The following words, when used in this Chapter, shall have the meanings set out herein:
ANIMAL
Any creature not of the human species.
CRUELTY/ABUSE/NEGLECT
To beat, whip, hit, kick, throw objects at, smack, torment, cause physical injury, or failure to provide food, water, shelter, medical care, preventive care or other necessities to the aid or comfort of the animals well-being including, but not limited to, medical care and preventive medical care.
DOGS OR CATS
All animals of the canine or feline species, both male and female.
IMMINENT CARE
The need of food, water, preventive care, medical attention, shelter, basic needs to health and/or comforts of life.
MEDICAL CARE
Treatment or care by a licensed veterinarian.
OWNER OR KEEPER
Any person having a right of property in an animal, or who keeps or harbors an animal, or who has it in his/her care, or acts as its custodian, or who knowingly permits an animal to remain on or about any premises owned or occupied by him/her.
PREVENTIVE CARE
Vaccinations against infectious diseases as well as dental care.
RUNNING AT LARGE
Allowing an animal to be off the private premises of the owner or keeper, or his/her agent or servant, and not on a leash or confined to the arms, motor vehicle, trailer or other conveyance of the owner or keeper, his/her agent or servant.
SERIOUS PHYSICAL INJURY
Physical injury that creates a substantial risk of death or that causes serious disfigurement or protracted loss or impairment of the function of any part of the body.
SHELTER
An animal structure designed to keep out the elements such as rain, snow, wind, heat, cold and consisting of four (4) sides and a roof. Also in reference to Section 210.140.
TRESPASSER
A person upon the premises of the owner or keeper of the dog in question without license or privilege to be upon said premises.
UNRESTRAINED ANIMAL
Any animal running at large or any animal on the premises of its owner or keeper but not confined to said premises by a leash, fence, structure or other means that would prevent the animal from leaving such premises.
VICIOUS ANIMAL
1. 
Any animal not confined to the property of its owner or agent that without provocation has bitten any person not a trespasser causing serious physical injury to that person.
2. 
Any animal that has killed or caused injury to another animal without provocation.
3. 
With the determination of the Animal Control Officer or any agent acting on behalf of that authority, any animal that growls, snaps, hisses, spits or attempts to bite or claw with the intent to do physical injury to a human being or the animal of another without provocation, that is not confined to the property of another and that said person or animal not be a trespasser.
A. 
Each person owning within the City a dog or cat aged six (6) months or older shall procure, annually, a dog or cat tag for each dog or cat so owned by him/her. Dog or cat tags shall be issued by the City Collector for a fee of five dollars ($5.00) for each non-spayed or non-neutered dog or cat kept within the City. Dog or cat tags shall be issued by the City Collector for a fee of fifty cents ($0.50) for each such spayed or neutered dog or cat upon satisfactory proof of such spaying or neutering. Said tag fee shall be prorated from the first (1st) day of June of each year. There shall be a fine for delinquent payment in the amount of one dollar ($1.00) per month with a maximum fine of five dollars ($5.00).
B. 
It shall be the duty of each owner of a dog or cat to pay the tag fee set forth in Subsection (A) to the Animal Control Officer on or before the first (1st) day of June each year or upon acquiring ownership or possession of any unlicensed dog or cat or upon establishment of residence in the City. The City Animal Control Officer shall cause a notice of necessity of payment of such tag fee to be printed in a newspaper of general circulation published or widely distributed within the City one (1) time during the first (1st) week of May each year.
The owner or keeper of any dog or cat in the City of Webb City is hereby required to have such animals vaccinated against rabies by a licensed veterinarian and to procure a certificate of such vaccination from the veterinarian and to present such certificate to the City Clerk on or before June first (1st) of each year; and the City Clerk shall register such certificate, which registration shall remain in force until the May thirty-first (31st) next following said registration; and upon registration, the City Clerk shall issue a tag evidencing the registration and certificate of vaccination, and the owner or keeper shall securely attach the tag so issued to a collar to be worn continuously by the animal for which the tag was issued. It shall be unlawful for the owner or keeper of any dog or cat to permit such animal to remain in the City of Webb City unless wearing the tag above provided for.
Any person who shall own, keep or harbor on his premises more than three (3) dogs or cats other than under the age of six (6) months shall be deemed the owner of a kennel.
A. 
Dogs found unlicensed or running at large may be taken up and impounded in the shelter designated by the City as the City Pound. Any such dog remaining impounded and unclaimed by its owner at the expiration of seven (7) days after impoundment shall became the property of the City and may thereafter be disposed of in a humane manner at the discretion of such authority.
B. 
When a dog is found not properly licensed and its ownership is known to the Animal Control Officer, such dog need not be held, but the Animal Control Officer may, in his/her discretion, cite the owner of such dog to appear in Municipal Court to answer to charges of violation of this Chapter.
A. 
It shall be unlawful to keep, harbor, own or in any way possess a vicious animal within the City.
B. 
