 35-10. Passed 3-15-10)
(a) Animal Fights. No person shall knowingly engage in or be employed at cockfighting, bearbaiting, or pitting an animal against another; no person shall receive money for the admission of another to a place kept for such purpose; no person shall use, train or possess any animal for seizing, detaining, or maltreating a domestic animal. Any person who knowingly purchases a ticket of admission to such place, or is present thereafter, or witnesses such spectacle, is an aider and abettor. Whoever violates this division (a) is guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree.
(b) Dog Fighting Offense, Investigations, Confiscation of Dogs and Equipment. No person shall do any of the following:
(1) Promote, engage in, or be employed at dog fighting;
(2) Receive money for the admission of another person to a place kept for dog fighting;
(3) Sell, purchase, possess, or train a dog for dog fighting;
(4) Use, train, or possess a dog for seizing, detaining, or maltreating a domestic animal;
(5) Purchase a ticket of admission to or be present at a dog fight;
(6) Witness a dog fight if it is present at a dog fight.
(c) The Department of Agriculture may investigate complaints and follow up rumors of dog fighting activities and may report any information so gathered to an appropriate prosecutor or law enforcement agency.
(d) Any peace officer, as defined in Ohio R.C. 2935.01, shall confiscate any dogs that have been, are, or are intended to be used in dog fighting and any equipment or devices used in training such dogs or as part of dog fights.
(e) Whoever violates division (b), (c) or (d) of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree.
Statutory reference:
Animal fights, see Ohio R.C. 959.15
Dog fighting offenses; investigations; confiscation of dogs and equipment, see Ohio R.C. 959.16
(EDITOR’S NOTE: Section 618.11 was repealed by Ordinance 125-23, passed October 2, 2023. For provisions regarding hunting or trapping, see Section 618.21.)
(a) Except for guide, leader or listener dogs, or dogs in training to become guide, leader or listener dogs, registered under Ohio R.C. 955.011, and dogs kept by an institution or organization for teaching or research purposes under Ohio R.C. 955.16, no person shall own, keep or harbor a dog more than three months of age without annually registering such dog with the County Auditor. No owner/guardian of a dog, except a dog constantly confined to a registered kennel, shall fail to require the dog to wear, at all times, a valid tag issued in connection with a certificate of registration. Failure of any dog at any time to wear a valid registration tag shall be prima facie evidence of lack of registration and subject such dog to impounding and disposition as provided by Ohio R.C. 955.16.
(b) Whoever violates this section shall be fined not less than twenty-five dollars ($25.00) nor more than one hundred dollars ($100.00) on a first offense, and on each subsequent offense shall be fined not less than seventy-five dollars ($75.00) nor more than two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00) and may be imprisoned for not more than 30 days.
(Ord. 45-06. Passed 11-20-06; Ord. 157-11. Passed 7-5-11.)
(a) The animal control officer, the Health Officer and the Chief of Police are hereby authorized to issue a summons to the owner/guardian of any animal in violation of any provision of this chapter, or any regulation issued by the Health Officer. Such person may retain possession of the animal if it is the belief of the officer issuing such summons that such possession is not in conflict with any other provision of this chapter.
(b) The animal control officer, the Health Officer and the Chief of Police are hereby authorized to take up and impound any animal, other than a properly registered dog on the premises of its owner/guardian, found in violation of any provision of this chapter or any regulation issued by the Health Officer, if the person owning such animal cannot be issued a summons because such person is not known or present. Such animal shall be confined at the animal shelter in a humane manner and shall be released upon satisfactory proof that the party claiming the animal is entitled to possession thereof, and upon payment to the animal control officer of all recovery fees established by ordinance.
(c) In the interest of animal welfare, any person owning any animal in the City by so doing does hereby authorize the animal control officer, the Health Officer or the Chief of Police to enter upon private property, other than within any residence or other structure, where such animal is kept, if the officer has probable cause to believe the animal is being kept in a cruel or inhumane manner, for the purpose of examining such animal. When, in the examiner's opinion, it is being kept in an unlawfully cruel or inhumane manner and is properly registered, the animal control officer shall apply to a court of competent jurisdiction for an order to enter the premises, and, if necessary, seize the dog. If the court finds probable cause to believe the dog is treated inhumanely, it shall issue such an order.
(d) Any animal that has bitten a person may be removed from the property of its owner/guardian by the animal control officer, the Health Officer or the Chief of Police if such animal is in violation of examination or observation requirements prescribed by regulations of the Health Officer.
