[R.O. 2004 § 210.010]
The following words, when used in
this Article, shall have the meanings set out herein:
Every living vertebrate except a human being, bird, fish,
amphibian or farm animal.
All animals of the canine or feline species, both male and
female.
Any person having a right of property in a dog or cat, or
who keeps or harbors a dog or cat, or who has it in his/her care,
or acts as its custodian, or who knowingly permits a dog or cat to
remain on or about any premises owned or occupied by him/her.
Allowing a dog or cat to be off the private premises of the
owner or keeper, or his/her agent or servant, and not on a leash or
confined to the arms, motor vehicle, trailer or other conveyance of
the owner or keeper, his/her agent or servant.
Physical injury that creates a substantial risk of death
or that causes serious disfigurement or protracted loss or impairment
of the function of any part of the body.
A person upon the premises of the owner or keeper of the
dog in question without license or privilege to be upon said premises.
Any dog running at large or a dog on the premises of its
owner or keeper but not confined to said premises by a leash, fence,
structure or other means that would prevent the dog from leaving such
premises.
Any of the following dogs:
Any dog, whether or not running at
large and whether or not unrestrained, that without provocation has
bitten any person not a trespasser causing serious physical injury
to that person.
Any unrestrained dog, whether or
not running at large, that without provocation has attempted to bite
any person not a trespasser which would cause serious physical injury
to that person.
Any unrestrained dog, whether or
not running at large, that without provocation has placed any person
not a trespasser in apprehension of immediate serious physical injury.
Any dog that has killed another dog,
cat or other domestic animal without provocation.
Any live non-human primate (monkeys, chimpanzees, apes, gorillas
and lemurs), kinkajou, coatamuni, raccoon, fox, skunk, poisonous reptiles,
venomous snakes, constrictor reptiles six (6) feet or more in length,
crocodilian reptiles, including alligators, crocodiles and caimans,
bear, wolf, wolf hybrids, coyote, coyote hybrids (coydogs), cougar,
leopard, jaguar, tiger, lion, lynx, bobcat, ocelot, or any crossbreeds
of the above. Wild animals does not include insects, fish, avian species,
or other reptiles, mammals or animals not listed above.
[R.O. 2004 § 210.020; Ord. No. 3.12 § 1, 7-10-1967]
It shall be unlawful for any person
or persons owning or having charge of any dog or cat to permit the
same to run at large at any time within the corporate limits of the
City of Mount Vernon, Missouri.
[R.O. 2004 § 210.030; Ord. No. 3.12 § 2, 7-10-1967; Ord. No. 3.44 § 1, 5-26-2013]
A.
It shall be the duty of the City Police
or City dog catcher to take up any dog or cat found running at large
within the City of Mount Vernon, Missouri, in violation of the provision
of this Section and impound the same in a suitable place.
B.
The owner of any dog or cat taken up by
the Animal Control Officer or a member of the Police Department and
returned directly to that owner shall pay a fee to the City Collector
according to the fee schedule published by the City of Mount Vernon,
a copy of which is available at City Hall during normal business hours.
If such payment is not made within seventy-two (72) hours of the animal
being returned to the owner, the owner shall be cited for animal at
large.
[R.O. 2004 § 210.040; Ord. No. 3.12 § 3, 7-10-1967; Ord. No. 3.18 § 1, 1-13-1976; Ord. No. 3.44 § 2, 5-26-2013]
The owner of any animal placed into
the pound after having been running at large may recover that animal
upon payment to the City Collector of the impound fee according to
the fee schedule published by the City of Mount Vernon, a copy of
which is available at City Hall during normal business hours. An additional
fee will be charged for each twenty-four-hour period the animal remains
in the pound up to the maximum allowed under the fee schedule.
[R.O. 2004 § 210.050; Ord. No. 3.12 § 5, 7-10-1967]
The City dog catcher shall be employed
on a month-to-month basis by the Mayor with the approval of the Board
of Aldermen and shall be paid a monthly salary for services rendered
in lieu of a fee for apprehending or catching dogs or cats.
[R.O. 2004 § 210.060; Ord. No. 3.12 § 6, 7-10-1967]
It shall be unlawful for all person
to keep or harbor any howling or yelping dog or dogs or noise making
cats to the annoyance of the public.
Whenever rabies becomes prevalent
in the City, the Mayor shall, according to the necessity of the case,
issue a quarantine order, requiring every owner or person in charge
of any dog or dogs within the limits of the City, to either kill or
impound his/her dog or dogs, or to have such dog or dogs immunized.
Said order shall be published once in the paper officially publishing
the business of the City; and in the absence of such paper, shall
be posted as in case of sales of personal property. The Mayor is authorized
by proclamation, to terminate any such quarantine whenever, in his/her
judgment, the necessity for it no longer exists.
