The following words and phrases shall have the
following meanings:
ADOPTION
The delivery of a cat or dog to any person 18 years of age
or older for the purpose of harboring as a pet.
COMMERCIAL KENNEL
A kennel maintained as a business established for or to include
the boarding or grooming of dogs.
DANGEROUS DOG
A.
Any dog which, according to the records of the
Animal Control Officer or other appropriate authority, has inflicted
severe injury on a human being without provocation on public or private
property; or
B.
Any dog which, according to the records of the
Animal Control Officer or other appropriate authority, has killed
a domestic animal without provocation while off the owner's or keeper's
property.
DOG FUND
The fees, fines, and reimbursements collected in connection
with the licensing of dogs and the enforcement of these rules and
regulations.
KEEPER
Any person, corporation or society, other than the owner,
harboring or having in his possession any dog.
LICENSE PERIOD
The time between January 1 and December 31, both dates inclusive.
LIVESTOCK or FOWLS
Animals or fowls kept or propagated by the owner for food
or as a means of livelihood; also deer, elk, cottontail rabbits and
northern hares, pheasants, quail, partridge, and those birds and quadrupeds
determined by the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife and environmental
law enforcement to be wild and kept by or under a permit from said
Department in proper houses or suitably enclosed yards. Such term
shall not include dogs, cats and other pets.
RESEARCH INSTITUTION
Any institution operated by the United States or by the commonwealth
or a political subdivision thereof or any school or college of medicine,
public health, dentistry, pharmacy, veterinary medicine or agriculture,
medical diagnostic laboratory or biological laboratory, hospital or
other educational or scientific establishment within the commonwealth
above the rank of secondary school which, in connection with any of
its activities, investigates or gives instructions concerning the
structure or functions of living organisms or the causes, prevention,
control or cure of diseases or abnormal conditions of human beings
or animals.
SHELTER
An animal control facility or any other facility which is
operated by any organization or individual for the purpose of protecting
animals from cruelty, neglect, or abuse.
[Amended 5-5-2009 STM
by Art. 3]
A. A kennel maintained as a business for the boarding
and/or grooming of dogs shall obtain a commercial kennel license.
The fee for each commercial kennel license shall be determined annually
by a committee of the Town Administrator, the Town Clerk, and the
Animal Control Officer and approved by the Board of Selectmen. Each
kennel shall be available for inspection during normal business hours
by the Animal Control Officer, a police officer, or the Board of Health.
B. Any owner or keeper of more than three dogs but fewer
than seven dogs shall obtain a kennel license for a multiple pet household
upon written application and payment of the current license fee for
each dog. The owner or keeper shall present to the Town Clerk verification
that all dogs six months or older have been immunized against rabies.
A veterinary hospital within the Town of Harwich shall not be considered
a kennel unless it contains an area for grooming and/or boarding,
in which case it shall obtain a commercial kennel license.
C. The Clerk shall issue without a charge a kennel license
to any domestic charitable corporation incorporated exclusively for
the purpose of protecting animals from cruelty, neglect, or abuse.
D. Whoever as the owner or keeper fails to obtain an
appropriate kennel license shall be subject to a fine of $100.
Any veterinarian who renders emergency care
or treatment to or disposes of a dog or a cat that has been injured
on any way within the Town of Harwich shall receive payment from the
owner or keeper of such dog or cat, if known, or if not known from
the Town of Harwich in the amount of $20 for such care, treatment
or disposal. Treatment shall be for the purpose of maintaining life,
stabilizing, or alleviating suffering until the owner or keeper of
such dog or cat is identified or for any period of 24 hours, whichever
is sooner. Any veterinarian who renders such emergency care or treatment
to or disposes of such dog or cat shall notify the Animal Control
Officer, and upon notification the Animal Control Officer shall assume
control of such dog or cat.
The Board of Health of the Town of Harwich shall
furnish free of charge upon application of any resident thereof who
has been or may have been exposed to rabies anti-rabid vaccine and
treatment in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Department
of Public Health and accepted medical practice. Such person shall
have the right to select his/her own physician who shall be paid by
the Town of Harwich at a rate established by the Board of Health.