[Adopted 8-31-1994 by L.L.
No. 5-1994]
A.
The Board of Trustees of the Village of Lawrence has
determined that the running at large and other uncontrollable behavior of
cats has caused physical harm to persons and damage to property and has created
nuisances within the Village.
B.
It is the intent of the Board of Trustees, in the enactment
of this article, to protect the health, safety and well-being of persons and
property of all citizens by imposing restrictions on persons owning or possessing
cats within the Village.
Unless otherwise expressly provided, for the purpose of this article,
the following words shall have the meanings herein indicated:
Any animal of the domestic feline species; male, female or altered.
Providing food or shelter to any cat.
Every person having a right of property (or custody) in any cat and
every person who has a cat in his keeping or who harbors or maintains a cat
or knowingly permits a cat to remain on or about any premises occupied by
that person. The owner of a cat shall be considered the initial owner of its
kittens. A person who continually feeds a stray cat shall be considered its
owner. If the owner of a cat shall be under the age of 16 years, the parent
or guardian of such person shall be deemed the "owner."
Applies to any cat not being physically restrained by the owner which
is off and not on the premises of the owner.
No person shall abandon any cat, no matter what its age or condition
within the Village.
No owner shall permit or allow any cat to run at large.
No owner shall permit or allow either willfully or negligently any cat
to create a nuisance upon the property of another or to destroy or deface
the property of another, whether the same be real or personal.
Any person who observes a cat in violation of any section of this article
may file a signed complaint, under oath, with a Justice of the Village of
Lawrence, specifying the violation, the date of violation and the damage caused
and including the place(s) where the violation occurred and the name and address
of the cat's owner, if known.
The Village Justice of the Village of Lawrence shall have jurisdiction
to hear all signed complaints filed, all actions and proceedings hereunder
and all prosecutions for the violations of this article. Upon receipt by the
Village Justice of any complaint against the conduct of any particular cat,
the Village Justice shall summon the alleged owner or other person harboring
said cat to appear in person before him. If the summons is disregarded, the
Village Justice may issue a warrant for the arrest of such person.
[Amended 9-11-2002 by L.L.
No. 5-2002]
Any person convicted of a violation of any provision of this article
shall be guilty of an offense and shall be punishable by a fine of up to a
maximum of $1,000. Each separate offense shall constitute a separate additional
violation.
