A. Harboring Stray Dogs: It shall be unlawful for any person to harbor or keep any lost or strayed 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 animal control or the police department within twenty four (24) hours, and the police department shall impound the dog as herein provided. (Ord. 2012-02, 2-8-2012)
B. Dogs Running At Large: It shall be unlawful for any dog to run at large. If any dog is at large, the owner or person having charge, care, custody or control of said dog is in violation of this section regardless of the precautions taken to prevent the escape and running at large of said dog. (Ord. 2017-01, 1-11-2017)
C. Dogs On Unenclosed Premises: It shall be unlawful for any person to chain, stake out or tether any dog on any unenclosed premises in such a manner that the animal may go beyond the property line, unless such person has permission of the owner of the affected property. (1989 Code § 13-245)
D. Female Dogs In Heat: Any owner or person having charge, care, custody or control of any female dog in heat shall, in addition to restraining such dog from running at large, cause such dog to be constantly confined in a building or secure enclosure so as to prevent it from attracting by scent or coming into contact with other dogs and creating a nuisance, except for planned breeding. (1989 Code § 13-246)
E. Places Prohibited To Dogs: It shall be unlawful for any person to take or permit any dog, whether loose or on a leash or in arms, in or about any establishment or place of business where food or food products are sold or displayed, including, but not limited to, restaurants, grocery stores, meat markets and fruit or vegetable stores; however, seeing eye and hearing dogs and dogs employed by government agencies shall be excluded from the requirements of this subsection. (1989 Code § 13-247)
F. Cruelty To Animals:
1. 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.
2. Hobbling Animals: It is unlawful for any person to hobble livestock or other animals by any means which may cause injury or damage to any animal.
3. Lack Of Care And Maintenance: It shall be the duty of any person to provide any animal in his charge or custody, as owner or otherwise, with adequate food, drink, care and shelter.
4. Animals In Vehicles: It shall be 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.
5. Abandonment Of Animals: It shall be unlawful for any person to abandon any animal within the jurisdiction.
6. Animal Poisoning: 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 furtherance of the public health when applied in such a manner as to reasonably prohibit access to other animals.
7. Injury To Animals By Motorists:
a. 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 shall immediately notify the animal control department, furnishing requested facts relative to such injury.
b. 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 animal control department. Such animal may be taken in by the animal control facility and dealt with as deemed appropriate under the circumstances.
8. Animals For Fighting:
a. 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 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 buildings, sheds, rooms, yards, grounds or premises for the purposes aforesaid.
b. Law enforcement officers or animal control officials may enter any building or place where there is an exhibition of the 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, or there found for the purposes of fighting, along with all implements or applications used in such exhibitions. This provision shall not be interpreted to authorize a search or arrest without a warrant when such is required by law.
9. Killing Of Birds: It shall be unlawful for any person to take or kill any bird, or to rob or destroy any nest, egg or young of any bird in violation of the laws of the state.
10. Malicious Impounding: It shall be unlawful for any person maliciously to secrete or impound the animal of another. (1989 Code § 13-259)