[HISTORY: Adopted by the City Council of the City of Laconia: Art. I, 12-29-1975 as Ch. 16 of the Public Ordinances of 1975, amended in its entirety 6-26-1995; Art. II, 12-29-1975 as Ch. 16-B of the Public Ordinances of 1975; Art. III, 6-24-1991 as Ord. No. 194-91.5. Amendments noted where applicable.]
[Adopted 12-29-1975 as Ch. 16 of the Public Ordinances of 1975; amended in its entirety 6-26-1995]
Unless specified otherwise, the following terms shall be as defined herein:
AT LARGE
Off the premises or property of the owner or keeper and not on a leash.
CAT
Any feline animal, male or female, sexed, spayed or neutered.
DOG
Any canine animal, male or female, sexed, spayed or neutered.
OWNER
Any person keeping or harboring or having custody and control of or permitting any dog or cat to habitually be on or remain on or be lodged or fed within such person's house, yard or premises. This term shall not apply to veterinarians or kennel who temporarily maintain on their premises the dog or cat owned by another.
The purpose of this article is to require that all dogs in the City of Laconia be licensed; that they will not harm persons, damage property of another, create a nuisance or spread disease; and that all dogs be kept under the control of their owners at all times.
The provisions of the Article shall apply, equally, to any person, firm, association or corporation having custody or possession of a dog.
A. 
Every owner of a dog three months old or over shall annually, on or before April 30 of each year, cause it to be registered, numbered, described and licensed for one year from the ensuing May 1, in the office of the City Clerk; and each owner shall cause to be worn around the neck of each dog a collar to which shall be attached a metal tag with the following information thereon:
(1) 
"City of Laconia."
(2) 
Year of issue of license.
(3) 
Registered number.
B. 
The fee for every dog shall be as follows:
(1) 
Six dollars and fifty cents for a neutered male or spayed female, provided that the owner shall furnish a certificate from the person performing the operation to the satisfaction of the City Clerk; or
(2) 
Nine dollars for any unneutered male or unspayed female.
C. 
The fee for every license for a year or portion of a year shall be $2 for a dog of either sex if the owner is 65 years of age or older; provided, however, that, if such owner wishes to license more than one dog, the fee for any additional license shall be as prescribed in Subsection B(1) and (2) above.
D. 
Group dog license fees shall be established as follows:
(1) 
Twelve dollars for five or less dogs.
(2) 
Twenty dollars for six to 10 dogs.
(3) 
Twenty-five dollars for 11 to 25 dogs.
(4) 
An additional $1 for each and every dog in excess of 25.
It shall be unlawful to intentionally permit any dog to run at large within the City of Laconia; to this end, the owner shall keep the dog on a leash or within an enclosure whenever the dog is not on the property of the owner. This section shall not apply to hunting dogs while such dogs are under the supervision and control of the owner while hunting.
A. 
Any dog found running at large shall be impounded and shall be confined in a suitable animal shelter for a reasonable period. Any owner of a dog so seized may reclaim said dog during the seven-day period, provided that they furnish proof of proper licensing and rabies vaccination and make full payment to the City of all pickup and transportation charges and shall, in addition, pay to the animal shelter all fines incurred for each day the dog has been impounded. No dog shall be released until all fees have been paid by the owner or individual claiming the dog.
[Amended 8-22-2005 by Ord. No. 07.2005.07]
B. 
The owner of any impounded and licensed dog collected according to these provisions shall receive a notice advising of and indicating the terms by which the animal can be reclaimed.
C. 
Any licensed impounded dogs not claimed by the owner or custodians within seven days after receiving written notice to the owner or custodian may be humanely disposed of or placed by the shelter.
D. 
Any unlicensed dog collected by the City and delivered to the shelter shall be maintained for a period not to exceed 10 days and then humanely disposed of or placed by the shelter.
[Added 11-13-2001 by Ord. No. 08.2001.08]
It shall be unlawful for anyone to walk a dog within the limits of Lakeside Avenue during Motorcycle Week, commencing at the date and time specified in the annual temporary traffic order for Motorcycle Week and ending at the expiration of said traffic order.
Any dog and/or cat suspected or displaying symptoms which indicate the likelihood that such dog or cat is afflicted with rabies, whether or not such dog or cat has bitten or caused a nonbite exposure, shall be impounded and handled in accordance with the provisions of RSA 436:109.
A. 
No dog or cat shall be permitted, whether or not leashed or restrained, to be a nuisance, menace or vicious to persons, property or other animals.
B. 
A dog or cat is deemed to be a nuisance when:
(1) 
It barks, meows, etc., for a sustained period of time or during the night hours so as to disturb the peace and quiet of a neighborhood area.
(2) 
If it digs, scratches or causes waste or garbage to be scattered on property other than the owners.
(3) 
If it growls, snaps, bites or runs after or chases any persons, bicycle or motor vehicle.
(4) 
If it, whether alone or in a pack, bites, attacks or preys on game animals, domestic animals, fowl or human beings.
A. 
This article shall be administered and enforced by the City's Animal Control Officer and/or the Laconia Police Department.
B. 
It shall be the duty of the City's Animal Control Officer and the Laconia Police Department to see that all regulations relating to this chapter are enforced.
Any person found violating any provision of this article shall be issued a summons and, if found guilty of a violation and upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by a fine of not less than $25 for the first offense and, upon a second or subsequent conviction within a twelve-month period of the first violation, a fine of not less than $50 or more than $100. Such person shall be guilty of a separate offense for each and every day during any portion of which any violation of this article is committed, continued or permitted.
[Added 7-22-1996 by Ord. No. 06.96.6]
A. 
Duty to dispose. It shall be the duty of each person who owns, possesses or controls a dog to immediately remove and dispose of any feces left by his/her dog on any sidewalk, street or other public area. It shall further be the duty of each person who owns, possesses or controls a dog to immediately remove and dispose of any feces left by his/her dog on any private property neither owned nor occupied by said person, unless said private property owner or occupant agrees otherwise.
B. 
Duty to possess means of removal; disposal. No person who owns, possesses or controls such dog shall appear with such dog on any sidewalk, street, park or other public area without means of removal of any feces left by such dog. Furthermore, no person who owns, possesses or controls such dog shall appear with such dog on any private property neither owned nor occupied by said person without the means of removal of any feces left by said dog, unless said private property owner or occupier agrees otherwise. Disposal of such feces shall be in a manner consistent with all applicable laws.
C. 
Enforcement; fines for violation. This section shall be enforced by the Laconia Police Department. Violation of this regulation shall be punished by a fine of $25 for each occurrence.
The following regulations are adopted and proclaimed for the protection and the purity of the water and public beaches and City parks of the City of Laconia, such being undertaken pursuant to the powers vested in the City. No person or persons shall in any public beach, City park or on other public property feed any aquatic bird, including but not limited to ducks, geese, loons, sea gulls or swans.
Any person who violates any of the provisions of this article shall be guilty of a violation not to exceed a penalty of $200. Such person shall be deemed to be guilty of a separate offense for each and every day during any portion of which any violation of this article is committed, continued or permitted by such person and shall be punishable therefor as provided therein.