[CC 1976 §230.010; Ord. No. 1291 §1, 10-25-1977; Ord. No. 1503 §1, 6-14-1983]
The following words and phrases when used in this Chapter shall
for the purpose of this Chapter have the meanings respectively ascribed
to them in this Section.
ANIMAL
All types, species or varieties and shall include, but not
be limited to, alligators, bees, cattle, cats, chickens, crocodiles,
dogs, ducks, geese, goats, hogs, horses, kittens, mules, pigs, puppies,
rabbits, sheep, turkeys, and reptiles, including but not limited to
poisonous and non-poisonous snakes and lizards or any other fish or
reptile which could be harmful to any person or persons and shall
also mean all species of poultry or fowl other than common household
birds, including but not limited to, canaries, parakeets and parrots
which shall be kept in an enclosed cage inside a building.
AT LARGE
Off the premises of the owner's real property and not under
restraint of a competent person.
CAT
All domestic species or varieties of the genus felis, male
or female, six (6) months of age or older.
CERTIFICATE
The certificate issued, under the St. Louis County Rabies
Control Code, at the time of vaccination, and bearing the signature
of the vaccinator, the registration number, the name, color, breed
and sex of the animal, the name and address of the owner, the date
of the vaccination and type of vaccination administered.
CHICKEN EMBRYO ORIGIN VACCINE
Vaccine which is manufactured using the embryo of the chicken
as a growth medium and also known as Flury Strain Vaccine.
COMPETENT PERSON
A human being who is capable of controlling and governing
the animal in question, and to whose commands such animal is obedient.
COURT
The Municipal Court of the City.
DOG
All domesticated members of the canis familaris, male or
female, six (6) months of age or older.
EUTHANIZE
To put to death in a humane manner.
EXPOSED TO RABIES
Any animal, whether it has been registered or vaccinated
for rabies or not, which has been bitten, been fighting with or has
consorted with an animal known or suspected to have rabies or showing
objective symptoms of rabies.
HEALTH DEPARTMENT, COMMISSIONER, OR HEALTH COMMISSIONER
The Department of Public Health of St. Louis County, Missouri,
or the Commissioner of Public Health of St. Louis County, or any person,
persons or agent employed by the County Health Commissioner to enforce
the St. Louis County Rabies Control Code.
HOUSEHOLD
Those members in a family, including servants and attendants,
living in the same dwelling unit.
IDENTIFICATION TAG
A metal tag permanently attached to the dog collar upon which
the owner's name, address, and telephone number is permanently lettered.
IMPOUND
The apprehending, catching, trapping, netting, tranquilizing,
confining or, if necessary, the destruction of any animal by the Health
Commissioner or his/her agent, or by an employee or agent of the City.
IMPOUNDING FACILITIES
Any premises designated by the Board of Aldermen for the
purpose of impounding and caring for all animals in violation of this
Chapter.
KITTEN
All domestic species or varieties of the genus felis, male
or female, under the age of six (6) months.
LICENSE
A certificate issued by the City bearing thereon the rabies
vaccination-registration number, the name, color, breed, and sex of
the dog, the name and address and telephone number of the owner, the
date of vaccination, the type of vaccine administered (1 year or 3
years), the license issue date, the signature of the owner, and the
license fee paid. Any dog neutered after the license date shall be
relicensed the following year at the discounted rate.
LIVESTOCK
Domestic animals kept for use on a farm or raised for sale
and profit.
NERVE TISSUE ORIGIN
Vaccine which is manufactured, using tissue of the nervous
system as a growth medium.
NUISANCE DOG
Any dog which is the subject of written and signed complaints
of similar nature from three (3) different households within a three
(300) hundred foot radius of the household of the dog in question,
or two (2) different such households plus one (1) authorized City
agent. The three (3) complaints must be made within a two (2) year
period of time.
OWNER
Any person, firm or corporation which owns, harbors, shelters,
keeps, controls, manages, possesses, or has part interest in any dog,
cat, animal or kennel in the City. The occupant of any premises on
which a dog or cat remains for a period of seven (7) days or to which
it customarily returns for a period of ten (10) days is presumed to
be harboring, sheltering or keeping the aforementioned dog, cat or
animal and is deemed to be an owner within this definition. Under
no circumstances are the normal and ordinary accepted definitions
of the terms harboring, sheltering or keeping to be limited to the
words of the aforementioned presumption. If a minor owns a dog, puppy,
cat, kitten or animal subject to the provisions of this Chapter, the
head of the household of which such minor owner is a member shall
be deemed to be the owner of such dog, puppy, cat, kitten or other
animal for purposes of this Chapter, and under this Chapter shall
be responsible as the owner, whether or not such household head is
himself/herself a minor. If not a member of a household, such minor
owner himself/herself shall be directly subject to the provisions
of this Chapter.
