[Ord. No. 1048 §§1 —
2(4-34), 6-27-2006; Ord.
No. 1055 §1, 12-14-2006; Ord. No. 13-12(205.350) §§1 — 2, 10-10-2013]
A. No person shall keep a cow, bull, mare, jack, horse, goat, pig, or
sheep, anywhere within the City limits except in those areas which
are zoned agricultural.
B. No person shall keep a cow, bull, mule, jack, horse, goat, pig or
sheep in an outdoor enclosure or pasture, the exterior boundary of
which is within one hundred (100) feet of the dwelling house of another,
a church, school or place of business of another.
C. No person shall keep more than one (1) cow, bull, jack, horse, goat
or sheep, or any combination of such animals, in an outdoor enclosure
or pasture unless such enclosure or pasture shall have an area of
twenty-one thousand seven hundred eighty (21,780) square feet for
each of such animals (one-half acre); provided, that this requirement
shall not apply to the keeping of suckling offspring of any such animals.
D. Exemptions.
[Ord. No. 16-14(205.350) §§
1 — 2, 10-13-2016]
1.
All persons having any of the above-described animals on property owned by them which is zoned other than agricultural, as of October 10, 2013, shall be exempt from the provisions of Subsection
(A) hereof; and provided further, that any person residing on a property zoned residential which contains at least 3.25 acres, minus any residential structure thereon together with any area designated or identified as the yard of a residential structure, shall also be exempt from the provisions of Subsection
(A) hereof.
2.
All persons who have any of the above-described animals on their property as of June 27, 2005, shall be exempt from the provisions of Subsection
(B) hereof.
3.
In the event any such animals to which an exemption applies
shall thereafter be removed or relocated from such property, and the
removal or relocation of such animals shall continue for a period
of at least one (1) year, then the exemptions provided herein shall
no longer be in effect.
[Ord. No. 1048 §§1 —
2(4-35), 6-27-2006]
Geese, ducks, chickens, turkeys and all other domestic animals
are prohibited from running at large within the limits of the City
other than on the premises of the owner thereof.
[Ord. No. 1048 §§1 —
2(4-36), 6-27-2006]
No person shall turn loose or cause to be turned loose from
any pen or enclosure any animal for the purpose of causing the same
to be impounded.
[Ord. No. 1048 §§1 —
2(4-37), 6-27-2006]
A. The
keeping or harboring of dangerous animals, other than dogs, within
the City is hereby prohibited. Other than as provided herein, the
Animal Control Officer shall have the authority and responsibility
to declare an animal dangerous because of past behavior, violations,
potential spread of zoonotic disease or the inherently dangerous nature
of the animal to persons. Such declaration shall be made in writing
and shall include the date and reasons for the declaration. Upon request,
the Animal Control Officer shall provide a copy of the written declaration
to the requesting person. Such declaration shall be grounds for the
impoundment and destruction of any such animal unless, without danger
to the public, such animal can be, and is, removed from the City within
forty-eight (48) hours after being declared dangerous. If such animal
is found again in the City limits, it will be immediately seized and
promptly destroyed or disposed of in some other manner as permitted
by law including, but not limited to, giving such animal to a licensed
refuge or zoo.
B. With
the exception of insectivorous animals, it is unlawful to keep or
harbor any carnivorous or omnivorous animal including, but not limited
to, non-human primates; any non-domestic cats, including bobcats and
lynx, ocelots, mountain lions, tigers, panthers, lions or any wild/domestic
cat hybrids; wolves; wolf/dog hybrids with any percent of wolf percentage;
raccoons; skunks; foxes; poisonous snakes; crocodiles; alligators;
caimans; emus; eagles; hawks or other large fowl. This Article does
not apply to domestic livestock, small fowl, domestic dogs, domestic
cats and small rodents of varieties used for laboratory purposes.
Snakes shall be kept in locked escapeproof cages, except when being
handled. It shall be a violation of this Article for an owner, keeper,
harborer or handler to permit a snake or lizard to escape.
C. Notwithstanding
any other provision hereof to the contrary, the Board of Aldermen
may allow special events in which these prohibited animals are displayed
after holding hearings to ensure the safety of such display.
No person may keep any lion, tiger, leopard, ocelot, jaguar,
cheetah, margay, mountain lion, Canada lynx, bobcat, jaguarundi, hyena,
wolf, bear, non-human primate, coyote, any deadly, dangerous or poisonous
reptile, or any deadly or dangerous reptile over eight (8) feet long
in any place other than a properly maintained zoological park, circus,
scientific or educational institution, research laboratory, veterinary
hospital or animal refuge.
[Ord. No. 1048 §§1 —
2(4-38), 6-27-2006]
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
which results in substantial harm to the animal.
B. A person
is guilty of animal abandonment when he/she has knowingly abandoned
an animal in any place without making provisions for its adequate
care.
C. Animal
neglect and/or animal abandonment are ordinance violations. For a
first (1st) offense of either violation, a term of imprisonment not
to exceed fifteen (15) days or a fine not to exceed five hundred dollars
($500.00) or both such fine and imprisonment may be imposed. For a
second (2nd) or subsequent violation of either offense, a term of
imprisonment not to exceed ninety (90) days or a fine, not to exceed
five hundred dollars ($500.00) or both such fine and imprisonment
may be imposed. All fines and penalties for a first (1st) conviction
of animal neglect or animal abandonment may be waived by the court,
provided that the person found guilty of animal neglect or abandonment
shows that adequate, permanent remedies for the neglect or abandonment
have been made. Reasonable costs incurred for the care and maintenance
of neglected or abandoned animals may not be waived.
D. In
addition to any other penalty imposed by this Section, the court may
order a person found guilty of animal neglect or animal abandonment
to pay all reasonable costs and expenses necessary for:
1. The care and maintenance of neglected or abandoned animals within
the person's custody or ownership;
2. The disposal of any dead or diseased animals within the person's
custody or ownership;
3. The reduction of resulting organic debris affecting the immediate
area of the neglect or abandonment; and
4. The avoidance or minimization of any public health risks created
by the neglect or abandonment of the animals.
[Ord. No. 1048 §§1 —
2(4-40), 6-27-2006]
No person shall keep or use or in any way be connected with,
or interested in the management of, or shall receive any money for
the admission of any person to any place kept or used for the purpose
of fighting or baiting any bull, bear, dog, cock or other creature,
and no person shall encourage, aid or assist or be present at such
fighting or baiting or shall permit or suffer any place belonging
to him/her, or under his/her control, to be so kept or used.