[CC 1984 §4-1; Ord. No. 4-3B §2(210.020(a)), 11-16-1981; Ord. No. 4-26 §1, 10-21-2002; Ord. No. 4-3C §1, 3-20-2006]
The following words and phrases, when used in this Chapter,
shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them:
Any living vertebrate member of the animal kingdom, excluding
man.
The person employed by the City as the officer charged with
the enforcement of this Article and other City ordinances relative
to dogs and cats.
Any premises designated by action of the City for the purpose
of impounding and caring for all animals found running at large in
violation of this Chapter.
Any animal off the property of his/her owner and not under
the reasonable control of a competent person. Any animal shall be
under "reasonable control" when on the premises of the owner or, when
off the premises of the owner, the animal is with and obedient to
the owner and does not deface or damage the property or disturb the
peace of any person. When an animal disturbs the peace of any person
or defaces or damages property or places any person in fear of immediate
danger or harm, it shall be deemed to be beyond "reasonable control",
except when in defense of the property or person of the owner.
Any domestic member of the feline (Felidae) family over the
age of six (6) months.
Any domestic member of the canine (Canidae) family over the
age of six (6) months.
Consists of, but is not limited to, potbellied pigs, ferrets,
hedgehogs and rodents (including chinchillas, rabbits, guinea pigs,
hamsters, rats, mice and other rodent-related mammals).
Those animals who have reproduced while in captivity in the
United States for at least two (2) generations (with the burden of
such proof resting entirely on the owner). A particular animal shall
not be regarded as domesticated unless both parents are domesticated
animals.
The humane destruction of an animal by a method that involves
anesthesia, produced by an agent which causes painless loss of consciousness,
and death during such loss of consciousness.
When bitten by, or fought with, or has come in close contact
with a dog or other animal shown to be infected with the rabies virus
as determined by standard laboratory testing.
To take into custody any animal, by any humane means, for
the purpose of confinement.
Any premises wherein any person engages in the business of
boarding, breeding, buying, letting for hire, training for a fee,
or selling dogs, cats or domestic others.
Cows, horses, mules, hogs, goats, poultry or other animals
commonly associated with farming and agriculture.
All animals that have been altered to prevent conception.
Any person owning, keeping, harboring or otherwise having
the care or control of an animal.
Controlled by a leash, on or within a vehicle being driven
or parked on the streets or within the property limits of its owner
or keeper.
[Code 1974 §210.030H, I; CC 1984 §4-22]
A.
There
is hereby established a City animal shelter wherein all animals found
running at large within the corporate limits of the City shall be
restrained until disposed of in the manner set forth in this Chapter.
The location of the shelter may be changed from time to time by resolution
of the City Council at any meeting thereof. The Animal Control Officer
shall be the keeper of the shelter.
B.
It
shall be unlawful for any person to willfully turn out of, or take
from, or cause to escape from the City animal shelter any animal placed
therein by the Animal Control Officer.
[Code 1974 §§210.040A — C, 215.010L; CC 1984
§4-2]
A.
All
structures, pens, coops or yards wherein animals are kept or permitted
to be shall be maintained in a clean and sanitary condition at all
times, devoid of all rodents and vermin, and free from offensive,
disagreeable or noxious smell or odor to the injury, annoyance or
inconvenience of any inhabitant of the neighborhood. The interior
walls of any such structures shall be whitewashed or painted annually
or more often as the Animal Control Officer shall direct. The enclosed
area of all such structures shall be constructed in such a way as
to be dry at all times on the inside. The Animal Control Officer may
at any time inspect, or cause to be inspected, any structure or premises
and issue any order as may be necessary to carry out the provisions
of this Section.
B.
Any
structure found to be in violation of this Section is hereby declared
a nuisance.
C.
Whenever
a nuisance exists as specified in this Section, it shall be the duty
of the owner, tenant or occupant of any land on which any such structure
is situated to forthwith remove, abate or cause to be removed or abated
the nuisance. Any such owner, tenant or occupant who shall refuse
or fail to abate or remove any such nuisance shall be deemed guilty
of an ordinance violation.
D.