PUP OR PUPPY
All domesticated members of the canis familaris, male or
female, under six (6) months of age.
RESTRAINT
1.
Controlled by a line or leash not more than six (6) feet in
length, when the line or leash is held by a competent person; or,
2.
Within an enclosed vehicle which is parked, stopped or driven;
or,
3.
Within a fenced yard, dog run or other enclosed or fenced place
which fence shall be sufficient to restrict an animal from escaping
from within the enclosed or fenced place; or,
4.
In the control of a competent person actively engaged in obedience
training and to whose commands there is obedient response by the animal;
5.
Controlled by a chain attached to an immovable fixture on the
owner's real property, when said chain prevents the dog from leaving
the owner's real property.
VACCINATE
The injections, by a veterinarian or his/her authorized agent,
of a specified dose of anti-rabies vaccine into the body of an animal,
such vaccine having the U.S. Government license number approval stamped
on the label of the vaccine container and having been approved by
the Health Commissioner. Vaccine used for vaccination of animals shall
be stored and kept under conditions proper for the vaccine and shall
show no signs of spoilage or otherwise be unfit for producing immunity
against rabies.
VACCINATION REGISTRATION
The procedure of vaccinating for rabies and issuing an identification
number and an appropriate certificate under the St. Louis County Rabies
Control Code. The above words shall be interchangeable.
VETERINARIAN
Any veterinarian, holding a current Missouri License and
operating on a participating basis with the Health Department, as
required by the St. Louis County Rabies Control Code.
VICIOUS ANIMAL
A vicious animal shall mean any animal(s) which, unprovoked, overtly threatens, attacks, bites or injures any human being or domestic animal, and demonstrates a propensity to perform such behavior without provocation. Such animal shall be deemed a vicious animal only after such a determination is made by the City, subsequent to an investigation, set forth in Section
230.150. An animal protecting its owner's property by threatening, attacking, biting or injuring a person engaged in a willful trespass, tort, or criminal activity upon said property shall not be determined vicious solely as a result of such incident. A dog biting a person engaged in criminal activity shall not be labeled vicious as a result of such biting.
[Ord. No. 3000, 1-26-2021]
[CC 1976 §230.020; Ord. No. 1291 §§2—3, 10-25-1977; Ord. No. 1503 §2, 6-14-1983; Ord. No. 2659 §1, 3-27-2012]
A. No
person, firm, business, or corporation shall own, harbor, shelter,
manage, keep, control, or possess any domestic or undomestic animal
upon any premises either public or private within the City, subject
however to the following exception:
1. Two (2) dogs, and/or their offspring, as defined under Section
230.010.
2. Two (2) cats, and/or their offspring, as defined under Section
230.010.
3. One (1) dog and one (1) cat and/or the pup or kittens thereof as defined in Section
230.010.
4. Common household birds limited to canaries, parakeets, parrots, doves,
and the like which are restrained by an enclosed cage.
5. Household animals limited to hamsters, gerbils, and guinea pigs which
are restrained by an enclosed cage.
6. Tropical fish which are accepted as not dangerous or harmful to human
beings or the national wildlife.
7. Animals used for parades, shows, or demonstrations; providing the
City has authorized the event.
8. A duly licensed pet shop shall be excluded from the provisions of
this Chapter in the operation of such pet shop, but any owner or proprietor
of such pet shop shall be subject to the provisions of this Chapter
in all instances other than the operation of the pet shop.
9. Five (5) chickens as provided for and regulated by Section
230.055.
[CC 1976 §230.030; Ord. No. 1291 §§6, 25—27, 10-25-1977; Ord. No. 1503 §3, 6-14-1983; Ord. No. 2934, 9-11-2018]
A. License
Tag And Fees. All dogs and cats are required to be licensed with the
City each year. Owners of dogs and cats shall hold the license for
the full period of issuance, and shall present the license to any
authorized agent of the City upon request. The license fee and replacement
license fee shall be five dollars ($5.00) per annum for each dog and
cat. A license tag shall be issued at the time the above fees are
paid for each animal.
B. Seeing-Eye
Dog License. There shall be no charge for a license for any dog duly
certified as a seeing-eye dog which has been properly trained to assist
blind persons when any such dog is actually being used by a blind
person as a seeing-eye dog.
C. Attack
Dog License. Any person, firm, business, or corporation owning, harboring,
keeping, sheltering, managing, controlling, or possessing any attack
trained dog shall be required to state such facts at the time of license
application, and shall be required to prove medical insurance protection
in the amount of ten thousand dollars ($10,000.00) per biting occurrence.
