[HISTORY: Adopted by the Council of the City
of Meriden 9-17-2015.[1] Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Noise — See Ch. 141.
Health nuisances — See Ch. 144.
Parks and recreation — See Ch. 150.
STATUTORY REFERENCES
Dogs running at large — See
C.G.S. § 22-364.
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance also superseded former Ch. 65,
Animals, adopted 10-7-1963 as Ch. 5 of the 1963 Code, as amended.
The purposes of this chapter are to promote the public health,
safety and general welfare of the citizens of the City of Meriden
by addressing the public nuisance caused by roaming and/or dangerous
dogs and to ensure that all animals receive adequate care. This chapter
is intended to supplement and not replace the provisions contained
in Connecticut General Statutes § 22-327 et seq., regarding
domestic animals. The Animal Control Officer or designee shall have
the discretion as to whether to proceed pursuant to state law or under
the provisions of this chapter.
As used in this chapter:
The officer or designee hired to administer and enforce the
licensing, inspection and enforcement requirements contained in this
chapter and the Connecticut General Statutes.
Any nuisance arising out of the keeping, maintaining or owning
of, or the failure to exercise sufficient control of, a dog or other
animal.
Off the premises of the owner or custodian, and not on a
leash or otherwise under the immediate control of the owner or custodian
capable of restraining the animal.
Any member of the canine species, male or female.
Possessing, controlling, exercising or allowing a dog or
domestic animal to run at-large.
Any dog that endangers the life or health of persons or other
animals, or substantially interferes with the right to enjoyment of
life or property. The term "nuisance" or "public nuisance" shall include,
but not be limited to, any dog that:
Is repeatedly found at-large;
Is found on public property where dogs are specifically prohibited;
Damages, soils or defiles any property other than that of its
owner;
Makes disturbing noises, including, but not limited to, continued
and repeated howling, barking or whining which causes annoyance or
disturbance to neighbors or others in close proximity to the premises
which the dog is kept or harbored;
Is in heat and is not confined so as to prevent the attraction
or contact with other animals;
Whether or not on the property of its owner, without provocation,
molests, attacks or otherwise unreasonably interferes with the freedom
of movement of persons and/or animals in a public right of way or
on property other than that of the dog's owner;
Chases motor vehicles;
Is dangerous to the public health, safety or welfare by virtue
of the number of animals maintained at a property and/or the inadequacy
of the facilities and care of the animal(s).
Any person possessing, keeping, harboring or having custody
of a dog.
A.
No person shall keep any animal in any place or in any manner when
the keeping of such animal constitutes a public nuisance or menace
to public health or safety.
B.
In addition to other penalties as set out in this chapter and/or
the Connecticut General Statutes, a violation of this section may
be subject to a citation in the amount of $75.
A.
No person shall keep dogs, cats or other animals in any manner which
fails to maintain adequate facilities and humane care.
B.
In addition to other penalties as set out in this chapter and/or
the Connecticut General Statutes, a violation of this section may
be subject to a citation in the amount of $50.
A.
Leashing of dogs in public places. Except in a dog run established
by the town or any private entity, no owner or keeper shall bring
any dog onto any public street, sidewalk or any other public property
unless the dog is on a leash or lead that is no more than 10 feet
long and under the control of its owner or keeper at all times.
B.
Conduct of dogs in public places. The owner or keeper of the dog
shall exercise proper care and control of the dog and prevent the
same from becoming a public nuisance. No owner or keeper shall allow
any dog under their supervision to dig, dig up, mutilate, deface or
destroy any public property.
D.
In addition to other penalties as set out in this chapter and/or
the Connecticut General Statutes, a violation of this section may
be subject to a citation in the amount of $50.
A.
Any person owning, keeping, walking or in control of any dog or other
animal shall promptly remove all solid waste and litter left by the
dog or other animal on a public street, sidewalk, public property
or private property owned by another person before leaving the immediate
premises and dispose of the solid waste and/or litter in a sanitary
manner.
B.
In addition to other penalties as set out in this chapter and/or
the Connecticut General Statutes, a violation of this section may
be subject to a citation in the amount of $50.
A.
Effective July 1, 2016, all dogs who are to be licensed within the
City of Meriden, pursuant to Connecticut General Statutes § 22-338,
shall be vaccinated against the parvovirus in addition to the state-mandated
rabies vaccination pursuant to Connecticut General Statutes § 22-339b.
The owner or keeper of such dog shall submit to the City Clerk a vaccination
record by a licensed veterinarian, or a copy thereof, stating that
such dog has been vaccinated against parvovirus and rabies, the date
of the vaccination, and the duration of the immunity provided by the
vaccine.
B.
In addition to other penalties as set out in this chapter and/or
the Connecticut General Statutes, a violation of this section may
be subject to a citation in the amount of $75.
A.
Effective July 1, 2016, anyone who wants to breed their dog(s) within
the City of Meriden shall obtain a breeding permit from the Animal
Control Office prior to breeding their dogs. No person, as principal,
agent, employee or otherwise, shall breed any dog or other domestic
animal at any place within the City without a breeding permit. Breeding
shall be deemed to have occurred upon the production of offspring,
whether the offspring result from sexual activity or artificial insemination,
and whether such breeding was intentional or unintentional.
B.
Each completed application for a breeding permit shall be submitted
to the Animal Control Office, and shall be accompanied by a fee of
$25. No breeding permit shall be issued until the application fee
is paid. The breeding permit application shall contain a warning that
a citation and fine may issue for failure to comply with the provisions
of the breeding permit.
C.
Each breeding permit is issued to the person, not the dog. A breeding
permit cannot be sold, purchased, traded or otherwise conveyed from
the person to whom the breeding permit was initially granted.
