[Ord. No. 792 §5-14, 10-16-1995]
A. 
A person is guilty of animal neglect when he/she has custody or ownership or both of an animal and fails to provide adequate care or adequate control, including, but limited to, knowingly abandoning an animal in any place without making provisions for its adequate care which results in substantial harm to the animal.
B. 
Animal neglect upon a first (1st) conviction and for each offense shall be punishable by imprisonment not to exceed fifteen (15) days or a fine not to exceed three hundred dollars ($300.00), or both, and punishable by imprisonment not to exceed three (3) months or a fine not to exceed five hundred dollars ($500.00), or both upon the second (2nd) and all subsequent convictions. All fines and penalties for a first (1st) conviction of animal neglect may be waived by the court provided that the person found guilty of animal neglect shows that adequate, permanent remedies for the neglect have been made. Reasonable costs incurred for the care and maintenance of neglected animals may not be waived.
[Ord. No. 792 §5-15, 10-16-1995]
A. 
A person is guilty of animal abuse when a person:
1. 
Intentionally or purposely kills an animal in any manner not allowed by or expressly exempted from the provisions of Sections 578.005 to 578.023 and 273.030, RSMo., or this Section;
2. 
Purposely or intentionally causes injury or suffering to an animal; or
3. 
Having ownership or custody of an animal knowingly fails to provide adequate care or adequate control.
B. 
Animal abuse is punishable by imprisonment not to exceed three (3) months or a fine not to exceed five hundred dollars ($500.00).
C. 
For the purpose of this Section, "animal" shall be defined as a mammal.
[Ord. No. 792 §5-17, 10-16-1995]
A. 
The Animal Control Officer or any Law Enforcement Official may impound any animal found outside of the owned or rented property of the owner or custodian of such animal when such animal shows evidence of neglect or abuse. Any animal impounded pursuant to this Section shall be:
1. 
If the owner can be ascertained and the animal is not diseased or disabled beyond recovery for any useful purpose, held for recovery by the owner. The owner shall be notified within five (5) business days of impoundment by phone or by mail of the animal's location and recovery procedures. The animal shall be held for ten (10) business days. An animal unclaimed after ten (10) business days may be put up for adoption or humanely killed;
2. 
Placed in the care or custody of a veterinarian, the appropriate animal control authority or animal shelter. The animal shall not be disposed of, unless diseased or disabled beyond recovery for any useful purpose, until after expiration of a minimum of five (5) business days, during which time the public shall have clear access to inspect or recover the animal through time periods ordinarily accepted as usual business hours. After five (5) business days, the animal may be put up for adoption or humanely killed; or
3. 
If diseased or disabled beyond recovery for any useful purpose as determined by a Law Enforcement Official, veterinarian or Animal Control Officer, the animal may be humanely killed.
B. 
The owner or custodian of animal impounded pursuant to this Section shall be liable for reasonable costs for the care and maintenance of the animal. Any person incurring reasonable costs for the care and maintenance of such animal shall have a lien against such animal until the reasonable costs have been paid and may put up for adoption or humanely kill any animal if such costs are not paid within ten (10) days after demand. Any monies received for an animal adopted pursuant to this Subsection in excess of costs shall be paid to the owner of such animal.
[Ord. No. 792 §5-18, 10-16-1995]
A. 
The Animal Control Officer or any duly authorized Law Enforcement Official may seek a warrant from the Caruthersville Municipal Court to enable him/her to enter private property in order to inspect, care for, or impound neglected or abused animals. All requests for such warrants shall be accompanied by an affidavit stating the probable cause to believe a violation of this Article has occurred. A person acting under the authority of a warrant shall:
1. 
Be given a disposition hearing before the court through which the warrant was issued, within thirty (30) days of the filing of the request for the purpose of granting immediate disposition of the animals impounded.
2. 
Place impounded animals in the care and custody of a veterinarian or the City's Animal Shelter. If no appropriate veterinarian or animal shelter is available, the animal shall not be impounded unless it is diseased or disabled beyond recovery for any useful purpose.
3. 
Humanely kill any animal impounded if it is determined by a licensed veterinarian that the animal is diseased or disabled beyond recovery for any useful purpose.
B. 
The owner or custodian or any person claiming an interest in any animal that has been impounded because of neglect or abuse may prevent disposition of the animal by posting bond or security in an amount sufficient to provide for the animal's care and keeping for at least thirty (30) days, inclusive of the date on which the animal was taken into custody. Notwithstanding the fact that bond may be posted pursuant to this Subsection, the Animal Control Officer may humanely dispose of the animal at the end of the time for which expenses are covered by the bond or security, unless there is a court order prohibiting such disposition. Such order shall provide for a bond or other security in the amount necessary to protect the authority having custody of the animal from any cost of the care, keeping or disposal of the animal. The authority taking custody of an animal shall give notice of the provisions of this Section by posting a copy of this Section at the place where the animal was taken into custody or by delivering it to a person residing on the property.
C. 
The owner or custodian of any animal humanely killed pursuant to this Section shall not be entitled to recover any damages related to nor the actual value of the animal if the animal was found by a licensed veterinarian to be diseased or disable, or if the owner or custodian failed to post bond or security for the care, keeping and disposition of the animal after being notified of impoundment.
[Ord. No. 792 §5-19, 10-16-1995]
Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 210.180, while in pursuit of any individual who is violating provisions of this Article in view of such officer, or in pursuit of any animal running at large, the Animal Control Officer, or any Police Officer shall have the right to enter any lot or land area within the City limits for the purpose of apprehending such individual or impounding that animal.
[Ord. No. 792 §5-21, 10-16-1995]
If a person is adjudicated guilty of the offense of animal neglect or animal abuse and the court having jurisdiction is satisfied that an animal owned or controlled by such person would in the future be subject to such neglect or abuse, such animal shall not be required to or allowed to remain with such person, but its disposition shall be determined by the court.