[CC 1976 §230.040; Ord. No. 1291 §§7,8,20, 10-25-1977]
A. Vaccination Required. Every person who owns any dog or
cat, that is kept any time during the year at any place within the
City, or who permits a dog or cat to come upon property in the City,
or to remain in or about his/her home, place of business or other
premises in the City, shall have such dog or cat vaccinated against
rabies and registered as provided in the St. Louis County Rabies Control
Code.
B. Frequency. All dogs and cats must be vaccinated at least
once a year if a Nerve Tissue Origin Vaccine is used, or once every
three (3) years if a Chicken Embryo or other three (3) year type vaccine,
approved by the Health Commissioner is administered. If other vaccine,
approved by the Health Commissioner is administered, then at the frequency
approved by the Health Commissioner.
C. Vaccination Registration Tag. Every dog and cat which has
been vaccinated in accordance with the provisions of the St. Louis
County Rabies Control Code shall at all times wear the registration
tag in the manner therein prescribed.
D. Current Tag Required. No owner shall own any dog or cat
unless such dog or cat has been vaccinated against rabies and wears
a current, unexpired registration tag. The owner shall possess a certificate
issued in accordance with the provisions of the St. Louis County Rabies
Control Code.
E. Imported Dog Vaccination. No person shall bring into the
City any animal which has not been vaccinated in accordance with the
requirements of this Chapter.
[CC 1976 §230.050; Ord. No. 1291 §5, 10-25-1977]
Dog owners are encouraged to have dogs wear an identification
tag at all times.
[Ord. No. 2658 §1, 3-27-2012; Ord. No. 2663 §1, 5-22-2012]
A. Definitions. For the purposes of this Section, the following
words and phrases shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to
them:
ANNUAL PERMIT
A permit authorizing an individual to raise chickens domestically
for private, non-commercial uses for a term beginning on January first
(1st) each year and ending on December thirty-first (31st) of the
following year.
CHICKEN
Female domestic members of the genus Gallus not used for
slaughter, which are maintained for private, non-commercial and non-breeding
use.
COOP
The entirety of the enclosure within which chickens are proposed
to be maintained or actually maintained.
TEMPORARY PERMIT
A forty-five (45) day permit issued to an approved applicant
for the building of a coop in accordance with the specifications set
forth in said permit.
B. Authorization. No person may keep upon his/her premises
any chicken except as explicitly provided for in this Section.
C. Application Process—Temporary Permit—Annual Permit Renewal.
1. Any person owning a single-family dwelling desiring to keep any chicken
within the City limits may file a written application for a temporary
permit with the City Clerk. The cost of the application shall be twenty
dollars ($20.00) and shall be non-refundable.
2. The application must include a description of the location and the
specific facilities to be provided with respect to the coop, the square
footage of the applicant's premises to be devoted to the proposed
coop, the number of chickens to be kept within the coop, the purpose
of said keeping, and the names and telephone numbers of at least two
(2) persons who can respond to any emergency involving the chickens
in the owner's absence.
3. The application must additionally include a drawing illustrating
the applicant's property lot bounds and dimensions, and its existing
buildings and accessory structures along with their respective dimensions
and site orientation. Furthermore, the application must include a
description of the coop's dimensions, structure, and materials along
with a drawing depicting the orientation of the coop footprint in
relation to the side property lines, the rear property line, the primary
building's footprint, and distance to any portion of any nearby dwelling,
residence or living quarters of persons other than the applicant.
4. Upon receipt of the application, the City Clerk or his or her designee
will review the application to determine its compliance with the provisions
of this Section and will issue or deny the temporary permit to begin
building the coop. Any denied applicant may appeal the decision of
the City Clerk or his or her designee to the Board of Adjustment within
ten (10) business days of the City Clerk or his or her designee's
issuance of said temporary permit, which may affirm, reverse or modify
the decision of the City Clerk or his or her designee. A timely appeal
so lodged will stay the effectiveness of the City Clerk or his or
her designee's issuance of the temporary permit until the Board of
Adjustment renders its decision.
5. Upon receiving the temporary permit, the applicant must build the coop according to the guidelines specified within this Section within forty-five (45) days, unless a stay is entered as contemplated in Section
230.055(C)(4), in which case the applicant must build the coop according to said guidelines within forty-five (45) days of the Board of Adjustment's decision. Upon completion of the coop's construction, the permit holder must notify the City Clerk's office, which will schedule an inspection to be conducted by the Code Enforcement Officer of the City. If the City Clerk's office has not received a notice of construction completion and request for final inspection within the forty-five (45) day timeframe, the temporary permit shall be considered null and void. Upon passage of the final inspection, the applicant may apply for an annual permit.
6. The annual permit shall cost ten dollars ($10.00). Each annual permit
fee shall be due and payable by January first (1st) of any given year.
Annual permits granted during the year will be subject to renewal
on January first (1st) and will not be pro-rated.
