[R.O. 2011 § 210.030; R.O. 2009 § 91.03; CC 1981 § 4-3; Ord. No. 92-83, 5-5-1992; Ord. No. 95-290, 10-18-1995; Ord. No. 26-003, 1-6-2026]
For the purposes of this Chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
ABANDON1. The term "abandon" shall mean any or all of the following:
a. To forsake entirely, to neglect or refuse to provide or perform legal obligations for the care and support of an animal.
To leave an animal without demonstrated or apparent intent to recover or to resume custody.
To leave an animal for more than twelve (12) hours without providing adequate food, adequate water, or adequate shelter for the duration of the absence.
To turn out or release an animal for the purpose of causing it to be impounded.
Such abandonment shall constitute the relinquishment of all rights and claims by the owner to such animal.
ADEQUATE CARENormal and prudent attention to the needs of an animal, including adequate food, adequate water, adequate shelter, and medical care as necessary to maintain good health in a specific species of animal.
ADEQUATE FOODFoodstuff provided free of contamination by insects, fungus, mold, mildew or other form of spoilage, provided at suitable intervals and in suitable supply for species and age of such animal, sufficient to maintain a reasonable level of nutrition, and provided in a safe dish or container and which is provided at least every twelve (12) hours.
ADEQUATE SHELTERThe continuous provision of a structure having a roof, walls, and a floor, which is dry weatherproof, and made of durable material. At a minimum, the structure must:
1. Be sufficient in size to allow each sheltered animal housed in it to stand up naturally without restriction. turn around, and lie down, though small enough for the animal to maintain its own body heat;
Shelter the animal from the adverse effects of the elements, including access to shade from direct sunlight and protection from exposure to inclement weather conditions;
Be free of standing water and accumulated waste;
Have adequate ventilation;
Provide a solid surface, resting platform, pad, floor mat, or similar device that is large enough for the animal to lie on in a normal manner; and
Occupancy has not been prohibited by the Code Official under Chapter
500 of the Code of Ordinances.
ADEQUATE WATERPotable water of a drinkable temperature which is free from contamination by fecal matter, urine, mold, mildew, bacteria or other forms of spoilage which would make the water unsuitable to be consumed; and provided in a safe dish; container or by another suitable manner, in sufficient volume; and at suitable intervals to maintain normal hydration for the weather conditions and the age, species, condition, size, and type of each animal, but under no circumstances shall such interval exceed twelve (12) hours.
ANIMALEvery living creature, domesticated or wild, but not including Homo sapiens.
ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICERAny person designated by the City as responsible for the impoundment, transportation and confinement of any animal, whether on view or as the result of a complaint, in violation of the provisions of this or any other applicable law or ordinance, and the enforcement of the provisions of this Chapter and any other State of Missouri Statute or City of St. Charles ordinance, law or regulation pertaining to the control of animals as they apply within the limits of the City of St. Charles.
AT LARGEOff the premises of the owner. or of anyone having care, custody, or control of the animal, and not under the adequate control of the owner or of anyone having care, custody, or control of the animal. At large shall not include any dog or puppy lawfully off-leash in a designated off-leash animal park.
CATAll domestic species or varieties of the genus Felis, male or female, four (4) months of age or older.
CERTIFICATEThe certificate issued under this Chapter at the time of vaccination and bearing thereon the signature of the veterinarian, the registration number, the name, color, breed and sex of the dog, cat or animal, the name and address of the owner, the date of the vaccination and the type of vaccine administered.
COMMERCIAL ANIMAL ESTABLISHMENTAny pet shop, grooming shop, auction, riding school, stable, cattery, kennel, guard dog service, dog trainer, business keeping animals in stock for retail or wholesale trade or any establishment performing one (1) or more of the principal activities of the aforementioned establishments.
COURTThe Municipal Court of the City of St. Charles, Missouri.
DOGAll domestic members of the Canis family, male or female, four (4) months of age or older.
