City of Creve Coeur, MO Animal Regulations

It shall be unlawful for any person at any time to own, harbor, shelter, keep, control, manage or possess in or on his/her premises more than three (3) dogs or a combination of six (6) dogs and cats as long as there are not more than three (3) dogs.

No residential structure or lot shall house or contain more than six (6) pet units as hereinafter defined as long as there are no more than three (3) dogs total. A dog, cat or rabbit shall constitute one (1) pet unit. Five (5) chinchillas, guinea pigs or other rodents, over the age of three (3) months, or any combination thereof, shall constitute one (1) pet unit. Ten (10) hamsters, mice or other small rodent-related mammals over the age of three (3) months shall constitute one (1) pet unit.

Upon the birth of a litter of puppies, kittens or other animals, it shall be permissible to allow such litter to stay together with their mother until they reach the age of four (4) months without violating the limitations of this Section.

This Section shall not apply to a pet shop, pet spa (as defined in Section 405.120), or a veterinarian's office.

Transition Provision. Any owner who on July 1, 1996 is in possession of more than three (3) dogs or a combination of six (6) dogs and cats or who is in the possession of any other animal(s), the possession of which is restricted or prohibited by this Chapter, shall be permitted to retain the animal(s) owned until the animal's death or other disposition. However, no such animal may be replaced or added to the premises if the addition of the animal exceeds the limitations established in Subsection (A) or if the replacement of such animal violates the provisions of this Chapter.

Section 205.070 Animal Defecation On Private Property, Condominium Common Element and Public Property Prohibited.

[R.O. 2008 §5-26; Ord. No. 1879 §1, 8-11-1997; Ord. No. 5028 §1, 2-25-2008]

It shall be unlawful for the person responsible for an animal to allow such animal to soil, defile or defecate upon any public or private property unless such person shall immediately remove all feces so deposited by such animal before taking the animal from the vicinity where such defecation occurred.

This Section shall not apply to any guide or support dog accompanying any blind or disabled person.

It shall be unlawful for the owner or handler of any animal to fail to have in their possession the materials and/or equipment necessary to remove and properly dispose of the animal's fecal matter when accompanied by said animal on private property, condominium common element or public property.

Section 205.080 Noises and Noxious Odors.

[R.O. 2008 §5-27; Ord. No. 1879 §1, 8-11-1997]

It shall be unlawful for any person keeping any animal of any kind to allow said animal to give forth or cause any loud or unusual noise or to cause any ill-smelling, nauseous or obnoxious odors.

All manure accumulations in any pen, run, cage or yard wherein an animal is kept shall be removed or disposed of in such a manner as to prevent the breeding of flies or obnoxious and/or foul odors.

Section 205.090 Impoundment Authorized.

[R.O. 2008 §5-28; Ord. No. 1879 §1, 8-11-1997]

The Animal Control Officer, a Police Officer or any person designated by the City Administrator shall have the power to catch, confine and impound dogs and cats and other animals as follows:

Dogs and cats not wearing a valid, unexpired vaccination-registration tag.

All female dogs and cats, registered or unregistered, not securely confined in an enclosed place while in heat or estrus.

Animals running at large contrary to the provisions of this Chapter or having been at large and pursued by an authorized person regardless of whether or not the animal is at large at the time it is apprehended.

Any dog or cat or other animal:

Infected or suspected of being infected with rabies;

Having been exposed or suspected of having been exposed to an animal infected or suspected of being infected with rabies;

Having been bitten by an animal infected or suspected of being infected with rabies; or

Having bitten an animal known to be infected or suspected of being infected with rabies.

All dogs, cats, puppies and kittens for whom there is no person apparently responsible for them, or for which adequate shelter, food, water and/or veterinary care have not been provided.

All unconfined or unleashed dangerous animals.

Animals under investigation for being dangerous.

Dogs and cats not vaccinated for rabies.

Unconfined animals within a quarantine area.

10.

Animals whose owner has voluntarily and intentionally relinquished control to the authorized impounding official.

No dog or cat shall be exempted from the provisions of this Section by virtue of having been vaccinated or whether wearing or not wearing a vaccination-registration tag.

Section 205.100 Location of Impoundment Facility.

[R.O. 2008 §5-29; Ord. No. 1879 §1, 8-11-1997]

Dogs and cats or other animals impounded in accordance with this Chapter shall be impounded in the St. Louis County Animal Control Shelter or at such other location as may be designated by the Director or the City Administrator.

Section 205.110 Release of Impounded Dogs and Cats Not Affected With Rabies.

[R.O. 2008 §5-30; Ord. No. 1879 §1, 8-11-1997]

All dogs and cats and other animals captured or impounded shall be held and/or released in accordance with St. Louis County ordinances.

All dogs or cats shall be vaccinated before being released to the owner unless such release is otherwise authorized by the Director or other officer under the condition that said animal is vaccinated within seventy-two (72) hours of the release. Proof of vaccination shall be provided to the Director by the owner. Any impounded dangerous animal shall be neutered before release.