7. All annual permit fees provided for in this Section shall be deemed
delinquent if not paid by January first (1st). Any renewal application
received after January first (1st) shall be subject to an additional
twenty-five dollar ($25.00) late fee. If the renewal fee and late
fee are not received by February fist (1st), the applicant will be
raising chickens without a valid license and will be subject to citation
and immediate removal of said animals.
8. An annual permit may be revoked at any time, without a hearing, if
the City determines in its sole discretion that an infectious avian
agent of potential significant co-pathogenicity, such as avian flu,
is identified within the continental United States. At such time,
the owner shall take such steps as health officials of the County,
State or Federal government instruct with regard to the quarantine
or destruction of any such chicken or coop.
9. Except as provided in Subsection
(8) above, if the holder of an annual permit allows an unsanitary condition, or any violation of this Section to exist for more than fourteen (14) calendar days after notice from the City, then such permit for raising chickens may be revoked after hearing, upon a determination by the City Clerk or his/her designee, that said chickens or coop are being maintained in an unsanitary condition, or in violation of this Section, or other laws applicable to said chickens or coop. All chickens and coop must be disposed of or removed from the City not more than fourteen (14) calendar days following receipt of notice of revocation after hearing, unless circumstances warrant earlier removal in the sole discretion of the Board of Aldermen.
10. Annual permits granted under this Section may not be transferred
upon sale, gift, or otherwise from a permitted owner to a new owner.
D. Lot Requirements—Required Facilities—Running At Large
Prohibited.
1. Chickens shall be limited to parcels that are zoned as single-family
residential and have an occupancy permit issued for the same. A maximum
of five (5) chickens shall be allowed per parcel of land. Roosters
shall be prohibited.
2. All chickens permitted to be kept in the City shall be securely restrained and enclosed in a chicken coop, upon the premises of the owner, and shall not be permitted to be at large at any time. No parcel shall house more than one (1) coop. The coop must be located in the rear yard (may not be located in the side yard) and must conform to the provisions of Subsection
405.050(A) as an accessory building in addition to the following setback provisions: it must remain a minimum of fifteen (15) feet from the side property lines and ten (10) feet from the rear property line. Areas containing any chicken coop and any appurtenances thereto must either be of level grade or graded in a direction away from the property line preventing run off to adjacent property.
3. The coop must be located outside the side and rear setback areas
as defined by the Shrewsbury Municipal Code and may not be nearer
than twenty-five (25) feet to any portion of any dwelling, residence
or living quarters of persons other than that of the property owner
and may not be nearer than twelve (12) feet to any portion of the
dwelling, residence or living quarters of the property owner. The
coop may not exceed a total of forty (40) square feet of floor space
(all levels combined) and may not exceed six (6) feet in height. The
coop must allow a minimum of two (2) square feet of coop floor space
per chicken and the coop may not exceed two (2) vertical levels.
4. The coop shall be completely enclosed including a roof to prevent
chickens from escaping the coop. Coops shall also be designed and
maintained in such a way as to be impermeable to rodents, wild birds,
and predators, including, but not limited to, cats, coyotes, dogs,
raccoons and skunks. Coops must consist of a sound structure as determined
by the City Clerk and must maintain continuity of building materials.
5. The feed and any other food sources provided to the chickens shall
be stored in predator-proof containers.
E. Maintenance And Sanitary Conditions And Noise Pollution.
1. All chicken coops and any appurtenances thereto where any domestic
animals permitted by the City are kept on either a temporary or a
permanent basis shall be maintained so that the premises is in a clean
and sanitary condition and free from standing water and all obnoxious
smells or substances at all times; otherwise they shall be deemed
to be a public nuisance. The owner of the premises and the tenant
and custodian must promptly comply with orders of the City and/or
the St. Louis County Department of Health in respect to any unsanitary
condition found to exist in their sole discretion.
2. The presence of numerous flies or the presence of fly larvae in the
vicinity of any such premises, enclosures or structures shall be evidence
of a lack of sanitary maintenance of the premises, and shall constitute
a public nuisance.
3. Where manure will remain on the premises in excess of twenty-four
(24) hours, a fly-proof receptacle shall be provided for containing
such manure. Any unnecessary accumulation of debris, refuse, manure
or other removable material upon any surface within any such enclosed
area or premises, or within any structure used or intended to be used
for the housing of chickens shall be evidence of a lack of sanitary
maintenance of the premises, and shall constitute a public nuisance.
4. Any obnoxious odor or allergen arising from any condition existing
within the enclosure or within any structure used or intended to be
used for the housing of chickens shall be evidence of a lack of sanitary
maintenance of the premises, and shall constitute a public nuisance.
5. All premises, enclosures or structures used or intended to be used
for the keeping or housing of chickens shall be thoroughly cleaned
and all debris, refuse, manure or other removable material shall be
removed therefrom as often as may be necessary to effect satisfactory
compliance with the provisions of this Section.
