(a) No person being the owner of or having possession or charge of a dangerous animal shall keep or maintain such dangerous animal within the corporate limits of the City unless he has first obtained a special animal permit issued by the Animal Warden.
(b) No person who has such permit shall have possession or charge of more than one dangerous animal at any single location.
(c) A permit shall be issued for one year upon payment of a fee of fifty dollars ($50.00) to the Police Department and will be deemed to have expired one year from date of issuance.
(d) The person to whom a permit is issued hereby consents to permit the Animal Warden to inspect the premises prior to the expiration of the permit if renewal is desired and to inspect the premises not more than three months after such permit is issued and to pay for each such inspection the sum of fifteen dollars ($15.00); and failure to comply with any of the following requirements shall be grounds to revoke such permit by action of the Animal Warden:
(1) The animal shall be kept or maintained in a safe manner and at all times confined securely so that the keeping of such animal will not constitute a danger to human life or the property of others.
(2) Adequate safeguards shall be made to prevent unauthorized access to such animal by members of the public.
(3) The health or well being of the animal shall, in no way, be endangered by the manner of keeping or confinement.
(4) The keeping of such animal shall not constitute a nuisance and shall not harm the surrounding neighborhood or disturb the tranquility of the surrounding neighborhood.
(5) The keeping of such animal shall not create or cause offensive odors or constitute a danger to public health.
(6) The quarters in which such animal is kept or confined shall be adequately lighted and ventilated and shall be so constructed that they may be kept in a clean and sanitary condition.
(7) The applicant for such special permit shall prove his ability to respond in damages to and including the amount of one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) for bodily injury to or death of any person or persons or for damage to property owned by any other person which may result from the ownership, keeping or maintenance of such animal. Proof of liability to respond in damages may be given by filing with the Animal Warden a certificate of insurance from an insurance company authorized to do business in the State stating that the applicant is, at the time of his application, and will be during the period of such special permit, insured against liability to respond in such damages, or by posting with the Animal Warden a surety bond conditioned upon the payment of such damages during the period of such special permit. Such certificate of insurance or bond will be made unless ten days written notice is first given to the Animal Warden.
(e) The provisions of subsections (a), (b) and (c) hereof shall not apply to keeping of dangerous animals in the following situations:
(1) The keeping of such animals in zoos, bona fide educational or medical institutions, museums or any other place where they are kept as live specimens for the public view, or for the purpose of instruction or study.
(2) The keeping of such animals for exhibition to the public of such animals by a circus, carnival or other exhibit or show.
(3) The keeping of such animals in a bona fide, licensed veterinary hospital for treatment.
(4) Dangerous or poisonous reptiles may be maintained by bona fide educational or medical institutions for the purpose of instruction or study, provided such reptiles are securely confined and are properly cared for in a manner satisfactory to the Animal Warden.
(f) Whoever violates subsection (a) or (b) hereof shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the third degree. Each day that such violation occurs shall constitute a separate offense.
(Ord. 42-1978. Passed 4-13-78.)