City of Meriden, CT Animals

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.

§ 65-2 Definitions.

As used in this chapter:

ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER

The officer or designee hired to administer and enforce the licensing, inspection and enforcement requirements contained in this chapter and the Connecticut General Statutes.

ANIMAL NUISANCE

Any nuisance arising out of the keeping, maintaining or owning of, or the failure to exercise sufficient control of, a dog or other animal.

AT-LARGE

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.

DOG

Any member of the canine species, male or female.

KEEP

Possessing, controlling, exercising or allowing a dog or domestic animal to run at-large.

NUISANCE or PUBLIC NUISANCE

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).

OWNER

Any person possessing, keeping, harboring or having custody of a dog.

§ 65-3 Nuisances prohibited.

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.

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.

§ 65-4 Adequate facilities and care required.

No person shall keep dogs, cats or other animals in any manner which fails to maintain adequate facilities and humane care.

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.

§ 65-5 Control of dogs in public places.

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.

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.

Exceptions. The provisions of this section shall not apply to:

(1)

Dogs used by a governmental agency.

(2)

A service animal as defined by 28 CFR 36.104.

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.

§ 65-6 Removal of animal waste and litter required.

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.

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.

§ 65-7 Parvovirus vaccination required for all dogs.

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.

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.

§ 65-8 Breeders permit required.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

§ 65-9 Inspection of premises to be used for breeding purposes.

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.

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.

The breeding permit application shall be denied or the breeding permit may be revoked if:

(1)

The applicant refuses to allow the Animal Control Officer to conduct such inspection or reinspection.

(2)

The applicant cannot be contacted by the Animal Control Officer to give notice of the inspection within two weeks of the initial attempt.

§ 65-10 Litter permits.

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.

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.

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.

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.

§ 65-11 Impoundment.

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:

Any dog without a valid license tag;

Any roaming or at-large dog;

Any dog constituting a public nuisance or considered a danger to the public;

Any dog that is in violation of a quarantine or confinement order issued by the Animal Control Officer;

Any unattended animal that is ill, injured or in need of care;

Any animal that is believed to be abused or neglected;

Any animal that is suspected of having rabies;

Any animal which the Animal Control Officer or police have established is a threat to public health and safety;

Any dog that the Animal Control Officer, a state agency or a court of competent jurisdiction has ordered impounded or destroyed;

Any dog that is believed to be unattended or abandoned, such as in situations where the owner has vacated the property or is deceased.

§ 65-12 (Reserved)

§ 65-13 Interference with Animal Control Officer.

It is a violation of this chapter to interfere with the Animal Control Officer or designee while in the performance of their duties.

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.

§ 65-14 Penalties; appeals; enforcement.

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;

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.

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.