[Adopted as Ch. 4, Art. II, of the 1963 City
Code (Ch. 137, Art. II, of the 1980 Code)]
Every owner or keeper of a kennel and every
owner or keeper of a dog more than three months old shall obtain from
the City Clerk a license therefor.
The City Clerk shall upon application issue
such licenses, collect the fees and make the record and returns required
by law.
[Amended 7-10-2007 by Doc. 76; 6-3-2008 by Doc. 66]
The Mayor shall designate one or more Animal Control Officers who shall hold office until a successor is qualified. The Mayor may also designate one or more Assistant Animal Control Officers, who may be employed on a part-time or seasonal basis, who shall work under the supervision of the Chief of Police and whose duties shall be to patrol parks and playgrounds enforcing violations of §§ 137-4, 137-10 and 137-11.
The Mayor shall annually, within 10 days after
June 1, issue a warrant to the Animal Control Officer directing him
to seek out and confine all unlicensed dogs.
The Chief of Police is hereby authorized and
directed to obtain and maintain suitable premises and make all necessary
rules and regulations relative thereto for the purpose of restraining
of dogs found not properly muzzled or running at large, contrary to
any order passed by the City Council.[1]
[Amended 4-12-1983 by Doc. 72; 7-10-2007 by Doc. 76]
The Animal Control Officer shall be immediately
notified of any dog so apprehended and placed which is not licensed
and collared as provided by law. The owner or keeper of any dog so
apprehended and placed which is licensed and collared shall be immediately
notified in writing of such apprehension and the place where such
dog is restrained and that a fee as herein provided shall be charged
for each day or portion of the day during which such dog is so restrained.
Such notice shall be served by delivering the same in hand or at the
last and usual place of abode of such owner or keeper, and a certified
copy of the order of the City Council relating to the restraining
and muzzling of dogs shall be delivered to such owner or keeper at
the same time, as provided for in MGL c. 140, § 168. Such
dog shall be restrained on the premises for a period of 10 days after
the serving of the notice or unless called for within the period by
the owner or keeper or someone in his behalf. A fee of $15 per day
or any portion of a day during which such dog is so restrained on
the premises shall be paid to the City Treasurer by the owner or keeper
of such dog. In addition, a fee of $10 shall be paid to the City Treasurer
by the owner of any dog picked up by the Animal Control Officer.[1]