6. Deceased domestic animals and fowl must be disposed of either through
burial or incineration in accordance with Federal, State, City, and
County regulations.
7. All coops, enclosures, refuse containers, and all feed containers
intended for the use of chickens shall be constructed, maintained
and kept in such a manner as to be completely rodent proof. The floors
of every such enclosure shall be smooth and tight, and maintained
so as to prevent accumulation of filth or water or harboring of vermin
thereunder.
8. If the noise level of the chickens kept on a parcel of land reaches
an unreasonable degree so as to cause an unreasonable disturbance
to surrounding neighbors in the sole discretion of the City Clerk,
it shall constitute a public nuisance.
F. Cruelty To Animals Prohibited. No person may ill-treat,
torment or unnecessarily or cruelly beat or needlessly mutilate or
kill any animal within the City, and no person may cause or procure
any animal to be ill-treated, tormented, or unnecessarily or cruelly
beaten or needlessly mutilated or killed.
G. Right Of Entry For Officials And Assigns. As a condition
of each annual permit issued hereunder, animal control officers, the
officials of the City, the officials of the St. Louis County Department
of Health, or any other person, firm, corporation, organization or
agency with which the City has contracted according to the provisions
of this Article, and Police Officers, while in pursuit of any chicken
or other domestic animal running at large, or otherwise determining
compliance with this Section shall have the right of entry to any
lots or lands, including those of the owner of such domestic animal,
for the purpose of collecting any domestic animal found in violation
of this Section or otherwise determining compliance with this Section.
H. Interference With Enforcement Officials. Any person who
shall interfere with or obstruct a City Official in the reasonable
performance of his or her duty in apprehending any domestic animal
or investigation under this Section, or any person who shall refuse
to deliver up his or her domestic animal or fowl, upon request by
a proper City Official, whenever such official has reasonable cause
to believe that such animal is unlicensed or such annual permit for
keeping the animal has been revoked under the provisions of this Section,
shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof
shall be punished as hereinafter provided.
I. Violation And Penalty. Any person found violating any provisions
of this Section shall be subject to enforcement pursuant to the provisions
of Section 230.230.
[CC 1976 §230.060; Ord. No. 1291 §§9,19, 10-25-1977]
A. No
person shall conceal an animal or interfere with the Health Commissioner,
his/her designees, or any other person designated by the Board of
Aldermen in the performance of their duties, as provided in this Chapter.
B. The
Health Commissioner, his/her designees or any other person designated
by the Board of Aldermen shall have the right of entry onto any unenclosed
lots or lands unless objected to by the owner of such lots or lands
for the purpose of collecting any animal deemed to be at large, which
is on such lot or lands, in violation of this Chapter.
C. The
Health Commissioner, his/her designees, or any other person designated
by the Board of Aldermen shall have the right of entry to any property
or premises whether open or closed during the period of any quarantine
for purpose of examining or obtaining any animal suspected of having
rabies, having been exposed to rabies, or having bitten a person or
other animal.
D. No
person, when requested to do so, shall refuse to deliver to the Health
Commissioner or any person designated by the Board of Aldermen, any
animal subjected to rabies.
[CC 1976 §230.070; Ord. No. 1291 §§10—12, 18, 10-25-1977]
A. Violations. The Health Commissioner or his/her designees
or any other person designated by the Board of Aldermen shall have
the power to catch, confine, and impound any animal or animals, as
follows:
1. Animals wearing an expired or invalid vaccination registration tag;
2. Animals not wearing a vaccination registration tag;
3. Any animal which does not exhibit a valid vaccination-registration
tag issued by the City or St. Louis County, and which reveals the
symptoms of any disease or injury, clearly not those of rabies, as
determined by the Health Department, or by any person designated by
the Board of Aldermen, may be subjected to impoundment as herein defined.
4. All female animals not securely confined in an enclosed place or
under restraint, as herein defined, while in season;
5. All animals which are at large;
6. All animals infected or suspected of being infected with rabies and
all animals exposed to or infected with rabies, including animals
known to have been bitten by a rabid animal, whether the animal to
be impounded is running at large or on a leash, or whether it is confined
to its owner's premises;
7. All confined, unleashed, or unrestrained animals with vicious propensities;
8. Animals not vaccinated for rabies within the previous twelve (12)
months with nerve tissue vaccine, nor vaccinated within the preceding
thirty-six (36) months with Chicken Embryo or Flury Strain vaccine,
or if another vaccine approved by the Health Commissioner was used,
an animal not vaccinated within the preceding time period approved
by the Health Commissioner as the duration of effective protection
against rabies which that vaccine gives;
9. Unconfined animals in quarantined areas; and
10. Animals which have bitten a person or animal, or which have been
bitten by a dog or animal suspected of having rabies, or have been
exposed to rabies.
