A. Physical Abuse: It is unlawful for any person to wilfully or maliciously kill, maim, disfigure, torture, beat with a stick, chain, club, or other object, mutilate, burn or scald, overdrive, or otherwise cruelly set upon any animal. Each offense shall constitute a separate violation. An exemption shall exist for agricultural animals that are branded, earmarked, or otherwise marked for identification purposes.
B. Animals In Vehicles: It is unlawful for any person to carry or confine any animal in or upon any vehicle in a cruel or inhumane manner, including, but not limited to, carrying or confining such animal without adequate ventilation or for an unusual length of time.
C. Care And Maintenance: It shall be the duty of an owner to provide any animal with adequate food, drink, care (which shall include veterinary care) and shelter.
D. Animal Poisoning: Except as provided in section 5-1-19 of this chapter, it shall be unlawful for any person by any means to make accessible to any animal, with intent to cause harm or death, any substance which has in any manner been treated or prepared with any harmful or poisonous substance. This provision shall not be interpreted so as to prohibit the use of poisonous substances for the control of vermin in the furtherance of the public health when applied in such a manner as to reasonably prohibit access to other animals.
E. Injury To Animals By Motorists:
1. Every operator of a motor or other self-propelled vehicle upon the streets of the jurisdiction shall immediately upon injuring, striking, maiming, or running down any domestic animal give such aid as can reasonably be rendered. In the absence of the owner, he/she shall immediately notify the division of animal control furnishing requested facts relative to the injury.
2. It shall be the duty of such operator to remain at or near the scene until such time as the appropriate authorities arrive, and upon the arrival of such authorities, the operator shall immediately identify himself to such authorities. Alternatively, in the absence of the owner, a person may give aid by taking the animal to the Summit County animal shelter or other appropriate facility and notifying the division of animal control. Such animal may be taken in by the animal shelter and dealt with as deemed appropriate under the circumstances.
3. Emergency vehicles are exempted from the requirements of this provision.
F. Animals For Fighting:
1. It shall be unlawful for any person, firm, or corporation to raise, keep or use any animal, fowl or bird for the purpose of fighting or baiting; and for any person to be a party to be present as a spectator at any such fighting or baiting of any animal or fowl; and for any person, firm, or corporation to knowingly rent any building, shed, room, yard, ground, or premises for any such purposes as aforesaid, or to knowingly suffer or permit the use of his/her buildings, sheds, rooms, yards, grounds, or premises for such purposes.
2. Law enforcement officers or the division of animal control officials may enter any building or place where there is an exhibition of fighting or baiting of a live animal, or where preparations are being made for such an exhibition, and the law enforcement officers may arrest persons there present and take possession of all animals engaged in fighting, along with all implements or applications used in such exhibition. This provision shall not be interpreted to authorize a search or arrest without a warrant when such is required by law.
G. Malicious Impounding: It shall be unlawful for any person maliciously to secrete or impound the animal of another.
H. Tethering: It shall be unlawful for any person to tether a dog in any manner that would cause injury or damage to the dog, or when restriction of freedom of movement would endanger a dog. A tether must be of sufficient length to provide the dog with adequate space. Any dog so tethered must be provided adequate care and maintenance as set forth in subsection C of this section. Each dog tethered in violation of this section shall constitute a separate offense. (Ord. 832, 11-12-2014)