It is unlawful:
(A) For any person to remove or cause to be removed the collar or metallic tag from any licensed dog without the consent of the owner, keeper or harborer thereof.
(B) For any person to harbor or keep within the city any lost or stray dog. Whenever any dog shall be found which appears to be lost or strayed, it shall be the duty of the finder to notify the city animal control officer or police department who shall impound said dog and dispose of the same as herein provided for. If there shall be attached to such a dog a license tag said animal control officer or police department shall notify the person to whom such license was issued at the address given in such license.
(C) For any owner, possessor, keeper or harborer of any female dog, when in season, to fail to keep said dog penned or enclosed in such a manner as to preclude other dogs from attacking such female dog or being attracted to such female dog so as to create a public nuisance.
(D) For the owner or person having possession, charge, custody or control of any female dog to cause, permit or allow the same to stray or run, or in any other manner to be at large while such female dog is in the copulating season. If any female dog cannot be controlled by the owner, possessor or keeper of such dog during the copulating season, the female dog may be declared a nuisance and impounded by the animal control officer or police department.
(E) For any person to let to a bitch dog, any dog, or let to any female any male animal, except within an enclosure so arranged as to obstruct such animal completely from the view of all persons who have no proprietary interest in the breeding of such animals. (Ord. 2882, 11-6-2006)
(F) For any person to operate or maintain a kennel without first obtaining a license from the city clerk as herein provided. (Ord. 2882, 11-6-2006; amd. Ord. 2931, 3-10-2008)
(G) For any dog to be found running at large. The person or persons who own, control, possess, provide care to or who are in charge of any such dog found running at large shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.
1. Procuring a license tag shall not authorize the running at large of said dog.
2. A violation of the provisions of this subsection (G) is hereby declared to be a nuisance and a menace to the public health and safety, and in addition to the criminal punishment provided for, said dog or dogs shall be taken up and impounded as provided herein.
(H) For any person to own, keep or harbor any dog which by loud, continued or frequent barking, howling or yelping shall annoy or disturb any neighborhood or person. This subsection shall not apply to the animal shelter or veterinary hospitals.
(I) For any person to own, have custody of or control of any dog or any other animal which is vicious or dangerous. A person violating the provisions of this Section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by up to one hundred twenty (120) days in jail and/or a one thousand dollar ($1,000.00) fine. In addition to this penalty, a civil penalty of one hundred dollars ($100.00) may be assessed.
(J) For any person keeping or harboring a dog for which a license is required by this chapter to fail or to refuse to exhibit the registration certificate or license tag upon demand by the animal control officer or a police officer.
(K) For any person to maltreat or torture any dog or to wilfully and maliciously administer or cause to be administered poison of any sort whatsoever to any animal, the property of another, with the intent to injure or destroy such dog, or to wilfully or maliciously place any poison or poisoned food where the same is accessible to any such animal.
(L) For any person to hinder, delay, interfere with or obstruct an animal control officer or any police officer while engaging and capturing, securing or taking to the animal shelter any dog liable to be impounded, and for any person to break open or in any manner directly or indirectly aid, counsel or advise the breaking open of any animal shelter or ambulance, animal control vehicle or any vehicle used for the collecting or conveying of dogs to the animal shelter, or for any person lawfully discharging the duties herein specified. (Ord. 2882, 11-6-2006)
(M) For any person to leave or confine in any unattended motor vehicle under conditions that may endanger the health or well-being of an animal due to heat, cold, lack of adequate ventilation, or lack of food or water, or under such other circumstances as could reasonably be expected to cause suffering, disability, or death to the animal.
City police officers, animal control officers and Code compliance officers may use reasonable force under the above circumstances to enter a vehicle and remove the animal after first making a reasonable attempt to contact the animal's owner. The officer removing the animal shall use reasonable means to contact the owner of the animal to arrange for its return home. Absent contact with the owner, the animal will be taken to a veterinary clinic if emergency care is needed and after a reasonable amount of time to an animal shelter. (Ord. 2017-14, 5-22-2017; amd. Ord. 2022-014, 8-1-2022)