An owner may redeem an animal upon the payment of a redemption fee to the City of five dollars ($5.00) the first (1st) time, twenty-five dollars ($25.00) the second (2nd) time and fifty dollars ($50.00) for each time thereafter during one (1) calendar year such animal is impounded. In addition, the cost of vaccination (if any) and a County shelter service fee shall be paid to the shelter by the owner of the animal for the impoundment service prior to release of the animal.

In addition to the fees outlined in Subsection (C), if the animal is unlicensed and uninoculated, the owner thereof may redeem such animal by obtaining a license and having such animal inoculated for rabies at either the County shelter or by a veterinarian of the owner's choice within seventy-two (72) hours after release. The owner shall provide proof of compliance to the County. The owner shall pay the inoculation fee charged by the shelter or the veterinarian.

Section 205.120 Disposal of Impounded Dogs and Cats.

[R.O. 2008 §5-31; Ord. No. 1879 §1, 8-11-1997]

If an impounded animal is not claimed in the manner provided in this Section within one (1) week after its capture, such animal may be disposed of by transfer to a humane adoption group or euthanasia as approved by the County Shelter Director.

Section 205.130 Diseased or Injured Animals.

[R.O. 2008 §5-32; Ord. No. 1879 §1, 8-11-1997]

Any animal impounded under this Section, which is found upon arrival at the impoundment facility to be diseased or injured, whose owner is unknown or relinquishes ownership in writing, shall be immediately euthanized under the authority of the Director of the County Shelter.

Any animal that does not exhibit a valid vaccination-registration tag issued by the County and a tag which reveals the symptoms of any disease or injury, clearly not those of rabies, may be subject to disposal as provided in this Section at the earliest possible time.

Any dogs, cats or other animals showing signs of rabies shall be euthanized immediately in accordance with the County Rabies Control Code in effect at such time.

Section 205.140 Confinement of Animals That Have Bitten A Human or Have Been Exposed To or Are Suspected of Having Been Exposed To Rabies.

[R.O. 2008 §5-33; Ord. No. 1879 §1, 8-11-1997]

Any dog, cat, puppy, kitten or other animal that has bitten a human shall be confined for a clinical observation period of ten (10) days not including the date the bite occurred. The owner shall prevent contact by such an animal with humans or other animals.

Any dog, cat, puppy, kitten or other animal that has been exposed to or is suspected of being exposed to rabies or has bitten a human shall be confined in accordance with the County Rabies Code in effect at such time.

Section 205.150 Rabies To Be Reported.

[R.O. 2008 §5-34; Ord. No. 1879 §1, 8-11-1997]

Any person, including a veterinarian or physician, having information or knowledge of any animal showing signs of rabies or having been exposed to rabies or having bitten a human shall report such information immediately to the County Department of Community Health and Medical Care in accordance with the provisions of the County Rabies Code.

Section 205.160 Quarantine.

[R.O. 2008 §5-35; Ord. No. 1879 §1, 8-11-1997]

All owners of any animals subject to a quarantine order issued by the County shall adhere to all County regulations relating to such quarantine.

During such quarantine period, all dogs, cats, puppies and kittens, whether vaccinated and registered according to the provisions of this Chapter or not, shall be confined in the home of the person responsible for the animal or tied up or placed on a leash under the direct physical control of a competent person to keep such animal from coming into contact with people or other animals.

Section 205.165 No Supplemental Feeding of Deer.

[Ord. No. 5225 §1, 10-10-2011]

The attracting and feeding of white-tailed deer within the City limits results in the deposit of refuse, debris, fecal matter and other offensive substances and in the attraction of wildlife, creating traffic hazards, property damage, and nuisance and annoyance of other persons. Unless otherwise expressly permitted by law, no person shall deposit, place, distribute or leave any fruit, grain, hay, vegetable, mineral, salt, or other food, of any kind or nature, with the intent to attract or feed white-tailed deer on public or private lands.

A property owner shall immediately remove any materials placed on their property by others in violation of this Section.

There shall be a rebuttable presumption that the placement of fruit, grain, hay, vegetables, minerals, salt, or other food in an aggregate volume of more than one-half (½) gallon at a height of less than six (6) feet off the ground, or in any drop feeder, automatic feeder, or similar device regardless of height is for the purpose of feeding deer in violation of this Section. Naturally growing plants, gardens, residue maintained as a mulch pile, and unmodified commercially purchased bird feeders or their equivalent are not prohibited under this Section.

The provisions of this Section shall not apply to any resident or agent of the City authorized to implement a wildlife management program and who possesses the necessary permits from the Missouri Department of Conservation, nor shall it apply to any public officer or public employee in the performance of his or her duties. The provisions of this Section shall not apply to feeding of domestic animals.

The City Administrator may authorize temporary feeding for purposes of counting wildlife population or other public purposes.

City Officials shall issue a written warning for a first (1st) offense under this Section. Thereafter, offenses shall be subject to standard procedures for ordinance violations.