B. Exemptions. No animals shall be exempted from the provision of Subsection
(A)(4—
10) inclusive by virtue of vaccination, tags or a vaccination-registration certificate.
C. Location. Any dog or other animal impounded in accordance
with this Chapter shall be impounded in the County Rabies Shelter,
or at any other location designated by the Board of Aldermen.
D. Disposition.
1. Every animal impounded under provisions of this Chapter, which is
found upon arrival at the pound to be diseased or injured, and whose
owner is unknown or whose owner relinquishes ownership in writing,
shall be immediately euthanized. Owners of impounded animals wearing
identification tags shall be notified by the County Rabies Shelter
within twenty-four (24) hours of such impoundment.
2. Any animal captured or impounded under the provisions of this Chapter determined by the Health Commissioner not to be infected with rabies may be redeemed by the owner or other person having the right of possession of such animal upon the presentation of a proper vaccination certificate and payment of any shelter service fees charged by the County Rabies Shelter and applicable fines as provided for in Section
230.220.
3. Any impounded animal determined by the Health Commissioner not to
be infected with rabies or other disease, but for which no proper
vaccination certificate shall be produced may be returned to the owner,
but only after vaccination and the issuance of a license, after payment
of the fees to cover the costs of said vaccination and license and
the fee for the shelter service.
4. If an impounded animal is not claimed in the manner provided herein,
within five (5) days after its capture, such animal shall be disposed
of by euthanasia or placed for adoption.
[CC 1976 §230.080; Ord. No. 1291 §§4, 15—17, 10-25-1977]
A. Prohibited. All dogs shall be restrained at all times,
except those used in an official capacity by any recognized law enforcement
agency acting in an official capacity.
B. Dogs In Season Confined. All female dogs in season and
all puppies shall be confined in such a manner so as to prevent direct
contact with other dogs during the entire duration of its season.
C. Exceptions.
1. No person shall permit any animal, whether vaccinated or not, to
run at large or to go off the premises of its owner unless such animal
is under restraint as herein defined.
2. In a prosecution charging a violation of Subparagraph (1), proof
that an animal was running loose, together with proof that the defendant
named in the complaint was, at the time described in the complaint,
the owner of the animal, shall constitute a rebuttable presumption
that the owner was the person who permitted such animal to run at
large.
3. The provisions of Subsection
(1) shall not apply to bloodhounds or other dogs used for tracking in conjunction with police activities, or to dogs of the Canine Corps of a Police Force of any City located in St. Louis County, of the St. Louis County Police, Missouri State Highway Patrol, of any Federal law enforcement agency, or of any branch of the Armed Forces of the United States, while being used to conduct official business, or while being used for official purposes.
[CC 1976 §230.090; Ord. No. 1291 §13, a, f, 10-25-1977]
A. Report. Any person within the City shall report to the Health
Department or the Police Department any information or knowledge concerning
an animal which:
1. Exhibits clinical symptoms suggestive of rabies;
2. Has been exposed to rabies; or
3. Is suspected of having rabies.
B. Suspicion Of Rabies.
1. Any animal which exhibits objective symptoms suggestive of rabies may, after written certification to the owner by the Health Commissioner or such other person designated by the Board of Aldermen for the enforcement of this Chapter, be immediately impounded on or off the property of the owner. Such animal shall be held for ten (10) days at the impounding facilities designated by the Board of Aldermen for clinical observation and if alive at the termination of the ten (10) day period, shall be returned to the owner after the compliance with the provisions of Section
230.070 of this Chapter.
2. As an alternative procedure, the owner, at his/her own expense, may
designate any veterinary hospital in St. Louis County wherein such
animal is to be impounded and observed for a similar ten (10) day
period.
3. If such animal dies during the observation period, regardless of
location, the head shall be removed and submitted to a qualified laboratory
for examination.
4. Prior to the release of any animal under clinical observation for
rabies, all conditions of this Chapter shall be fulfilled.
[CC 1976 §230.100; Ord. No. 1291 §13, g, 10-25-1977]
A. Exposure To Rabies. Any animal, which has been exposed to
rabies, shall be immediately destroyed unless the owner, at his/her
expense, chooses one of the following alternative methods; Strict
isolation in a kennel or animal hospital for six (6) months and during
such time;
1. If no previous vaccination has been given to such animal within a
period of three (3) years with Chicken Embryo (Flury Strain) vaccine,
or within one (1) year, using vaccine of nerve tissue origin, or if
other vaccine approved by the Health Commissioner was used and if
the effective protection limit of the last such vaccination has passed,
then such animal shall be placed on a schedule of immunization approved
by the Health Commissioner.
