[R.O. 1996 § 215.160; CC 1968 § 4-27; Ord. No. 1688 § 3, 12-7-1987]
It is illegal to harbor or keep within
the City of Blue Springs an animal that is a "dangerous animal" or
to own such an animal and allow it to be kept or harbored within the
City of Blue Springs.
[R.O. 1996 § 215.170; CC 1968 § 4-28; Ord. No. 1562 § 2, 9-15-1986; Ord. No. 1688 § 4, 12-7-1987; Ord. No. 2493 § 8, 9-19-1994]
A.
Upon the written complaint of any person
that a person owns, or is keeping or harboring, within the City a
dangerous animal in violation of this Chapter, the Animal Control
Officer or Public Safety Officer shall forthwith cause the matter
to be investigated; and, if after investigation, the facts indicate:
1.
The animal is a dangerous animal;
and
2.
Such person named in the complaint
is, in fact, the owner of, or is keeping or harboring, any such dangerous
animal in the City;
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the Animal Control Officer or Public Safety Officer shall forthwith issue a general ordinance summons for a violation of Section 215.160 to such person owning or keeping or harboring said animal, and give written notice to such person requiring such person to safely remove said animal from the City within three (3) days of the date of said notice.
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B.
Notice as herein provided shall not be required where such dangerous animal has caused serious physical harm or death to any person or other animal or has escaped and is at large. In such case, the Animal Control Officer shall immediately issue a general ordinance summons to the person who owns or is keeping or harboring the animal for a violation of Section 215.160, and cause said animal to be immediately seized and impounded, or killed if seizure or impoundment is not possible without risk of serious physical harm or death to any person. Impoundment may be in any animal shelter so designated by the person in charge of animal control. It is unlawful to fail to remove the animal within the three (3) day period and said failure shall constitute a violation of this Section.
[R.O. 1996 § 215.180; CC 1968 § 4-29; Ord. No. 1562 § 2, 9-15-1986; Ord. No. 1688 § 5, 12-7-1987]
The Animal Control Officer or Public Safety Officer shall forthwith cause to be seized and impounded any dangerous animal where the person owning, keeping or harboring such animal has failed to comply with the notice given pursuant to Section 215.170 and shall issue to said person a general ordinance summons for a violation of Section 215.170.
[R.O. 1996 § 215.190; CC 1968 § 4-30; Ord. No. 1562 § 2, 9-15-1986; Ord. No. 1688 § 6, 12-7-1987]
[R.O. 1996 § 215.200; CC 1968 § 4-31; Ord. No. 1688 § 7, 12-7-1987]
Any person found guilty of violating the provisions of Sections 215.160 through 215.180, shall be punished by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars ($500.00) or imprisonment not exceeding ninety (90) days, or by both such fine and imprisonment. The court shall have the power to order the impoundment, release, removal from the City, return to the City, or confinement by an individual of any animal seized, impounded, or the subject of a violation charge under Sections 215.160 through 215.180 after a preliminary or final hearing on the merits. Nothing herein shall in any way restrict the initial seizure or impoundment pursuant to Sections 215.160 through 215.180. Nothing herein confers a right to any preliminary hearing before the court on any issue. The court shall have the power to assess the costs of boarding any dangerous animal boarded by the City upon any conviction and cause said assessment to be paid.
