As used in this article, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
CUSTODIAN
A person who has charge of the domestic animal.
DOMESTIC ANIMAL
An animal that has traditionally, through a long association
with humans, lived in a state of dependence upon humans or under the
dominion and control of humans and has been kept as a household pet,
including but not limited to dogs, cats, hamsters, gerbils, ferrets,
mice, rabbits, cockatiels, cockatoos, canaries, finches, parakeets,
parrots, and tropical fish.
OWNER
Any person who harbors or keeps a domestic animal; has a
right or property interest in any domestic animal; or any person who
shall permit any domestic animal to remain about any premises owned
or occupied by him or her for a period of five days shall be deemed
to be the owner of such domestic animal for the purpose of this article.
It shall be unlawful for any person to own, maintain, keep or
harbor any dog within the corporate limits of the Township without
first obtaining a license from Macomb County, as required by Public
Act 339 of 1919, MCLA § 287.266 et seq., as amended.
It shall be unlawful for any person to own, harbor or keep any
domestic animal which shall cause annoyance or disturbance to persons
by frequent or habitual barking, howling, yelping or habitual crying.
It shall be unlawful for any person owning or possessing a domestic
animal to permit a domestic animal to go upon private lands or premises
without the permission of the owner of such premises and break, bruise,
tear up, crush or injure any lawn, flower bed, plant shrub, tree or
garden in any manner whatsoever.
It shall be unlawful for any person to permit any domestic animal
owned or harbored by him/her to deposit fecal matter in any place
other than the premises where the animal is harbored or kept, unless
that fecal matter is immediately collected, removed and properly disposed
of.
No person shall own or harbor a vicious or dangerous dog, or
an animal which has bitten any person, or an animal that has been
bitten by an animal known to have been affected by rabies.
It shall be unlawful for any person or persons to keep more than three dogs or three cats at any one time on a parcel of property, with the exception that a litter of pups or kittens, or a portion of that litter, may be kept for a period of time not exceeding five months from birth, and with the exception of the provisions set forth in Section
10-10 regarding kennels.
Kennels are permitted only as set forth by the provisions in Article
II of Chapter
10 and by the provisions the Chesterfield Township Zoning Ordinance, being Chapter
76 of the Chesterfield Township Ordinances, as amended.
Any person who violates the provisions of this article shall,
upon conviction thereof, be guilty of a misdemeanor and subject to
a penalty not to exceed $500 or imprisonment in the county jail for
a period not to exceed 90 days, or both such fine and imprisonment.