The town adopted the Rowan County Animal Control Ordinance, and gives authority to Rowan County Animal Control officials to operate within the jurisdiction of the town. The following section is therefore enforced by the town.
(A) No person shall erect, locate or maintain upon any shelter, pen or lot or group of shelters, pens or lots housing more than three dogs over the age of six months, located or maintained within 50 feet of any residence other than the residence of the owners of such dogs within the city. In no case shall more than three dogs over the age of six months be allowed to be sheltered, penned or fenced outside on a permanent basis.
(B) No person shall tether an animal to a tree, fence, post, house, or other stationary object for more than two hours total in any 24-hour period.
(C) Shelters, pens or lots shall be constructed and maintained as to provide sufficient space to allow each animal to make normal postural and social adjustments with adequate freedom of movement to maintain physical conditioning. The animal should be able to sit, stand, turn and lie without obstruction. Adequate space for food and water containers must be provided. Inadequate space may be indicated by evidence of malnutrition, poor condition, debility, stress, or abnormal behavior patterns. Animals shall not be tied, chained or fastened to any stationary or inanimate object as a means of confinement or restraint to property, but must be in an approved shelter, pen or lot.
(D) Shelters or pens constructed and used for the purpose of keeping dogs shall be set back ten feet from the outer limits of the lot upon which the cage or pen is situated; provided, however, this setback requirement shall not be applicable where the placing of the cage or pen within the ten-foot area does not result in locating the cage or pen within 50 feet of the nearest household occupied by persons other than the owner or keeper of the cage or pen. This division shall not apply to the fencing of all or a major portion of a lot.
(E) If any animal is kept on the premises by a fence, the fence must be adequate to contain the animal. If it is an effective, working invisible fence, then there must be a visible, permanent sign on the premises stating that there is an invisible fence.
(F) Penalties. Any violation of this section shall subject the owner, keeper, or person in charge of the possession and/or control of the animal to the penalties in § 91.99.
(Ord. 06-05, passed 5-9-06; Am. Ord. 11-07, passed 8-9-11; Am. Ord. 16-02, passed 4-12-16)