2. If an animal has been vaccinated previously with another vaccine
approved by the Health Commissioner, within the duration of the vaccine's
effective protection as approved by the Health Commissioner, the animal
shall be re-vaccinated and restrained by a leash or confined at home
for thirty (30) days.
B. Quarantine. Whenever rabies becomes prevalent in the City,
the Mayor shall, according to the necessity of the case, issue a quarantine
order requiring every owner of any animal, whether vaccinated or not,
within the City limits, to either have it humanely euthanized or securely
confine such animal inside a building.
1. The order shall be published once in a paper of general circulation
within the City and/or shall be posted in at least twenty (20) conspicuous
places about the City.
2. Whenever, during a quarantine, it is necessary that an animal leave
the confines of a home or other secure building, such animal shall
be placed on a leash, no more than six (6) feet in length and under
the direct physical control of a competent person, not less than fifteen
(15) years of age.
3. The Mayor, by proclamation, may terminate any quarantine whenever,
in his/her judgement, the necessity for it no longer exists.
4. Whenever any quarantine order is issued, the members of the Police
Department or any other person designated by the Board of Aldermen
may kill all animals running at large.
[CC 1976 §230.110; Ord. No. 1291 §13, 10-25-1977]
A. Report. Any person bitten by an animal or the parent or
guardian of any minor bitten by an animal shall report the occurrence
to the Department of Health and the Police Department immediately.
The report shall contain the following:
1. The name and address of the owner and of the animal;
3. The location where bitten; and
4. A general description of the animal.
B. Disposition. The owner of any animal which, without provocation,
bites any person, shall be required to place such animal in the custody
of the Health Department or the Police Department for confinement
in a manner satisfactory to the Health Commissioner or Chief of Police
for clinical observation. The confinement shall be in a manner that
will prevent contact with people and other animals for a period of
ten (10) days following the day of the bite. All expenses shall be
borne by the owner of the animal.
1. If such animal develops clinical symptoms suggestive of rabies, it
shall be allowed to die a natural death. If, for any reason, such
animal should die while in confinement, its head shall be removed
by a veterinarian and submitted to a qualified laboratory.
2. If, at the end of the ten (10) day period of observation, the animal
is alive and healthy, it may be released to its owner.
3. All other conditions of this Chapter must be fulfilled prior to the
release of any animal under clinical observation.
[CC 1976 §230.120; Ord. No. 1291 §13, 10-25-1977]
A. Any
physician shall report immediately to the Department of Health and
Police Department, the full name, age and address of any person under
his/her care or observation who has been bitten by an animal, irrespective
of whether such animal is infected with rabies.
B. Any
veterinarian treating or having under observation any animal infected
with rabies, shall report to the Health Department and Police Department,
the owner's name and address and, if the animal has been vaccinated,
the vaccination-registration number.
[CC 1976 §230.130; Ord. No. 1291 §21, 10-25-1977]
No person shall own, keep or harbor upon his/her premises any
nuisance dog as defined herein or any dog that, without provocation,
exhibits loud, frequent or habitual barking, yelping or howling or
constitutes a threat of attacking, biting or causing fear or annoyance
to the neighborhood, or to persons passing upon the streets and sidewalks.
[CC 1976 §230.131; Ord. No. 1624 §§1—2, 12-10-1985]
A. It
shall be unlawful for any person owning, controlling, possessing or
having the management or care, in whole or in part, of any animal,
whether licensed or not, to allow or permit such animal to defecate
upon any private property owned by another, condominium common elements,
or public property, unless such person shall remove all feces so deposited
by such animal.
B. Any
person violating the foregoing Section, shall upon conviction thereof,
be subject to a fine of not more than one hundred dollars ($100.00)
or imprisonment not exceeding ninety (90) days, or both such fine
and imprisonment as may be just.
[CC 1976 §230.140; Ord. No. 1291 §23, 10-25-1977; Ord. No. 2446 §1, 11-9-2005; Ord. No. 3000, 1-26-2021]
A. Procedure.
Upon receipt of a written report that an animal has threatened, attacked,
bitten or injured a human being or domestic animal, the City shall
initiate an investigation that shall substantially adhere to the following
guidelines:
1. Once a report is formally submitted to the City, the City Administrator
or his/her designee (the "City Official") shall investigate the report
and any substantiating evidence.
2. The City Official will notify the owner, if any, of the subject animal
of the allegations and will provide said owner reasonable opportunity
to rebut such claims, should the owner choose to do so. If the animal
does not have a known owner, or one cannot be reasonably found, then
the City will turn the animal over to St. Louis County's Department
of Animal Care and Control.
3. The City Official may meet with both parties as necessary in order
to obtain a sufficient understanding necessary to render a determination
as to whether the animal is a vicious animal.
4. If the City Official determines that the animal is not a vicious
animal, both parties will be notified accordingly, in writing.