Whenever
the City Council shall determine that a nuisance exists as specified
in this Section, it shall direct the City Clerk to give written notice
by registered mail to the owner, tenant or occupant of the land on
which the nuisance exists directing him/her to abate or remove the
nuisance within three (3) days after the date of posting the notice
in the United States mail. If any such nuisance is not abated or removed
within the time as specified therein, the City Council shall direct
the Chief of Police to forthwith abate or remove, or cause to be abated
or removed, the same. The Chief of Police shall immediately proceed
to abate or remove the nuisance and he/she shall keep an accurate
account of all expenses incurred therein, and he/she shall file the
account with the City Clerk. The City Clerk shall then proceed to
collect the amount of the account from the owner, tenant or occupant
of the land on which the nuisance was removed or abated. If the owner,
tenant or occupant of the land shall refuse or fail to pay the account
within thirty (30) days after he/she is requested to do so by the
City Clerk, the City Clerk shall issue a special tax bill against
the property on which the nuisance exists and shall proceed to collect
the same as other tax bills are collectible under State law.
[Code 1974 §210.045; CC 1984 §4-3; Ord. No. 4-3B §2(210.020(m)), 11-16-1981]
A.
Every
animal which bites, injures or attacks a person shall be promptly
reported to the Animal Control Officer, and shall be securely quarantined
at the direction of the Animal Control Officer for a period of ten
(10) days, and shall not be released from quarantine except by written
permission of the Animal Control Officer. At the discretion of the
Animal Control Officer, the quarantine may be on the premises of the
owner, at the shelter designated as the City animal shelter, at the
Humane Society or, at the owner's option and expense, in a veterinary
hospital of his/her choice. In the case of stray animals, or animals
whose ownership is not known, quarantine shall be at the shelter designated
as the City animal shelter.
B.
The owner, upon demand by the Animal Control Officer, shall forthwith surrender any animal which has bitten a human, or which is suspected as having been exposed to rabies, for supervised quarantine, the expense of which shall be borne by the owner. Any such animal may be released by the owner, if it is adjudged free of rabies, upon payment of fees set forth in Section 205.260.
C.
When
rabies has been diagnosed in an animal under quarantine, or when rabies
is suspected by a licensed veterinarian and the animal dies while
under observation, the Animal Control Officer shall immediately send
the head of the animal to the State Division of Health laboratory
for pathological examination and shall notify the proper public Health
Officer of report of human contacts and the diagnosis.
D.
It
shall be the duty of every licensed veterinarian to report to the
Animal Control Officer any animal considered by him/her to be a rabies
suspect.
[Code 1974 §§215.010G, J, K, 220.340; CC 1984 §4-4]
A.
No
person shall deposit or cause to be placed any dead animal or part
thereof upon any ground in the City, nor shall any person permit the
same to be placed or deposited upon the premises occupied by him/her.
B.
No
person shall at any time permit any putrid carcass or part thereof
to be or remain in or about any house, shed or building or upon any
lot, yard or premises owned or occupied by him/her in the City.
C.
All
carcasses of dead animals which the owners or keepers thereof shall
permit to remain within the City limits, exceeding twenty-four (24)
hours after death, are hereby declared a public nuisance, unless kept
under proper sanitary conditions.
[CC 1984 §4-5]
A.
No
person shall engage in the business of disposing of or transporting
on the highways or public roads of this City the bodies of dead animals,
or of operating a disposal plant in this City, without first obtaining
for each such business so operated by him/her, or in his/her behalf,
a license for that purpose. No person, except one holding a license
to transport the bodies of dead animals on public highways of this
City, or to operate such a disposal plant in this City, or who is
acting for such licensee, or who is otherwise excepted by this Chapter,
shall either transport over any highways of this City, or dispose
of to any person, the bodies of any dead animals in any manner herein
prescribed or in any other manner not permitted by law.
B.
The
Animal Control Officer shall keep a record of all applications for
permits and licenses, showing all thereof issued, denied or revoked
by him/her, and such other facts as he/she may prescribe.
[CC 1984 §4-6]
All vehicles used in the transportation of the bodies of dead
animals shall have a tank or metal lining in the bed of the vehicle,
or be otherwise so constructed that it shall be practically watertight,
so that no drippings or seepage from the dead bodies shall escape
from the vehicles. Every such vehicle shall have a bed of such depth
and type of construction and equipment that any dead body therein
shall be completely hidden from view and any public nuisance obviated
while being transported.
