A.
A person
is guilty of animal neglect when he/she has custody or ownership or
both of an animal and fails to provide adequate care or adequate control
which results in substantial harm to the animal.
B.
A person
is guilty of animal abandonment when he/she has knowingly abandoned
an animal in any place without making provisions for its adequate
care.
C.
Animal
neglect or animal abandonment are ordinance violations. For a first
(1st) offense of either violation, a term of imprisonment not to exceed
fifteen (15) days, or a fine not to exceed five hundred dollars ($500.00),
or both such fine and imprisonment may be imposed. For a second (2nd)
or subsequent violation of either offense, a term of imprisonment
not to exceed ninety (90) days, or a fine not to exceed five hundred
dollars ($500.00), or both such fine and imprisonment may be imposed.
All fines and penalties for a first (1st) conviction of animal neglect
or animal abandonment may be waived by the court provided that the
person found guilty of animal neglect or abandonment shows that adequate,
permanent remedies for the neglect or abandonment have been made.
Reasonable costs incurred for the care and maintenance of neglected
or abandoned animals may not be waived.
D.
In
addition to any other penalty imposed by this Section, the court may
order a person found guilty of animal neglect or animal abandonment
to pay all reasonable costs and expenses necessary for:
1.
The care and maintenance of neglected or abandoned animals within
the person's custody or ownership;
2.
The disposal of any dead or diseased animals within the person's
custody or ownership;
3.
The reduction of resulting organic debris affecting the immediate
area of the neglect or abandonment; and
4.
The avoidance or minimization of any public health risks created
by the neglect or abandonment of the animals.
A.
A person
is guilty of animal abuse when a person:
1.
Intentionally or purposely kills an animal in any manner not allowed
by or expressly exempted from the provisions of Sections 578.005 to
578.023 and 273.030, RSMo.;
2.
Purposely or intentionally causes injury or suffering to an animal;
or
3.
Having ownership or custody of an animal knowingly fails to provide
adequate care or adequate control.
[1]
Note—Under certain circumstances this offense can be
a felony under state law.
A.
A person
commits the offense of knowingly releasing an animal if that person,
acting without the consent of the owner or custodian of an animal,
intentionally releases any animal that is lawfully confined for the
purpose of companionship or protection of persons or property or for
recreation, exhibition or educational purposes.
B.
As
used in this Section, "animal" means every living
creature, domesticated or wild, but not including Homo sapiens.
C.
The
provisions of this Section shall not apply to a public servant acting
in the course of such servant's official duties.
Any person who shall keep or use, or in any way be connected
with or interested in the management of, or shall receive money for
the admission of any person to, any place kept or used for the purpose
of fighting or baiting any bull, bear, cock or other creature, except
dogs, and any person who shall encourage, aid or assist or be present
thereat, or who shall permit or suffer any place belonging to him/her
or under his/her control to be so kept or used, shall, on conviction
thereof, be guilty of an ordinance violation.
[CC 1994 §73.135; Ord. No. 94.10, 5-16-1994]
It shall be unlawful for anyone to tease, annoy, strike, touch
or injure any animal, fowl, bird, or fish in any park owned or controlled
by the City, whether such park is located within or without the corporate
limits of the City, or for any person, excepting authorized attendants
or employees of the City or of the Park Board, to handle any such
fowl, animal, bird, or fish in any such park, or for any person, except
an authorized attendant or employee of the City, to feed any such
animal, fowl, bird, or fish unless there is present and consenting
thereto an authorized attendant or employee of the City.
[CC 1994 §§73.150—73.160; Ord. No. 94.10, 5-16-1994]
A.
Every
person owning or caring for any animal that has died from any cause
shall dispose of the animal carcass within twenty-four (24) hours
after knowledge of such death, either by arranging for a person permitted
under this Section to dispose of or transport it, or by the owner
or person entitled to such body causing the same to be deposited in
a permitted sanitary landfill notwithstanding any other provision
of the law or rule to the contrary, allowing it to be buried in a
sanitary landfill or buried, incinerated, composted, or disposed of
in a manner approved by the State veterinarian within the twenty-four-hour
period upon his/her own or any other available premises, provided
that such disposition is in accordance with the provisions of this
Section.
B.
Time Within Which Carcasses To Be Taken In Charge. Any person
the owner of, or entitled to take control of, the carcass of any dead
animal shall take charge of such dead animal within four (4) hours
of daylight time after the death thereof and shall remove the same
and every part thereof in the same manner and subject to the same
conditions as are required by the person having the contract for the
removal of dead animals, or as may be provided by ordinance. Any person
failing or neglecting to comply with the provisions of this Section
shall be deemed guilty of an ordinance violation.
C.
Manner. The carcass of a dead animal shall not be moved
on any street or alley of the City except in a covered vehicle or
unless such carcass shall be well covered with tarpaulins or otherwise
and the same shall be handled in the most inoffensive manner possible.
[CC 1994 §73.170; Ord. No. 94.10, 5-16-1994]
A.
Pasture Requirements For Certain Animals. No person shall
keep a cow, bull, mule, jack, horse, goat, or sheep in an outdoor
enclosure or pasture, the exterior boundary of which is within one
hundred (100) feet at the nearest point from a dwelling house or place
of business of another, a church or school; nor shall any person keep
more than one (1) of any such animal or any combination of such animals
in an outdoor enclosure or pasture unless such enclosure or pasture
shall have an area equivalent to one-half (½) acre for each
of such animals, except suckling offspring of a cow or mare.
B.
Certain Animals Prohibited On Sidewalks—Restrictions As To
Parks. No person shall drive, ride or lead any horse, mule,
or similar animal along or upon any sidewalk in the City. No person
shall ride, lead or drive any horse, mule or other domestic animal
into or through any park of the City, except as may be otherwise provided
by rules and regulations of the Park Board, and then only as provided
by such rules and regulations.
C.
Horses, Etc., Not To Be Left Unattended Upon Any Street. No person owning, controlling, riding or driving any horse, mule,
or team of horses or mules, or other domestic animals shall leave
such animal or team unhitched and unattended upon any of the public
streets of the City.