DUNBAR SCALEThe Dunbar Dog Bite Scale, an assessment of the severity of biting problems based on an objective evaluation of wound pathology, and herein further defined as follows:
1. Level 1. Obnoxious or aggressive behavior but no skin-contact by teeth.
Level 2. Skin-contact by teeth but no skin-puncture. However, may be skin nicks (less one-tenth (1/10) of an inch deep) and slight bleeding caused by forward or lateral movement of teeth against skin, but no vertical punctures.
Level 3. One (1) to four (4) punctures from a single bite, which may have lacerations in a single direction caused by victim pulling hand away, owner pulling dog away, or gravity (little dog jumps, bites and drops to floor).
Level 4. One (l) to four (4) punctures from a single bite, with deep bruising around the wound (such as when a dog held on and bore down) or lacerations in both directions (such as when a dog held on and shook its head from side to side).
Level 5. Multiple-bite incident with at least two (2) Level 4 bites or multiple-attack incident with at least one (l) Level 4 bite in each.
EXPOSED TO RABIESAny animal, whether licensed and not, which has been bitten vaccinated for rabies or by or has been fighting with, or has consorted with an animal known to have rabies or showing symptoms of rabies.
HOUSEHOLD MEMBERSThose members of a family, including servants and attendants, roommates or other humans living in the same dwelling unit.
IMPOUNDThe apprehending, catching, trapping, netting, tranquilizing, confining or, if necessary, the destruction of any animal by the Animal Control Officer, a veterinarian or by any employee or agent of the City.
IMPOUNDING FACILITIESAny premises designated by resolution of the City Council for the purpose of impounding and caring for all animals in violation of this Chapter.
KENNELAny commercially zoned place or tract of land, whether indoors or outdoors, whether enclosed or not, in, at or upon which and whether for pleasure or profit, dogs are kept, housed, bred, raised, fed, displayed, exhibited or sold that has an occupancy permit on file.
KITTENAll domestic species or varieties of the genus Felis, male or female, under the age of four (4) months.
OWNERAny person who owns, harbors, shelters, keeps, controls, manages, possesses or has part interest in any dog, cat, animal, cattery 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 seven (7) days is presumed to be harboring, sheltering or keeping the aforementioned dog or cat within this definition. Under no circumstances are the normal and ordinary accepted definitions of the term "harboring, sheltering or keeping" to be limited to the words of the aforementioned presumption. If a minor owns a dog, puppy or other 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 or animal for the purpose of this Chapter and under this Chapter shall be responsible as the owner, whether or not such household head is a minor. If not a member of a household, such minor owner shall be directly subject to the provisions of this Chapter.
POCKET PETAny domestic animal other than a dog, puppy, cat or kitten that is not a wild animal.
PUP OR PUPPYAll domesticated members of the species Canis familiaris, male or female, under four (4) months of age.
RESTRAINTControl of any dog, puppy, cat, kitten, or other domestic animal, either on a leash of less than eight (8) feet in length controlled by a person physically able to prevent the animal from running free, or secured by line, enclosed fencing or crate, carrier, kennel or enclosed vehicle.
TETHERAttaching a dog, puppy, cat or kitten to a stationary object or pulley run by means of a chain, rope, tether, cable, or similar restraint. "Tethering" does not include the use of a leash to walk such animal.
UNCONFINEDNot within a structure, fence or building physically capable of preventing escape by the dog, cat or animal.
VACCINATEThe injection by a veterinarian or an authorized agent of a specified dose of anti-rabies vaccine into the body of a dog, cat or susceptible animal, such vaccine having the U.S. Government license number approval stamped on the label of the vaccine container. Vaccine used for vaccination of the dogs and cats 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.
VETERINARIANAny individual who is validly and currently licensed to practice veterinary medicine in Missouri as determined by the Missouri Veterinary Medical Board in accordance with the requirements and provisions of Sections
340.200 to
340.298, RSMo., as amended.
Any non-human primate (monkey, ape, chimpanzee, gorilla, orangutan and lemur), all felines (other than the domestic house cat), alligator, crocodile, caiman, poisonous reptiles, all venomous snakes, any constrictor snake of over eight (8) feet in length, all species of bears, raccoon, fox, skunk, coyote, wolf or any crossbreeds of the above irrespective of its actual state of domesticity, docility or tameness.