(e) The animal control officer, the Health Officer or the Chief of Police are hereby authorized to use humane live animal traps to capture any animal whose presence on private property or public property constitutes a nuisance to persons or a threat to the public health or the health of domestic animals.
(f) No person shall interfere with the duty of the animal control officer, the Health Officer or the Chief of Police by removing, or causing to be removed, the identification tag of any cat or dog without the consent of the owner/guardian thereof; refusing to identify himself of herself upon the request of an enforcement officer, when such officer has probable cause to believe that such person has violated this chapter; or in any other manner preventing the lawful discharge of enforcement duties prescribed by the chapter.
(g) Whoever violates division (f) of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the third degree. A separate offense shall be deemed committed each day during or on which a violation occurs or continues.
(Ord. 45-06. Passed 11-20-06; Ord. 157-11. Passed 7-5-11.)
It shall be the duty of the Police Department officers to enforce the provisions of this chapter and any regulations issued by the Safety Director and to assist the animal control officer in enforcing the provisions of this chapter.
(Ord. 45-06. Passed 11-20-06.)
(a) No person shall keep or maintain any animal in any yard, structure or area that is not clean, dry and sanitary, free from debris and offensive odors and free of rodents and vermin.
(b) All animal pens and yards shall be so located that adequate drainage is obtained, normal drying occurs and standing water is not present.
(c) All yards, structures, or pens in which animals are kept shall be subject to inspection by the Health Officer and/or animal control officer. If the Health Officer or the animal control officer determines from such inspection that the premises are not maintained in a clean and sanitary manner, he or she shall notify the owner/guardian of the animal in writing to correct the sanitation deficiencies within 24 hours after the notice is served. If the sanitation deficiencies continue after the initial 24-hour notice is given, the Health Officer or animal control officer shall, at his or her discretion, either issue another 24-hour notice of violation or issue a citation. Once the owner/guardian of the animal has received one notice of sanitation deficiencies, if any subsequent inspections reveal sanitation deficiencies, a citation will be issued. Any animal kept under any condition which could endanger the public or the animal's health, or create a health nuisance, may be impounded. Animals shall be released after fees are paid and cause for impoundment has been corrected.
(d) No person shall feed any animal, including but not limited to wild animals, birds, other wildlife or domestic animals, other than in suitable containers for food elevated at least 48 inches above ground level and of such design and construction as to minimize the potential for food and/or seed from spilling or dropping to the ground. Such feeding shall be allowed so long as it does not create a nuisance or interfere with another's property. Such nuisance activity shall include, but is not limited to: excessive animal noise, excessive amounts of animal droppings, attracting enough animals to burden neighboring properties, birds perching on neighboring properties as a result of food availability, garbage left where it may attract wildlife, or debris that may provide a nesting area.
(e) This section shall not apply to owner/guardians feeding their own pets on their property as long as by doing so it does not create a nuisance or attract any other animals, birds or rodents.
(f) Whoever violates or fails to comply with any of the provisions of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree. A separate offense shall be deemed committed each day during or on which a violation or noncompliance occurs or continues.
(Ord. 45-06. Passed 11-20-06; Ord. 157-11. Passed 7-5-11.)
(a) The owner/guardian of any animal, when such animal is off the owner/guardian's property, shall be responsible for the removal of any feces deposited by such animal on public walks, streets, recreation areas or private property. No owner/guardian shall fail to remove or provide for the removal of such feces before taking such animal from the immediate area where such defecation occurred.
(b) Whoever violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the third degree. A separate offense shall be deemed committed each day during or on which a violation occurs or continues.
(Ord. 45-06. Passed 11-20-06; Ord. 157-11. Passed 7-5-11.)
(a) Any sick or injured dog or cat found at large in the City and wearing a current County or rabies vaccination tag shall be taken at once by Animal Control to a veterinarian for examination and treatment, and the owner/guardian or such an animal shall be promptly notified. All charges for veterinarian services shall be borne by such owner/guardian.
(b) Any sick or injured dog or cat found at large in the City without such identifying tag shall be examined and administered first aid when needed and be taken at once by Animal Control to a veterinarian for examination and treatment, and it is to be given so as to render the animal free from pain and unnecessary pain or suffering during the holding period.
(Ord. 45-06. Passed 11-20-06; Ord. 157-11. Passed 7-5-11.)
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