[Adopted 7-10-1978 as Ord.
No. 172]
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated:
Any live, vertebrate creature, domestic or wild.
The person designated by the Town Council of Denton as a law enforcement
officer qualified to perform the duties under this article.
Any facility operated by a humane society, or municipal agency, or
its authorized agents for the purposes of impounding or caring for animals
held under the authority of this article.
Any person, partnership or corporation owning, keeping or harboring
one or more animals. An animal shall be deemed to be harbored if it is fed
or sheltered for three consecutive days or more.
Any animal or animals which:
Any animal secured by a leash or lead or under the control of a responsible
person and obedient to that person's commands or within the real property
limits of its owner.
A.
Any person owning, keeping, harboring or having custody
of any animal over three months of age within this municipality may obtain
a license as herein provided. This provision may not apply to keeping of small
caged birds or aquatic and amphibian animals solely as pets.
B.
Written application for licenses shall be made to the
Municipal Office which shall include the name and address of applicant, a
description of the animal, the appropriate fee and rabies certificate issued
by a licensed veterinarian or antirabies clinic.
C.
Upon acceptance of the license application and fee, the
Municipal Office shall issue a durable tag or identification collar stamped
with an identifying number.
D.
The Municipal Office shall maintain a record of the identifying
numbers of all tags issued and shall make this record available to the public.
E.
The licensing period shall be indefinite. Persons applying
for a license shall be required to pay a fee of $5 per animal.
F.
A duplicate license may be obtained upon payment of a
replacement fee of $2.
G.
No person may use any license for any animal other than
the animal for which it was issued.
A.
All animals shall be kept under restraint.
B.
No owner shall fail to exercise proper care and control
of his animals to prevent them from becoming a nuisance to the public.
C.
Every female animal in heat shall be confined in a building
in such a manner that such female animal cannot come into contact with another
animal except for planned breeding.
A.
Unrestrained dogs and nuisance animals shall be taken
by the police or Animal Control Officers and impounded in an animal shelter
and there confined in a humane manner.
B.
Impounded animals shall be kept for not less than five
days.
C.
If, by a license tag or other means, the owner of an
impounded animal can be identified, the Animal Control Officer shall immediately
upon impoundment notify the owner by telephone or mail.
D.
Any animal not reclaimed by its owner within five days
shall become the property of the Town Council of Denton, or humane society,
and shall be humanely euthanized.
E.
Any owner of any animal impounded under the provisions
of this article may reclaim said animal upon payment of the sum of $5 to the
Town Clerk plus a charge per day for boarding as shall be set by the Town
Council.
No owner shall fail to provide his animals with sufficient good, wholesome
food and water, proper shelter and protection from the weather, veterinary
care, when needed to prevent suffering, and with humane care and treatment.
Any person violating any provision of this article shall be deemed guilty
of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by a fine
of not more than $100 or imprisonment not exceeding 30 days in the Caroline
County Jail, or by both such fine and imprisonment.
