Section
General Provisions
90.01 Definitions
90.02 Vicious or diseased animals
90.03 Animals running at large
90.04 Barking or howling
90.05 Animal cruelty; prohibited animals and restrictions; impoundment
90.06 Authorized personnel for containment
90.07 Removal of animals from unoccupied premises
Licensing and Tags
90.20 Licensing
90.21 Animal tags
90.22 Rabies certificate and tags
90.99 Penalty
GENERAL PROVISIONS
ANIMAL or ANIMALS. Any dog or dogs.
ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER. Any person designated to be responsible for the care and maintenance of the animal pound and who shall work with other law enforcement officials in the enforcement of this chapter.
AT LARGE. Off or outside of the premises belonging to the owner or keeper of such animal and not under the control of such owner, possessor, or keeper or member of their immediate family over 12 years of age either by leash or otherwise.
IMPOUND. Taken to the Humane Society by law enforcement.
LEASH. A cord, thong, or chain not more than ten feet in length by which the person accompanying it controls the animal.
OWNER. A person owning, keeping, or harboring an animal or the occupant of any premises to which an animal customarily returns is presumed to be the owner.
PREMISES. The dwelling house and outbuildings and the lot or tract of land on which the same are situated and shall include an automobile or other vehicle in which the owner of the animal shall be an occupant or of which they shall have control or in which any animal shall be situated with the consent of the owner of the vehicle.
QUALIFIED PERSON. Any person qualified to vaccinate animals against rabies.
VACCINATION. The injection by a veterinarian or other qualified person of vaccine approved by, and administered in accordance with, the provisions of this chapter and the resolutions of the City Council.
VICIOUS ANIMAL. Any animal which, according to records of the appropriate authority, has inflicted serious injury on a human being on public or private property; any animal that, according to records of appropriate authority, has killed or seriously injured a domestic animal while on or off of the owner’s property; any animal owned or harbored primarily or in part for the purpose of fighting or any animal trained for fighting; any unleashed animal which chases or approaches a person upon the streets, sidewalks, or any public or private property in a menacing fashion or apparent attitude of attack; any animal of a known propensity, tendency, or disposition to attack, to cause injury, or to otherwise threaten the safety of human beings or animals.
(Prior Code, § 6.04.010) (Ord. 98-5, passed - -; Ord. 18-05, passed 6-1-2018; Ord. 22-03, passed 8-4-2022)
(A) Vicious animals prohibited. It is unlawful for any person(s) to keep, maintain, or have in his, her, or their possession or under their control within the city any vicious animal.
(B) Specific canine breeds prohibited as vicious. It is unlawful for anyone to have in his, her, or their possession or control any of the following breeds of canines within the city:
(1) Wolves;
(2) Coyotes; and
(3) Any cross/mix thereof.
(C) Exemptions for animals that are provoked.
(1) It is recommended that no animal be declared vicious if the threat, injury, or damage was sustained by a person who, at the time, was committing a willful trespass or other tort upon the premises occupied by the owner or keeper of the animal or was teasing, tormenting, abusing, or assaulting the animal or has, in the past, been observed or reported to have teased, tormented, abused, or assaulted the animal or was committing or attempting to conduct a crime.
(2) If any dog is of a vicious disposition or has dangerous habits or is suspected of being diseased, law enforcement shall notify the owner or possessor of such dog orally or by posting a written private or public notice to confine or muzzle such dog; if, thereafter, such owner or possessor fails to comply with such notice, law enforcement are authorized, empowered, and directed to kill or cause to be killed such animal, whether found running at large or upon the premises of the owner of such dog, without first needing to impound such animal.
(D) Impoundment and authorization to destroy. Any animal involved in an unprovoked attack which results in serious injury to any human or another animal shall be impounded immediately. If unable to be captured, any law enforcement officer is authorized to destroy the animal to prevent further endangerment to another animal or human life. Any animal impounded for an unprovoked attack which results in injury to any animal or human shall be kept in impoundment until it can be determined, by the City Council, what action shall be taken. Unless permitted by the City Council, no vicious animal shall be permitted to reside in the limits of the city.
(Prior Code, § 6.04.075) (Ord. 05-12, passed - -; Ord. 18-05, passed 6-1-2018; Ord. 22-03, passed 8-4-2022) Penalty, see § 90.99
(A) Licensed animal running at large. It is unlawful for any person, firm, or corporation to allow any animal owned, controlled, or harbored by any person to run at large on the streets, alleys, or property of any other person within the city limits. Any person having an animal within the city limits shall have it tied, leashed, or otherwise controlled upon his or her property. It is unlawful for any person to allow an animal off his or her property without the animal being held on a leash. This practice is hereby declared a nuisance. Upon a written complaint being filed with the Finance Office, a letter will be delivered to or posted on the property of the owners of the animal notifying them of the complaint. All letters shall be delivered or posted by law enforcement.
(Prior Code, § 6.04.060)
(B) Unlicensed animal running at large. Any person whose animal is running at large and has not been licensed with the city will be notified by the city with a letter of warning, delivered or posted by law enforcement, for the first offense and will be allotted ten days to get the animal licensed. All letters shall be posted by law enforcement.
(Prior Code, § 6.04.065)
(Ord. 98-5, passed - -; Ord. 18-05, passed 6-1-2018; Ord. 22-03, passed 8-4-2022) Penalty, see § 90.99
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