[HISTORY: Adopted by the Mayor and Council
of the Town of Elsmere 5-9-2019 by Ord. No. 646.[1]Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Noise disturbances created by animals — See Ch. 143.
Parks and recreation areas — See Ch. 155.
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance also repealed former Ch. 71,
Animals, adopted 11-14-2002 by Ord. No. 407, as amended.
This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Town of
Elsmere Animal Regulation Code."
For the purposes of this chapter, the following terms shall
have the meanings indicated. No attempt is made to define any words
which are used in accordance with their established dictionary meanings,
except when necessary to avoid misunderstandings.
Any nonhuman primate, raccoon, skunk, fox, poisonous snake,
leopard, panther, tiger, lion, lynx, or any other animal so classified
by the Delaware Code.
A.
B.
The actions of an animal constitute a nuisance when the animal disturbs
the rights or threatens the safety of or harms a member of the general
public, damages the property of someone other than the animal's
owner or trespasses upon the private property of another person not
the owner of the animal.
C.
It shall be unlawful for any person to own, keep, possess, harbor
or maintain an animal in such a manner as to constitute a public nuisance.
By way of example and not of limitation, the following acts or actions
by an owner or possessor of an animal are hereby declared to be a
public nuisance:
(1)
Allowing or permitting any animal to bark, whine, howl, crow, cackle
or make other loud disturbing noise which, due to the volume, continuance
or hour of the day, results in a serious annoyance or interference
to neighboring residents and their enjoyment of their property.
(2)
Allowing or permitting an animal to continually damage the property
of anyone other than its owner, including, but not limited to, turning
over garbage containers or damaging gardens, flowers, or other plant
material or trespassing upon the property.
(3)
Maintaining an animal with a medical condition that could lead to
a widespread epidemic that would ultimately be dangerous to the public
health, unless the animal is kept in a manner that minimizes the public
health threat and is undergoing treatment for the disease in accordance
with locally accepted veterinary standards.
(4)
Maintaining an animal or animals in an environment of unsanitary
conditions, which results in offensive odors or is dangerous to the
animal or to the public health, welfare or safety or that of any neighboring
property within 200 feet.
(5)
Placing of any food, drink or other consumable item(s) intending
that they be consumed by animals other than those owned by the person
placing the items for consumption, which would draw animals not owned
by the person to the area for the purpose of feeding or obtaining
water or other consumable items. This section shall not include bird
feeders.
It shall be a violation of this section for any person to harbor
or feed any stray animal unless he or she has notified the Code Enforcement
Officer within 48 hours of the presence of the stray animal. Upon
receiving such notification, the Code Enforcement Officer may direct
that such animal be placed with the State of Delaware Office of Animal
Welfare. Refusal to surrender any such stray animal upon request of
the Code Enforcement Officer shall be deemed an additional violation
of this section.
Any person who hinders, obstructs or otherwise interferes with
an officer while discharging his or her duties under this chapter,
or who takes or attempts to take any animal from any officer or from
any vehicle used by the officer to transport any animal, or who takes
or attempts to take any animal from the Town without proper authority,
or knowingly interferes with any animal trap set by an officer or
persons obtaining said traps from the Town shall be deemed in violation
of this section.
No person owning or having charge, care, custody or control
of any dog or cat shall permit or allow the dog or cat into or upon
any public park within the Town, unless in compliance with the Delaware
Code or the Rules of the Town's Dog Park.
A.
Any police officer or a law enforcement officer of the State of Delaware
and any Code Enforcement Officer of the Town of Elsmere who has probable
cause to believe that a person has committed an act in violation of
this chapter shall have the authority to enforce this chapter.
B.
No person shall willfully refuse to sign and accept a citation issued
by an officer or willfully refuse to sign for and accept delivery
of a citation sent via certified mail return receipt requested by
the Town or any officer enforcing this chapter.
C.
In the event an animal is impounded for violation of this chapter
and the owner of the animal abandons or surrenders the animal to the
State of Delaware Office of Animal Welfare, the owner remains liable
for the penalties imposed for violations of this chapter. In the event
the animal runs away, is lost or is given away, the owner of the animal
shall be liable for any penalty imposed for violations of this chapter.
A.
Any person cited for an infraction under this chapter shall pay the
civil penalty specified for such infraction as set by resolution.
B.
In addition to any civil penalties, any person who fails to pay all
penalties imposed within the ten-calendar-day payment period shall
pay a delinquency fee as set by resolution.
C.
Any person who fails to come into compliance with any section of
this chapter for which he or she is in violation within the ten-calendar-day
payment period shall be subject to citation for second and subsequent
offense violations of the same sections of this chapter.
A.
No person shall leave an animal in a motor vehicle without adequate
ventilation or in such a manner as to expose the animal to extremes
of heat or cold.
B.
An officer may remove and impound an animal from a vehicle if its
safety appears to be in immediate danger from heat or cold or lack
of adequate ventilation. The officer is authorized to take steps reasonably
necessary for the removal of such animal, including but not limited
to breaking into the vehicle. Neither the officer nor his or her agency
shall bear civil liability for damage.
C.
No person shall transport any animal in a motor vehicle unless the
animal is safely enclosed within the vehicle, or if traveling in an
unenclosed vehicle (including but not limited to convertibles, pickups
and flatbed trucks) is confined by a container, cage, or other device
that will prevent the animal falling from or jumping from the motor
vehicle. Any such container or cage shall be anchored to the vehicle
in order to prevent its jostling about.
A.
No person shall keep or harbor any animal commonly referred to as
a "farm animal" or "livestock."
A.
Any person harboring or keeping an animal which would be prohibited by § 71-11 of this chapter and who believes that his/her particular animal has a real and legitimate medical, medicinal, psychological or emotional benefit to him/her or a member of his/her family residing in the residence may ask for a meeting with the Town Manager and request an exemption from the provisions of § 71-11.
B.
The Town Manager shall develop a list of criteria that the animal's
owner must present at the meeting and a general procedure concerning
how the meeting will be conducted.
C.
If at the conclusion of the meeting the Town Manager is convinced that the particular animal in question does in fact provide legitimate medical or medicinal benefit to the animal's owner or a member of his/her family residing in the residence and that harboring the animal would not adversely affect the general value of property within the area, nor adversely affect the right of other property owners to the safe and comfortable enjoyment of their property, the Town Manager may issue an exemption to § 71-11 of this chapter.
D.
If the Town Manager decides to issue an exemption he may make the
issuance of the exemption contingent upon any terms, restrictions
or conditions he feels appropriate.
E.
Any person aggrieved by the Town Manager's decision may appeal
to the Board of Adjustment.