D.
The following conditions must be met for a breeding permit to be
issued:
(1)
The applicant must submit the completed breeding permit application
and the fee to the Animal Control Office.
(2)
The applicant has an adequate indoor space and outdoor space in which
to breed the dog(s) and raise the offspring that will contain the
dogs, as well as provide them with safe, sanitary, and humane conditions
appropriate for breeding the specific dog(s), and meets all applicable
provisions of the Meriden City Code and state animal welfare laws,
and is inspected by the Animal Control Officer.
(3)
The Animal Control Officer has evaluated the physical and behavioral
characteristics regarding the suitability of the particular dogs to
be bred.
E.
The Animal Control office may deny an application for a breeding
permit if it finds that one or more of the following has occurred:
(1)
The applicant has failed to meet the criteria set forth above;
(2)
The applicant has failed to appropriately license the dog to be bred;
(3)
The applicant has a history of allowing dogs to run loose or escape
or has otherwise been found to be neglectful; has had a dog identified
by the Animal Control Office to be a nuisance; or has had a dog or
other domestic animal removed from their care; or has previously been
determined to be in violation of this chapter; or
(4)
The applicant has applied for a breeding permit within the previous
10 months.
F.
In addition to other penalties as set out in this chapter and/or
the Connecticut General Statutes, a violation of this section may
result in the denial of future breeding permits and/or a citation
in the amount of $250.
A.
The Animal Control Officer may inspect the premises to be used for
breeding purposes and to conduct the evaluation as set forth above.
The Animal Control Officer shall give the applicant 24 hours'
notice of the inspection and shall conduct the inspection at a reasonable
time when the applicant or their representative is present.
B.
Up to one year after issuing the breeding permit, the Animal Control
Officer shall have the option to inspect the premises being used for
breeding purposes to ensure that the conditions required to receive
a permit are continuing to be met. The Animal Control Officer shall
give the applicant 24 hours' notice of the inspection and shall
conduct the inspection at a reasonable time when the applicant or
their representative is present.
C.
The breeding permit application shall be denied or the breeding permit
may be revoked if:
D.
In addition to other penalties as set out in this chapter and/or
the Connecticut General Statutes, a violation of this section may
result in the denial of future breeding permits and/or a citation
in the amount of $250.
A.
Breeding permit holders shall apply for and obtain a litter permit
for every litter produced by the breeding permit dog(s). Breeding
permit holders must apply to the Animal Control Office for a litter
permit before the dog is bred. A litter permit application shall be
accompanied by a litter permit fee in the amount of $25. A litter
permit should be applied for and granted for every litter to be produced
by any dog or domestic animal owned, held or maintained by the permit
holder. The litter permit application shall contain a warning that
a citation and fine may issue for failure to comply with the provisions
of the breeding permit.
B.
In the event that a permit holder or someone having an active breeding
permit fails to apply for a permit before the female dog enters its
gestation period, the Animal Control Officer may issue the litter
permit without penalty if the Animal Control Officer determines that
the failure to acquire the permit was not in bad faith.
C.
No more than two litter permits will be issued to breeding permit
holders within one year's time, unless the breeding permit holder
also holds a kennel license under Connecticut General Statutes § 22-342.
D.
In addition to other penalties as set out in this chapter and/or
the Connecticut General Statutes, a violation of this section may
result in the denial of future litter permits and/or a citation in
the amount of $250 per litter.
In addition to other remedies provided in this chapter and in
the Connecticut General Statutes, an Animal Control Officer may seize
and impound any of the following:
A.
Any dog without a valid license tag;
B.
Any roaming or at-large dog;
C.
Any dog constituting a public nuisance or considered a danger to
the public;
D.
Any dog that is in violation of a quarantine or confinement order
issued by the Animal Control Officer;
E.
Any unattended animal that is ill, injured or in need of care;
F.
Any animal that is believed to be abused or neglected;
G.
Any animal that is suspected of having rabies;
H.
Any animal which the Animal Control Officer or police have established
is a threat to public health and safety;
I.
Any dog that the Animal Control Officer, a state agency or a court
of competent jurisdiction has ordered impounded or destroyed;
J.
Any dog that is believed to be unattended or abandoned, such as in
situations where the owner has vacated the property or is deceased.
A.
It is a violation of this chapter to interfere with the Animal Control
Officer or designee while in the performance of their duties.
B.
In addition to other penalties as set out in this chapter and/or
the Connecticut General Statutes, a violation of this section may
result in the denial of future breeding permits, litter permits, and/or
a citation in the amount of $250.
A.
As part of any order, and in addition to any enforcement authority
as set out in the Connecticut General Statutes or this chapter, the
Animal Control Officer shall have the authority to order measures
to eliminate or prevent a violation and/or to protect the health and
safety of animals and the public, including:
(1)
Obedience training for the dog(s);
(2)
Muzzling of the dog while off the owner's property;
(3)
Confinement of an animal indoors;
(4)
Confinement of a dog in a secure enclosure;
(5)
Reduction of the number of animals kept at any one location;
(6)
In cases of neglect or cruelty, removal of an animal from the custody
of its owner or keeper;
(7)
The spaying or neutering of an animal;
(8)
A ban on owning or keeping other animals within the City of Meriden;
B.
Any person aggrieved by an order or citation of the Animal Control Officer issued pursuant to this chapter may appeal pursuant to the citation process as set forth in Chapter 86 of the Meriden City Code.
C.
In addition to the other remedies as set out in this chapter and
in the Connecticut General Statutes, the provisions of this chapter
may be enforced by citation. The following persons have the authority
to issue citations pursuant to this chapter: Animal Control Officer,
Assistant Animal Control Officers, Meriden Police Officer.