[CC 1979 §73.200(1); Ord. No. 2427 §1, 9-16-1997; Ord. No. 2862 §1(73.200(1)), 6-17-2003]
A. 
Dangerous Dog. Any dog or animal or cross or wolf with the following characteristics shall be considered a dangerous animal:
1. 
Any dog or animal or cross or wolf which has inflicted a severe or fatal injury on a human being on public or private property. "Severe injury" means any physical injury, resulting directly from a bite, which results in a broken bone, laceration or inpatient hospitalization. The victim receiving severe injuries, as defined above, must provide the Animal Control Officer a signed physician's statement documenting the injury and treatment qualifying such as a severe injury or sign an authorization for release of such statement.
2. 
Any dog or animal or cross or wolf which has killed a domestic animal, livestock or poultry, while off the owner's property.
3. 
Any dog or animal or cross or wolf owned or harbored primarily or in part for the purpose of fighting or trained for fighting.
4. 
Any dog or animal or cross or wolf which has bitten a human being on public or private property other than the property of the owner.
5. 
Any dog or animal or cross or wolf which, while on the owner's property, has bitten a human being other than the owner or a member of the owner's family who normally resides at the place where the animal is kept.
6. 
Any dog or animal or cross or wolf which chases or approaches a person upon the streets, sidewalks or any public grounds or private property other than that property of the owner in a menacing fashion or apparent attitudes of attack, regardless of whether or not a person is injured by said animal.
7. 
Any dog or animal or cross or wolf with a known propensity, tendency or disposition to attack, to cause injury, or to otherwise threaten the safety of human beings or domestic animals.
8. 
Any dog or animal or cross or wolf which habitually snaps at or bites or manifests a disposition to bite or attack persons, animals or pets.
9. 
Any pit bull dog.
B. 
Right To Appeal. If the circumstances surrounding the classification of an animal as a dangerous dog under any of the definitions listed above are in dispute, then the owner has the option of submitting, within five (5) working days, a written request to the Chief of Police for a hearing and possible appeal.
C. 
Hearing Board — Member — Time. A Hearing Board consisting of the City Administrator, the Animal Control Officer, a qualified veterinarian and the Chief of Police or their delegates shall be convened within ten (10) working days after receipt of a bona fide written request.
D. 
Confinement Pending Appeal. Pending the outcome of such a hearing, the dangerous dog must be confined in such a manner so as not to be a threat to any person. The confinement may be on the owner's premises or at the City kennel.
E. 
Determination. The Hearing Board shall determine whether to declare the animal to be a "dangerous dog" based upon evidence and testimony presented at the time of the hearing by the owner in addition to witnesses, animal control personnel, Police or any other person possessing information pertinent to such determination.
F. 
Written Decision. The Hearing Board shall issue written findings within five (5) days after the hearing. The owner or possessor of the animal found to be a dangerous dog shall be required to maintain the animal as herein provided in Section 205.190 (Owner's Responsibility for Dangerous Dogs).
[CC 1979 §73.200(2); Ord. No. 2427 §1, 9-16-1997; Ord. No. 2862 §1(73.200(2)), 6-17-2003]
A. 
Trespasser — Tormentors. With the exception of Section 205.170(A)(1), no animal may be declared a dangerous dog if the threat, injury or damage was sustained by a person who, at the time, was committing a willful trespass or other tort upon the premises occupied by the owner or keeper of the animal or was teasing, tormenting, abusing or assaulting the animal or has, in the past, been observed or reported to have teased, tormented, abused or assaulted the animal or was committing or attempting to commit a crime.
B. 
Law Enforcement. Dogs owned by governmental or law enforcement agencies when being used in the services of those agencies are exempt.
[CC 1979 §73.200(3); Ord. No. 2427 §1, 9-16-1997; Ord. No. 2862 §1(73.200(3)), 6-17-2003; Ord. No. 3144 §1, 5-15-2007]
A. 
No person shall, within the City limits, own, keep, harbor or allow to be in or upon his/her premises any dangerous dog unless such dangerous dog is securely confined upon such premises and readily identifiable as set forth herein. The following actions shall be required of owners of dangerous dogs:
1. 
Securely confined. While on the owner's property, a dangerous dog must be securely confined indoors or in a securely enclosed and locked structure suitable to prevent the entry of young children and designed to prevent the animal from escaping, such kennel, pen or structure must have minimum dimensions of five (5) feet by ten (10) feet and must have secure sides and a secure top. If it has no bottom secured to the sides, the sides must be embedded into the ground no less than eighteen (18) inches. The enclosure must also provide protection from the elements for the dangerous dog. The enclosure, when occupied by a dangerous dog, shall not be occupied by any other animal. If the dangerous dog is a female with a litter of puppies under three (3) months of age, the puppies may occupy the same enclosure as the mother until the pups reach three (3) months of age.
