[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Health of the Town of Fairhaven 9-25-1979 as Ch. VII
of the 1979 Regulations. Amendments noted where applicable.]
Owners or occupants of premises keeping domestic animals shall
report to the Board of Health annually before January 1. The term
"domestic animals" shall include but not be limited to barnyard animals,
horses, cows, goats, sheep, rabbits, swine and poultry.
A.
The Board of Health may require such owners or occupants to obtain
a permit to keep certain classes of domestic animals. Such permit
shall be subject to the following conditions:
(1)
The applicant shall notify all abuttors in writing of the pending
permit application at least 15 days prior to issuance of the permit.
This condition is waived in areas considered suitable for agricultural
use.
(2)
No barn, stable, yard or other facility for the keeping of barnyard
animals shall be located closer than 20 feet to any dwelling. The
distance from the property line is to be determined by the Board of
Health.
(3)
Provisions shall be made for the disposal of manure and bedding material
in a manner which will prevent the contamination of surface and groundwaters,
prevent infestation by rodents and insects and prevent the release
of objectionable odors.
(4)
Provisions shall be made for the storage of feed in a manner which
will prevent infestation by rodents and insects and prevent the release
of objectionable odors.
(5)
Drainage facilities shall be provided as necessary to prevent the
accumulation of standing water and to prevent contamination of surface
water and groundwater.
(6)
Access of barnyard animals to surface water bodies shall be restricted
as necessary to prevent stream bank erosion and contamination of surface
water bodies.
(7)
The keeping of pigs on any premises shall be limited to not more
than two pigs and one litter. A litter shall be defined as the offspring
of a single sow from the same pregnancy and being not over six weeks
of age.
B.
All permits issued under this section shall expire on the last day
of the year in which they are issued and may be revoked by the Board
at any time for violation of any of the above conditions.
The owner or other persons having control of any barn, stable,
yard or other facility for the keeping of barnyard animals shall maintain
such facilities in a clean and sanitary condition. Such facilities
may be subject to periodic inspection by the Board of Health or its
agent.
All equine animals within the boundaries of the Town of Fairhaven
shall be vaccinated against encephalitis on or before June 1 of each
year. A valid certification of vaccination shall be made available
to the Board of Health. The Board of Health may require any other
vaccination to immunize against diseases common to animal and man.
The Board of Health may require that dogs be restrained from
entering certain public recreation areas, such as town playgrounds
and beaches. Any such restrictions shall be posted at the site and
shall be designed to minimize the transmission of parasites.
A.
Any person or persons keeping five or more cats within the town in
any building or on any premises of which he/she may be the owner,
lessee, tenant or occupant shall require a permit for the keeping
thereof. This permit shall require the owner to restrain the cats
to the premises and shall be granted conditionally and shall be subject
to spot inspections by any agent of the Board of Health. A litter
of kittens may be kept for a period not to exceed six weeks.
B.
Any person, firm or corporation engaged in the keeping and/or sale
of cats and kittens shall be required to secure a permit authorizing
the business. All permits will be issued after an on-site inspection
by a designated agent of the Board of Health.
