The owner of vicious animals shall not suffer or permit the animal to go unconfined.
(A) Owner. Any person, firm, corporation, organization or department owning, possessing, harboring or having the care and custody of an animal in the town shall be considered an “owner”.
(B) Unconfined vicious animal. A vicious animal is unconfined if the animal is not securely confined indoors or confined in a securely enclosed and locked pen, cage or structure upon the premises of the owner of the animal. The pen or structure must have secure sides and a secure top or bottom attached to the sides and the sides must be embedded into the ground not less than one foot if outside and setting on the ground.
(C) Vicious animals. Any animal with a known vicious propensity, tendency or disposition to attack unprovoked, to cause injury to, or otherwise threaten the safety of human beings or other domestic animals is a vicious animal.
(D) Leash and muzzle. The owner of a vicious animal shall not suffer or permit the animal to go beyond the premises of the owner unless the animal is securely muzzled and restrained by a secure cage, chain or leash, and under the physical restraint of a person. The muzzle shall be made in a manner that will not cause injury to the animal or interfere with its vision or respiration, but shall prevent it from biting any human or other animal.
(E) Noncompliance and impoundment. It shall be unlawful for the owner, keeper or harborer of a vicious animal to fail to comply with the requirements set forth in this subchapter. Any vicious animal found to be the subject of a violation of this subchapter shall be subject to immediate seizure and impoundment. No animal impounded may be released back to any person without the permission of the Town Police Chief, which shall only be given upon the payment of the fines and fees required under § 90.02. In addition to the fines and fees required under § 90.02 any fees required by the local humane shelter must also be paid.
(Ord. 2002-674, passed 6-4-2002) Penalty, see § 90.99