[Amended 11-16-2021 by Ord. No. 21-42]
A. As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated:
CAT
Any domestic feline, regardless of age or sex.
DOG
Any domestic canine, regardless of age or sex.
DOMESTIC ANIMAL
Includes domestic canines, domestic felines, domestic rabbits,
domestic rodents, domestic reptiles, domestic arachnids, domestic
weasels, domestic marsupials, domestic erinaceidae, and domestic birds.
WILD, DANGEROUS OR UNDOMESTICATED ANIMAL
That which is not of a species customarily used as an ordinary
household pet, an animal that would ordinarily be confined to a zoo,
is on the Wisconsin DNR or the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service list
of threatened or endangered species, one which would ordinarily be
found in the wilderness of this or any other country, or one which
otherwise causes a reasonable person to be fearful of bodily harm
or property damage. This shall include, but not be limited to, all
venomous animals (excluding bees), including snakes and constrictor
snakes six feet in length or more.
B. The definitions listed above shall not be construed to impact agricultural land uses under §
550-50 or keeping and raising of chickens under §
550-56X.
The Common Council of the City of Watertown hereby finds that
the keeping of an unlimited number of domestic animals in the City
for a period of time will adversely affect sanitary conditions and
the health and safety of its occupants and the general public. Therefore,
the keeping of an unlimited number of domestic animals is declared
to be a public nuisance.
Any person who becomes nonconforming with respect to the requirements set forth in §
228-9 may continue to keep those dogs which that person had licensed in the City of Watertown prior to the effective date of this article. This nonconforming use exemption shall be valid while the person resides on the property listed on the license, and so long as the dogs licensed on the effective date have not been replaced with additional dogs that would cause the owner to remain in noncomformity with this article.
No person shall take or permit to remain any live animal on
any premises where food is sold, offered for sale or processed for
consumption by the general public. Use of animals to assist handicapped
individuals shall be allowed.
Any person, entity or corporation violating any provision of
this article shall be subject to forfeiture of not less than $50 for
each offense, and a separate offense shall be deemed committed on
each day during or on which a violation occurs or continues.