(A) It is unlawful for the owner of any animal to fail to keep such animal under restraint or to permit such animal to run at large upon the streets and public ways of the City.
(B) Any dog, while on a street, sidewalk, public way or in a park or other public space, or upon any private property without the consent of the property owner, shall be secured by a leash or chain of sufficient tensile strength and appropriate length to restrain the particular dog. However, while actually participating in instructional obedience training, dogs may be temporarily restrained by a leash or greater length.
(C) No owner or custodian of any animal shall leave such animal unattended while on a street, sidewalk, public way or in a park or other public space, or fail to exercise proper care and control of such animal to prevent the same from becoming a nuisance.
(D) Every female dog or cat, while in heat, shall be kept in a secure enclosed shelter or area within the real property limits of the owner’s premises in such a manner so as not to come in contact with another animal except for planned breeding.
(E) Every dangerous or vicious animal shall be confined by its owner, or authorized agent of its owner, within a building or secure enclosure, and, whenever off the premises of its owner, shall be securely muzzled and restrained with a chain having a minimum tensile strength of 300 pounds and not more than three feet in length or caged. Every person harboring a dangerous or vicious animal is charged with an affirmative duty to confine the animal in such a way that no other person has access to such animal.
(F) Every dog or cat, unlicensed or licensed, found running at large in the streets, avenues, alleys or other public places within the City, or on private property belonging to persons other than the owners or persons in control of such dogs, is hereby declared to be a public nuisance and may be taken and impounded in the City pound or elsewhere by the Animal Control Officer, any Sheriff, or their deputy, or other persons designated by the Mayor from time to time for such purposes. If a dog or cat running at large has previously bitten a human being, domestic animal or livestock, whether or not the bite took place on the owner’s private property, then upon impoundment that dog or cat shall be destroyed in a humane manner under the supervision of the Animal Control Officer or the Sheriff.
(H) Guidelines for fines for violating this section shall be up to $50 for the first offense, up to $100 for a second offense and up to $500 for a third or subsequent offense. Any owner who fails to pay all fines within the period prescribed after imposition thereof by the City Judge and any fees for impoundment of the animal pursuant to § 5.2.8 shall cause the animal to be deemed abandoned, disposition of which shall be provided in § 5.2.9. (Ord. 356, passed 12-7-2015)