The Common Council of the City of Rensselaer, New York, hereby
finds and determines that the soiling of public streets, sidewalks
and the areas adjacent to same by droppings and fecal matter of animals
is detrimental to the public health and safety in the City of Rensselaer,
New York, and of public health and safety, all such soiling by animal
droppings and fecal matter is prohibited.
As used herein, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated:
ANIMALS
Includes each and every animal kept, controlled, harbored
or otherwise maintained or played with, whether the animal is owned
or not and whether the animal is a pet, domestic or wild or semi-wild
animal, or a dog, cat or any other type of animal.
PUBLIC PROPERTY, GROUNDS AND PARKS
Includes all property, grounds and parks owned by, operated
by or subject to the control and supervision of the City of Rensselaer
or any municipal body or agency having jurisdiction thereof.
SIDEWALKS OR AREAS ADJACENT THERETO
Includes sidewalks, thoroughfares, byways, alleys, squares,
lanes and walks and shall include areas adjacent thereto, such as
lawns, public roads, streets and highways, parking lots, loading zones,
driveways and other areas accessible to the public or their animals
leading to, adjacent to or in the vicinity of such public property,
grounds and places above set forth.
No person shall suffer, allow or permit any animal which such
person owns or harbors, keeps, controls or otherwise maintains to
soil, defecate on or deposit any dropping or fecal matter on any public
road, street, highway, sidewalk or area adjacent thereto or upon any
public grounds or parks or any private property without the permission
of the owner of said property, unless such person shall make a reasonable
effort to immediately clean and remove such droppings and fecal matter
in good faith and so as to prevent such soiling action, which soiling
action is declared to be a public nuisance detrimental to public health.
Such soiling action shall be deemed prevented if such person
shall immediately clean up all such fecal matter and droppings by
causing same to be gathered in a suitable bag, wrapper or other container
and disposed of in a safe and sanitary manner.
Any person, firm or corporation committing an offense against
any provision of this article shall be punishable by a fine not to
exceed $100.