5. If the City Official believes there is sufficient evidence that the
animal is a vicious animal, then the City Official will make such
determination and notify both parties of the determination by electronic
or other correspondence.
6. Upon the issuance of this determination, the owner of the vicious animal will have thirty (30) calendar days to remove the vicious animal from the City (unless the owner timely files an appeal with the City Clerk as described in Section
230.150(C)), quarantining the vicious animal until said removal.
B. Criteria.
1. An animal can only be determined to be a vicious animal if:
a. The animal conducts the offending behavior on any property other than on that of its owner except as referenced in Subsection
(B)(1)(a)(1) herein. This includes public sidewalks, public rights-of-way, public streets, all public lands and any other privately-owned property.
(1)
If, however, the reporting party was overtly threatened, attacked,
bitten or injured while on the owner of the animal's property in the
course of performing authorized business, either with the consent
or at the request of the property owner, or under the authorization
of an authority having jurisdiction, then such incident can be utilized
to define the animal as a vicious animal.
b. A reasonable person would consider the offending behavior as being:
(2)
Unusually belligerent; or
(3)
Constituting a pattern of behavior that is generally characterized
as consistently and unreasonably antagonistic.
2. The severity of the threat, attack, bite or injury may be considered
by the City Official.
3. A single incident may qualify as sufficient evidence to support a
vicious animal determination.
C. Appeal.
1. In the event the City Official makes a determination that the animal
is a vicious animal, the owner will have ten (10) business days from
the date of such determination to file a written appeal of said determination
with the City Clerk. This written appeal shall include a description
of all basis for the owner's appeal.
2. The City Clerk will then file the written appeal with the Board of
Aldermen and the Board of Aldermen will consider whether to affirm
or reverse the determination of the City Official at its next regularly
scheduled meeting.
3. In the event the Board of Aldermen affirms the decision of the City
Official, the owner of the vicious animal will have thirty (30) calendar
days to remove the vicious animal from the City, quarantining the
vicious animal until said removal.
[CC 1976 §230.160; Ord. No. 1291 §§28,13, 10-25-1977]
A. Rights Of Disposal. The Health Commissioner, his/her designee
or any other person designated by the Board of Aldermen may dispose
of any animal infected with rabies.
Such person shall have the power to:
1. Examine and impound any animal bitten by or exposed to any other
animal infected with rabies;
2. Require the owners of such animals to take any necessary measures
to prevent further spread of rabies; and,
3. Dispose of any exposed animal, if the necessary measures are not
taken by the owners.
B. Report. Any person destroying an animal infected with rabies
or suspected of being infected with rabies shall immediately notify
the Health Department and the Police Department, and shall surrender
the carcass of such animal upon demand.
The owner or custodian of any destroyed animal shall immediately
provide the Health Department and the Police Department with full
particulars thereof, including the time, date, location and the name
and address of the owner or person having custody of any animal exposed
to the destroyed animal.
C. Humane Treatment. It shall be unlawful for any person to
treat any animal in his/her possession or control whether under impoundment
or otherwise in other than a humane manner. All such animals shall
be properly fed and cared for and if euthanized such euthanization
shall be done in a humane manner. The disposition of all animals impounded
under the provisions of this Chapter shall be reported to the Board
of Aldermen in writing on a monthly basis.
[CC 1976 §230.170; Ord. No. 1291 §29, 10-25-1977]
It shall be unlawful for any person to stand, stop or park a
vehicle containing livestock at any place within the City for a time
longer than thirty (30) minutes.
[CC 1976 §230.180; Ord. No. 1291 §22, 10-25-1977]
It shall be unlawful for any person to catch, hunt or disturb
any bird or the nest, eggs, young or brood of any bird and it shall
be unlawful for any person to hunt small animals or birds with a dog
or dogs or with any missile or weapon including but not limited to,
stones, sticks, slingshots or guns.
[CC 1976 §210.155; Ord. No. 1946 §23, 7-12-1994]
A. A person
is guilty of animal abuse when that person:
1. Intentionally or purposely kills an animal in any manner not allowed
by Missouri law; or
2. Purposely or recklessly causes injury, suffering, or pain to an animal;
or
3. Abandons an animal in any place without making provisions for its
adequate care; or
4. Overworks or overloads an animal, or drives or works an animal unfit
to work; or
5. Has ownership or custody of an animal and willfully fails to provide
adequate care or adequate control of said animal.
[Ord. No. 2446 §3, 11-9-2005; Ord. No. 2459 §1, 4-5-2006; Ord.
No. 3000, 1-26-2021]
Any person found violating the provisions of this Chapter shall be subject to the general penalty code of the Shrewsbury Municipal Code, Section
100.090, General Penalty, in addition to the removal requirements described herein.