[Ord. of 12-10-2001]
For the purposes of this chapter the following words and terms
shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them by this section:
ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER
The officer appointed by the City Council who shall have
the power to enforce Title 3.1, Chapter 27.4, Comprehensive Animal
Laws, of the Code of Virginia, § 3.1-796.66 et seq., and
this chapter, including all laws passed for the protection of domestic
animals.
BOARD
The board of agriculture and consumer services.
COMPANION ANIMAL
Any domestic or feral dog or cat, nonhuman primate, guinea
pig, hamster, rabbit not raised for human food or fiber, exotic or
native animal, reptile, exotic or native bird, or any feral animal
or any animal under the care, custody or ownership of a person or
any animal which is bought, sold, traded or bartered by any person.
Agricultural animals, game species or any animals regulated under
federal law as research animals shall not be considered companion
animals for the purposes of this chapter.
DANGEROUS DOG
A canine or canine crossbreed which has bitten, attacked
or inflicted injury on a person or companion animal other than a dog
or killed a companion animal.
KENNEL
An enclosure or structure wherein seven or more adult dogs
or cats or a combination of seven adult dogs and cats are kept for
the purpose of breeding, hunting, training, renting, showing or as
a hobby and from which they cannot escape. It shall not mean a structure,
wall or fence used to demarcate a property line.
KENNEL LICENSE
A license for adult dogs or cats or hybrids of either usually
kept in a kennel except for breeding, hunting, training, renting,
showing or as a hobby.
OTHER OFFICER
All persons (other than the animal control officer) employed
by the City, whose duty it is to preserve the peace, to make arrests
or to enforce the law.
OWNER
Any person having a right of property in a dog or cat and
any person who keeps or harbors a dog or cat or has a dog or cat in
his care, or who acts as its custodian.
POUND
A facility operated by the City for the purpose of impounding
or harboring seized, stray, homeless, abandoned or unwanted dogs,
cats or other animals.
RUNNING AT LARGE
Roaming, running or self-hunting off the property of its
owner or custodian and not on leash or otherwise under its owner's
or custodian's immediate control.
VICIOUS DOG
A canine or canine cross-breed which has (i) killed a person;
(ii) inflicted serious injury to a person, including multiple bites,
serious disfigurement or serious impairment of health or serious impairment
of bodily function or (iii) continued to exhibit the behavior which
resulted in a prior finding by a court that it is a dangerous dog,
provided that its owner has been given notice of that finding.
[Ord. of 12-10-2001]
It shall be unlawful for the owner or custodian of any livestock,
fowl or other domesticated animals to allow any such animals to run
at large within the corporate limits of the City.
[Ord. of 12-10-2001]
No person shall own, allow, permit, keep or harbor, on or about
any premises in the City, any dog or other companion animal which,
by barking, howling or causing frequent or long-continued noises,
or which, by causing an unsanitary condition, seriously disturbs the
reasonable enjoyment, sleep, rest and comfort of persons of normal
nervous sensibilities and ordinary tastes, habits and modes of living.
Violation of this section constitutes a Class 4 misdemeanor. Conviction
of a second or subsequent violation of this section constitutes a
Class 3 misdemeanor.
[Ord. of 12-10-2001]
It shall be unlawful for any person to display, exhibit handle
or use any poisonous or dangerous snake or reptile in such a manner
as to endanger the life or health of any person.
[Ord. of 12-10-2001]
When a sworn complaint is made to a magistrate by the animal
control officer or any other officer of the City that the complainant
believes and has reasonable cause to believe that a violation of the
laws in relation to cruelty to animals have been, are being, or are
about to be violated in any particular building or place, such magistrate,
if satisfied that there is reasonable cause for such belief, shall
issue a warrant authorizing any police officer to search such building
or place. No search shall be made after sunset unless specially authorized
by such magistrate upon satisfactory cause shown.
[Ord. of 12-10-2001]
If any person engages in the fighting of cocks, dogs or other
animals or fowl for money, prize or anything of value, or upon the
result of which any money or other thing of value is bet or wagered,
or to which an admission fee is charged, directly or indirectly, he
shall be guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor.
[Ord. of 12-10-2001]
Any person who abandons any dog, cat or other domesticated animal
in any public place, including the right-of-way of any public highway,
road or street or on the property of another, shall be guilty of a
Class 3 misdemeanor.
[Ord. of 12-10-2001]
It shall be unlawful for any person within the City to place
or throw any dead animal onto any public property or any private property
of another, to knowingly permit any dead animal to remain unburied
upon his property or to retain custody of any maimed, diseased or
infirm animal without submitting such animal to veterinary care. A
violation of this section shall constitute a Class 3 misdemeanor.
[Ord. of 12-10-2001]
The owner of any companion animal which has died from disease
or other cause shall forthwith cremate, bury or sanitarily dispose
of the same. If, after notice, any owner fails to do so, the animal
control officer or other officer shall bury or cremate the companion
animal and may recover for the City the cost of this service from
the owner.
[Ord. of 12-10-2001]
Unless otherwise indicated, any violation of any provision of
this chapter shall constitute a Class 4 misdemeanor.