§ 91.125 INHUMANE TREATMENT OF ANIMALS.
   (A)   No owner shall fail to provide his or her animals with sufficient wholesome and nutritious food, water in sufficient quantities, proper air, shelter space and protection from the weather, veterinary care when needed to prevent suffering, and humane care and treatment.
   (B)   No person shall beat, cruelly ill-treat, torment, overload, overwork or otherwise abuse an animal, or cause, instigate, or permit any dogfight, cockfight, bullfight or other combat between animals.
   (C)   No owner shall abandon any animal, abandonment consisting of leaving the animal for a period in excess of 24 hours, without providing for someone to feed, water and check the animal's condition. No owner shall leave an animal by a roadside or other area or leave the animal on either public or private property without the property owner's consent. An animal so left shall be deemed abandoned. In the event that an animal is found so abandoned the animal may be taken by Animal Control Officer to the animal shelter.
   (D)   Chickens, ducklings, rabbits or any other animal considered protected, exotic or traditionally bred as "farm" animals may not be sold or harbored within the city.
   (E)   No person shall give away any live animal, fish, reptile or bird as a prize for, or as an inducement to enter, and contest, game or other competition, as an inducement to enter a place of amusement; or as an incentive to enter into any business agreement whereby the offer was for the purpose of attracting trade.
   (F)   Any person who, as the operator of a motor vehicle, strikes a domestic animal shall stop at once and render assistance as may be possible and shall immediately report the injury or death to the animal's owner; in the event the owner cannot be ascertained and located, the operator shall at once report the accident to the appropriate law enforcement agency or to the local humane society.
   (G)   No person shall expose any known poisonous substance, whether mixed with food or not, so that the same shall be liable to be eaten by any animal.
   (H)   If an animal is restrained by a chain, leash or similar restraint, it shall be designed and placed to prevent choking or strangulation. The chain or restraint shall not be less than ten feet in length, and either on swivel designed to prevent the animal from choking itself or else on a chain run.
   (I)   No person shall crop a dog's ears or tail, except a veterinarian.
   (J)   No person shall raise or kill a dog or cat for food or for the skin or fur.
   (K)   No person shall mutilate any animal whether dead or alive.
   (L)   No person shall engage or cause or allow any other person to engage in sexual act with any animal.
   (M)   Any animal found involved in violation of any portion of this section may be confiscated by any Animal Control Officer or police, whether on public or private property and held in a humane manner. Upon conviction of this charge by the Municipal Court or other court of law, all animals so confiscated shall become the property of the city and the owner of the animal(s) shall pay to or reimburse the city all veterinary fees associated with the medical treatment provided to the animal while it was in custody.
(Ord. 483A, passed 3-23-1993; Ord. 483D, passed 8-27-1996) Penalty, see § 91.999