Any animal deemed to be vicious by definition, act or by the Animal Control Officers or by another City, shall be taken up for confinement and a vicious animal citation shall be issued to the owner requiring a mandatory court appearance. If at such time the animal is determined to be a vicious animal, the Judge shall determine whether the animal is to be moved outside the City limits or humanely euthanized. All fees associated with the confinement of a vicious animal shall be paid for by the owner or harboring party.
C. 
No person shall sell, barter or in any other way transfer possession of a vicious animal to any person within the City.
D. 
Any person violating or permitting the violation of any provision of this Section shall, upon conviction in Municipal Court, be fined the sum of one hundred dollars ($100.00) for the first (1st) offense and the sum of five hundred dollars ($500.00) for the second (2nd) offense. In addition to the fine imposed, the court may sentence the defendant to imprisonment for a period not to exceed five (5) days. Further, for the third (3rd) offense, the court may order the animal euthanized. Should the defendant refuse to surrender the animal to the City, the Municipal Judge shall find the defendant in contempt of court. Each day that a violation of this Section continues may be deemed a separate offense. In addition to the foregoing penalties, any person who violates this Section shall pay all expenses for impoundment or euthanasia of the animal, property damage caused by the animal or for any loss suffered by any person injured by the animal.
E. 
If any Section, sentence, clause or phrase of this Section is for any reason held to be invalid or unconstitutional by a decision of any court of competent jurisdiction, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this Section.
No owner or other person in control of a pet animal or livestock shall allow such pet animal or livestock to defecate upon public property, parks, streets or rights-of-ways, or upon property of any other person without his/her permission, unless the owner or person in control of such pet animal or livestock shall take adequate measures to remove such droppings.
[Ord. No. 11-008 §1, 6-13-2011; Ord. No. 11-011 §1, 6-27-2011]
A. 
Prohibited—Definitions. It shall be unlawful to keep, harbor, own or in any way possess within the City limits of the City of Webb City any pit bull dog. For the purposes of this Section, a pit bull dog is defined to mean:
1. 
The bull terrier breed of dog;
2. 
Staffordshire bull terrier breed of dog;
3. 
The American pit bull terrier breed of dog;
4. 
The American Staffordshire terrier breed of dog;
5. 
Dogs of mixed breed or of other breeds than above listed which breed or mixed breed is known as pit bulls, pit bull dogs or pit bull terriers;
6. 
Any dog which has the appearance and characteristics of being predominantly of the breeds of bull terrier, Staffordshire terrier, any other breed commonly known as pit bulls, pit bull dogs or pit bull terriers; or a combination of any of these breeds.
B. 
Exceptions. The prohibition shall not be applicable to pit bull dogs currently registered within the City of Webb City or to those dogs which become registered in the City within fifteen (15) days of the effective date of this Section. The keeping of such dogs currently registered and those which become registered within fifteen (15) days of the effective date of this Section, however, shall be subject to the following regulations:
1. 
Leash and muzzle required. No person shall permit a registered pit bull dog to go outside its kennel or pen unless such dog is securely leashed with a leash no longer than four (4) feet in length. No person shall permit a pit bull dog to be kept on a chain, rope, or other type of leash outside its kennel or pen unless a person is in physical control of said leash. Such dogs may not be leashed to inanimate objects such as trees, posts, buildings, etc. In addition, all pit bull dogs on a leash outside the animal's kennel or pen must be muzzled by a muzzling device sufficient to prevent such dog from biting persons or other animals.
2. 
Secure confinement. All such dogs shall be securely confined indoors or in a securely enclosed and locked pen or kennel, except when leashed and muzzled as above provided. Such pen, kennel or structure must have secure sides and a secure top attached to the sides.
3. 
Keeping on porch, patio, etc., prohibited. No pit bull dogs shall be kept on any porch, patio, or in any part of the house or structure that would allow a dog to exit such building on its own volition. In addition, no such animal may be kept in a house or structure where the windows are open or where screen windows or screen doors are the only obstacle preventing the dog from exiting the structure.
4. 
Photograph required. All owners or keepers of pit bull dogs registered with the City must, within ten (10) days of the effective date of this Section [May 9, 2011], provide to the Police Department two (2) color photographs of the registered animal clearly showing the color and approximate size of the animal.
5. 
Incidents to be reported. All owners or keepers of such dogs must, within ten (10) days of the incidents listed below, report the following to the Police Department:
a. 
The removal from the City or death of the animal;
b. 
The birth of offspring of the animal;
c. 
Any change in address of the owner or keeper.
6. 
Offspring removed. All offspring born of pit bull dogs within the City must be removed from the City within eight (8) weeks of the birth of such animal.
7. 
Sale, barter or transfer prohibited. No person shall sell, barter or in any other way transfer possession of a pit bull dog within the City to any person within the City.
C. 
Violations, Penalty. Any person violating the provisions of this Section shall upon conviction be fined a sum of not less than fifty dollars ($50.00) nor more than five hundred dollars ($500.00). In addition, the court shall order the registration of the subject pit bull dog revoked and the dog removed from the City.