(A) Any animal who has been the subject of a prior judgement in which a court made a finding that the animal was dangerous, violent or vicious, will be considered an animal deemed vicious for purposes of this section.
(B) It shall be unlawful for any person to cause, permit, accompany or be responsible for the presence of any dog, cat or other animal deemed vicious on the streets or public places of the city or allow the animal to run on the premises of another at any time. Upon impounding an animal deemed vicious for any reason, the animal control officer may, for reasons of public safety, retain the animal at the impoundment facility until disposition by the appropriate court.
(C) The following additional precautions shall be taken by the owners, possessors, or custodians of animals deemed vicious.
(1) In addition to the requirements in § 90.11 (Restraint of animals; animals at large), the owner of a dog deemed vicious who maintains said dog out-of-doors shall fence a portion of the property with a second perimeter or area fence. Within this perimeter or area fence, said animal must be humanely confined inside a pen or kennel of adequate size. The pen or kennel may not share common fencing with the area or perimeter fence. The kennel or pen must have secure sides and a secure top attached to all sides. The sides must either be buried two feet into the ground, sunken into a concrete pad, or securely attached to a wire bottom. The gate to the kennel shall be of the inward-opening type and shall be kept locked except when tending to the animal’s needs such as cleaning the kennel or providing food and water.
(2) Whenever a dog deemed vicious is outside of its enclosure as provided for in this division (C), but on the owner’s property, it must be attended to by the owner and restrained by a secure collar and leash of sufficient strength to prevent escape. The leash shall be no longer than ten feet, and the animal must be kept at least 15 feet within the perimeter boundaries of the property unless the perimeter boundary is securely fenced.
(3) No dog deemed vicious shall be chained, tethered, or otherwise tied to any inanimate object such as a tree, post or building, outside of its own enclosure as provided for in this division (C).
(4) The owner shall post the premises with a clearly visible warning sign that displays a brightly-colored and clearly visible warning symbol that informs children of the presence of a vicious dog.
(D) This section shall not apply to law enforcement dogs.
(Prior Code, § 10-9) (Ord. 21-32, passed 7-12-2021) Penalty, see § 90.99