[R.O. 1992 § 220.140; Ord. No. 750 §§ I – II, 3-22-2012]
The words "dog" or "cat," whenever used in this Article, without qualification are intended to mean a female as well as a male dog or cat as the case may be.
[R.O. 1992 § 220.150; Ord. No. 750 §§ I – II, 3-22-2012]
No dog or cat shall be permitted to be and remain within the limits of the City unless the owner thereof shall have caused such dog or cat to be inoculated against distemper annually and against rabies at least every three (3) years, and shall have paid the tax imposed by this Article.
[R.O. 1992 § 220.160; Ord. No. 750 §§ I – II, 3-22-2012]
A. 
Licensing.
1. 
The owner or custodian of any dog or cat within the City shall secure an annual license for such dog or cat from the City. Before any license is issued pursuant to this Section, the owner or custodian shall show satisfactory evidence of a current rabies inoculation as required by Section 205.150 hereof and proof if the animal has been spayed or neutered. If the dog or cat is a dangerous animal, the owner or custodian shall also provide proof of financial responsibility as required by Section 205.320(G) and two (2) current photographs as required by Section 205.320(C).
2. 
The City shall register all dogs and cats so licensed and issue to the owner or custodian of each dog and cat a metal tag which shall be numbered to correspond to the number appearing on the application for each license. Said license tag or plate shall be securely fastened on the collar or harness of the dog or other animal for which the license is issued and shall be worn at all times.
B. 
Applications And Fees.
1. 
Application for licenses shall be made and the license obtained on or before the first day of January of each year for the succeeding twelve-month period. Application fees and late fees shall be established by the Board of Aldermen from time to time.
[Ord. No. 924, 10-12-2017]
2. 
No charge shall be made for a license tag for any dog duly and properly trained to assist or support disabled persons when any such dog is actually being used by a disabled person for the purpose of assisting or supporting such person.
[R.O. 1992 § 220.170; Ord. No. 750 §§ I – II, 3-22-2012]
A. 
The fee to be paid for each cycle year (beginning January 1) or fraction thereof for each dog or cat shall be as follows:
1. 
Spayed female/neutered male: two dollars ($2.00).
2. 
Male: four dollars ($4.00).
3. 
Female: four dollars ($4.00).
[R.O. 1992 § 220.180; Ord. No. 750 §§ I – II, 3-22-2012]
A. 
The office of the City Clerk shall issue metal tag(s) to the owner of any animal that meets the following requirement:
1. 
Any dog or cat that is properly licensed in the City in accordance with the provisions set forth in Section 205.160 and has paid the required fee in accordance with the provisions set forth in Section 205.170.
2. 
Any dog that is permitted to use the "dog play area" as defined in Section 205.350 and has paid the required fee in accordance with Section 205.350(D) related to residents of the City of Wright City and Section 205.350(F) related to non-residents.
B. 
Metal tags issued pursuant to the provisions of this Article shall be kept attached to the dog or cat for which it is issued at all times.
[R.O. 1992 § 220.190; Ord. No. 750 §§ I – II, 3-22-2012]
A. 
Every person who is the owner of a dog or who is a "person responsible" for a dog shall keep it from "running at large" as that term is defined in this Section, so as to effectually prevent the dog from biting any person or animal.
B. 
A dog is "running at large", as that term is used in this Section and in this Article, if it is not "under restraint" as defined in this Section.
C. 
"Under restraint" shall mean:
1. 
When a dog is attached to a leash held by a person that is capable of and is in fact controlling the dog in question; or
2. 
When a dog is within a vehicle from which the animal cannot escape while the vehicle is being driven, parked or stopped; or
3. 
When a dog is on the real property of the owner or other person responsible for the dog and within a structure or fenced yard, including "invisible fence," from which it cannot escape.
D. 
"Under restraint," as that term is defined in this Section, does not include when a dog is tethered outside of a structure or fenced yard from which it cannot escape by means of a chain, rope, tether, cable or other similar device.
E. 
"Person responsible" for a dog includes any person, firm, association, partnership or corporation which owns, harbors, shelters, keeps, controls, manages, possesses or has a part interest in any dog. An occupant of any premises on which a dog remains or customarily returns is a person responsible for it under this Section and this Article. There may be more than one (1) person responsible for a dog.
F. 
Animals found running at large will be collected by an Animal Control Officer and:
1. 
If the owner is known, the animal may be returned to the owner and enforcement action taken at the discretion of the Animal Control Officer; or
2. 
Impoundment of the animal to the City animal shelter.
G. 
Any violation of this Section shall constitute an offense punishable as provided in Section 100.220 of this Code.
[R.O. 1992 § 220.200; Ord. No. 750 §§ I – II, 3-22-2012]
No person shall make use of or have in his/her possession or on his/her dog or cat a license tag not procured at the office of the City Clerk, and no person shall make use of or have in his/her possession a stolen or counterfeit dog or cat license tag.
[R.O. 1992 § 220.210; Ord. No. 750 §§ I – II, 3-22-2012]
For the purpose of this Article the licensing of any dog or cat or the redemption of any dog or cat shall be conclusive proof of ownership.
[R.O. 1992 § 220.220; Ord. No. 750 §§ I – II, 3-22-2012]
No officer or agent of the City, or any other person, shall entice any dog or cat out of the enclosure of the possessor of such dog or cat, or shall molest or seize any dog properly muzzled or on a leash.
[R.O. 1992 § 220.240; Ord. No. 750 §§ I – II, 3-22-2012]
When any fierce or dangerous animal or one (1) that has previously bitten any person is kept upon any premises, it shall be the duty of the owner and of the keeper of such animal to post a notice on the premises conspicuously visible to the public and reading in letters not less than two (2) inches high "Bad Animal Here" or "Beware Bad Animal." In case a minor is the keeper or owner of such animal, the duty of posting this notice shall devolve upon the adult person in whose family the minor lives, or who is in charge of the premises where such animal is kept.
[R.O. 1992 § 220.250; Ord. No. 750 §§ I – II, 3-22-2012]
In case any animal bites any person, such animal shall be immediately ordered quarantined or impounded by the Police Chief, Police Officer or agent of the City in a place convenient for and subject to inspection in such place for a period of ten (10) days and shall be observed for indications of hydrophobia and in case of its developing hydrophobia it shall be killed by an officer or agent of the City. If at the end of ten (10) days of observation such animal shall not have shown signs of hydrophobia and the Police Chief is satisfied that the animal is healthy, he/she may order it to be returned to its owner, provided there has been compliance with all provisions for inoculation and licensing of such animal.
[R.O. 1992 § 220.260; Ord. No. 750 §§ I – II, 3-22-2012]
Any cat which by continuous screeching, calling or mewing, or any dog which by continual barking, howling or yelping or by chasing vehicles shall annoy any person is hereby declared to be a public nuisance, and any owner of such animal upon being notified to do so in writing by the Animal Control Official or his/her designee or City Official shall take such action as may be necessary to prevent the animal from continuing the acts constituting the nuisance or shall dispose of the animal.
[R.O. 1992 § 220.270; Ord. No. 750 §§ I – II, 3-22-2012]
A. 
A person commits the offense of assault on a police animal if he or she knowingly attempts to kill or disable or knowingly causes or attempts to cause serious physical injury to a police animal when that animal is involved in law enforcement investigation, apprehension, tracking, or search, or the animal is in the custody of or under the control of a law enforcement officer, department of corrections officer, municipal police department, fire department or a rescue unit or agency.
B. 
The offense of assault on a police animal is an ordinance violation.