[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 § 220.230; Ord. No.
750 §§ I – II, 3-22-2012]
It shall be unlawful for any officer or agent of the City, or
any other person, to bring into the City any dog or cat for the purpose
of taking up and impounding the same.
[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.