(A) In order to harbor dogs or cats within the city, all dogs and cats shall be at all times confined indoors or in a fenced-in yard with a fence constructed with sufficient materials of suitable strength and height to prevent the escape of the animal(s) or confined in an anti-escape locked pen or structure suitably designed to prevent the entry of young children and to prevent the animal(s) from escaping or on a tether.
(1) Furthermore, it shall be prohibited for any dog to be tethered to any object with a rope, chain, leash or other device, and left unattended for any period of time longer than four hours.
(a) Dogs that are tethered within a yard for any period of time over four hours, must be in the presence of the owner or owner’s designee within the same yard and shall not be tethered in this way for more than eight hours in a 24 hour period.
(b) Tethers must be at least five times the length of the dog’s body, as measured from the tip of the nose to the base of the tail, weight no more than one-eighth of the dog’s weight, be free of tangles, terminate at each end with a swivel and prevent the dog from coming within five feet of the edge of any public street or sidewalk.
(2) Any dog or cat that is not confined outdoors in such a way as those described above, shall be confined on a leash under the direct physical control of the owner or owner’s designee.
(B) It shall be the responsibility of the owner of any dog or cat to ensure that the animal(s) have access to food, water, shade and adequate shelter given the weather conditions at all times while being confined and that any confinement remains free of health and safety hazards that may endanger the life or wellbeing of the animal(s).
(C) Any time that the owner designates a person under the age of 18 years of age as the responsible party for their animal(s), the owner assumes responsibility for any violations pertaining to the confinement of their animal(s), regardless of if the owner is present or not.
(Ord. 2016-O-001, passed 1-4-16)