(A) No person shall keep, own, harbor, have charge of, maintain, or have control of a wild or potentially dangerous animal within the city.
(B) No person shall possess with intent to sell, sell or offer for sale, buy or attempt to buy a wild or potentially dangerous animal within the city.
(C) For purposes of this section, a wild or potentially dangerous animal is defined as an animal that is wild by nature and not customarily domesticated in the city and which, because of its size, disposition, or other characteristic inherently constitutes a danger to human life or property. A wild and potentially dangerous animal shall include, but not be limited to:
(1) Apes: chimpanzees (Pan); gibbons (Hylobates); gorillas (Gorilla); orangutans (Pongo); and siamangs (Symphalangus).
(2) Baboons (Papoi, Mandrillus).
(3) Bears (Ursidae).
(4) Cheetahs (Acinonyx Jubatus).
(5) Coyotes (Canis Latrans) and coyote-dog hybrids.
(6) Elephants (Elephas and Loxodonta).
(7) Hyenas (Hyaenidae).
(8) Jaguars (Panthera Onca).
(9) Leopards (Panthera Pardus).
(10) Lions (Panthera Leo).
(11) Lynx (Lynx).
(12) Pumas (Felis Concolor), also known as cougars, mountain lions, and panthers.
(13) Tigers (Panthera Tigris).
(14) Wolves (Canis Lupus) and wolf-dog hybrids.
(15) Wild cats (jungle cat, ocelot, margay, servral, caracal, leopard cat) and wild cat-domestic cat hybrids.
(D) As used in this section,
WILD OR POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS ANIMALS does not include an animal in the possession or control of any of the following agencies or organizations, its employees or agents:
(1) The Division of Wildlife in the Department of Natural Resources;
(2) The Ohio Department of Agriculture;
(3) An incorporated humane society;
(4) A veterinarian holding a valid license under Ohio R.C. Chapter 4741, who has custody of the animal for the purpose of providing medical treatment of the animal;
(5) Any organization that is an accredited member of the American Association of Zoological Parks and Aquariums;
(6) An agency or official of the United States Government acting in its official capacity;
(7) Any research facility within the meaning of the "Animal Welfare Act", 80 STAT 359 (1966) 7 USCA 2131, as amended;
(8) A common carrier with possession of the animal for the purpose of transportation;
(9) Any person who is not currently dwelling in the city, who is traveling through the city with any "wild or potentially dangerous animal", and who is in the city for no more than 24 hours, and the "wild or potentially dangerous animal" is maintained in quarters constructed to be humane and prevent escape;
(10) The International Society for the Preservation of Wild Animals;
(11) Research facilities of the International Society for Endangered Cats; or
(12) Any circus or professional entertainer present within the city for the purpose of entertainment of the general public, provided the wild or potentially dangerous animal is maintained in quarters constructed to be humane and prevent escape.
(E) Whoever violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree for the first offense, and a misdemeanor of the first degree for each subsequent offence.
(F) When any person is found guilty of a second offense of this section, such person shall be fined not less than $300, which fine shall not be remitted.
(G) In addition, any person found guilty of violating this section shall be liable to the city for all expenses, whether incurred by the city or advanced by the city, for the shelter, food, veterinary expenses, boarding, and transportation of the seized wild or dangerous animal, and such other expenses as may be required in the relocation or destruction of any such wild or dangerous animal.
(H) Notwithstanding the other provisions of this section, a person may possess a native canine [coyotes (canis latrans), wolves (canis lupus)] or native canine-dog hybrid, if all of the following apply:
(1) The native canine or native canine-dog hybrid is registered with the Chief of Police of the city. Such animal or animals shall be registered annually, giving the owners name and address and the address of the premises on which the animal is to be kept.
(2) The owner, possessor, or controller of said animal observes all regulations with respect to the keeping and harboring of dangerous and/or vicious dogs, as dictated by the laws of the State of Ohio and the city.
(3) The owner maintains a policy of liability insurance subject to a limit of not less than $50,000, exclusive of interest and costs, with an insurer authorized to write liability insurance in this state providing coverage in that amount for personal injury or death and property damage for each occurrence which may be caused by the native canine or native canine-dog hybrid. The owner of such native canine or native canine-dog hybrid shall provide written proof of such insurance policy annually with the registration of said animal to the Chief of Police.
(Ord. 98-76, passed 11-3-98; Am. Ord. 2008-92, passed 9-23-08)