2. 
Prohibited confinement. No dangerous dog may be kept on a porch, patio or in any part of a house or structure that would allow the dangerous dog to exit such building on its own volition. In addition, no such animal may be kept in a house or structure when the windows are open or when screen windows or screen doors are the only obstacle preventing the dangerous dog from exiting the structure.
3. 
Leash, identification and muzzle requirement. No person shall permit a dangerous dog to go outside its kennel, pen or secure structure unless that person has the dangerous dog securely leashed on a leash no longer than four (4) feet in length and that person has physical control of the leash. Such dangerous dogs shall not be leashed to inanimate objects such as trees, posts, buildings, etc. Additionally, all such dangerous dogs on a leash outside the animal's kennel, pen or a secure structure must be muzzled by a muzzling device sufficient to prevent the dangerous dog from biting persons or other animals. Additionally, the City shall cause, and each owner of a dangerous animal shall bear the cost of implantation of an electronic identification chip into the subject animal for identification purposes.
4. 
Notice to others. The owner or keeper of the dangerous dog shall display a sign on his/her premises that there is a dangerous dog on the property. This sign shall be visible and capable of being read from the public highway or thoroughfare from which the property is entered. In addition, a similar sign is required to be posted on the kennel or pen or fenced yard of such animal with letters at least two (2) inches high containing the following: "Beware of Dangerous Dog".
5. 
Collar requirement. Any dangerous dog shall wear at all times a bright orange collar with a large brightly colored metal tag attached to the collar so the animal can readily be identified as a dangerous dog.
6. 
Photographs. All owners or keepers of dangerous dogs must, within ten (10) days of such declaration, provide the Animal Control Officer two (2) color photographs (one (1) showing the left profile the other showing the right profile) of the animal.
7. 
Impoundment. Any dangerous dog which bites or scratches a human being or any animal whose behavior immediately prior to or during an incident resulting in a human being bitten or scratched, which is determined to be dangerous, shall be impounded for a ten (10) day rabies quarantine at the municipal animal shelter at the owner's expense.
8. 
Dangerous dog unconfined — notice requirement. The owner or keeper shall notify the Animal Control Officer immediately if a dangerous dog is loose, unconfined or missing, has attacked another animal or has attacked a human being.
9. 
Death or transfer of dangerous dog. The owner or keeper shall notify the Animal Control Officer within twenty-four (24) hours if a dangerous dog has died or has been sold or given away. If the dangerous dog has been sold or given away, the owner or keeper shall provide the Animal Control Officer with the name, address and telephone number of the new owner and the new owner, if the dangerous dog is kept within the City limits of Sullivan, must comply with the requirements of this Section.
10. 
Spayed or neutered. All owners, keepers and harborers of pit bull dogs within the City limits shall have pit bull dogs over the age of six (6) months either spayed or neutered and have the ability to provide proof and documentation to the Animal Control Officer. Exceptions to this Section shall be commercial operations that are licensed by the City of Sullivan engaged in the business of breeding pit bulls for sale.
[CC 1979 §73.200(4); Ord. No. 2427 §1, 9-16-1997; Ord. No. 2862 §1(73.200(4)), 6-17-2003]
A. 
Offense/Penalty. It shall be unlawful for the owner or keeper of a dangerous dog within the City of Sullivan to fail to comply with any of the requirements and conditions set forth in this Article. Any person violating or failing to comply with any provision of this Section shall be deemed guilty of an offense and upon conviction be fined up to five hundred dollars ($500.00) or imprisonment up to six (6) months in jail, or both fine and imprisonment.
B. 
Impoundment. Any animal found to be subject to a violation of this Article may be, in addition to other penalties provided by Article, subject to immediate seizure and impoundment for a minimum of ten (10) days or the time necessary for the owner or keeper to show compliance with this Article, whichever is shorter, at the owner's expense.
C. 
Destruction Of Dangerous Dog.
1. 
Upon conviction of any person of a violation of this Section, the judge may, in addition to the usual judgment upon conviction, order the Animal Control Officer to forthwith take up and put to death such dangerous dog at the owner's expense.
2. 
If the dangerous dog is responsible for an unprovoked severe or fatal attack, the animal shall be humanly destroyed at the owner's expense.