[Ord. No. 580, 2-12-2007]
It shall be the duty of the Mayor
to enforce and administer the terms and provisions of this Article,
and in carrying out such duty and responsibility, the City Mayor shall
have the authority to employ a humane officer and to fix his/her compensation
and duties with the funds budgeted therefor; to establish, maintain
and operate a City animal pound; to establish rules and regulations
for the reception and caring for sick, injured or diseased animals
and the boarding of animals at the City pound, and to establish fees
therefor; and to perform such other duties and possess such authority
as may be necessary to effectively carry out, administer and enforce
the terms and provisions of the Article.
[Ord. No. 580, 2-12-2007]
It shall be unlawful for any person
possessing, owning or otherwise having under his/her control or custody
any wild animal or domestic animal or fowl of any kind, to permit
the same to run at large in or upon any of the streets or public places
or unenclosed lands of the City, or to tie or tether same in such
a way that such animal or fowl may go across or upon any of such places.
[Ord. No. 580, 2-12-2007]
It shall be the duty of the City
to pick up and dispose of all dead animals and fowl on the public
streets and public places.
[Ord. No. 580, 2-12-2007]
It is hereby declared an ordinance
violation for any person or persons owing, controlling, possessing,
or having the management or care, in whole or in part, of any animal
to permit the same to run at large or go off the premises of any owner
or keeper thereof, unless such animal is securely tied or led by a
line or leash, not to exceed ten (10) feet in length, so as to effectively
prevent such dog from biting, molesting or approaching any other person
or animal.
[Ord. No. 580, 2-12-2007]
Any person, who shall, within the
City, lead, unload or transfer from one (1) vehicle to another any
hogs, sheep, cattle or other livestock in any public place, street
or thoroughfare or on any private premises, or any person who shall
park or stand any vehicle in which hogs, sheep, cattle or other livestock
are loaded on any public place, street or thoroughfare or on any unenclosed
private premises for a longer period than one (1) hour, shall, upon
conviction, be deemed guilty of an ordinance violation.
[Ord. No. 580, 2-12-2007]
All animals found within the City
limits of the City of Morehouse, Missouri, without an inoculation
tag issued by a duly licensed veterinarian showing a current vaccination
against rabies shall be considered as strays and disposed of seven
(7) days after they are picked up.
[Ord. No. 580, 2-12-2007; Ord. No. 602, 8-8-2009; Ord. No.
644, 3-11-2013]
No person shall own, keep or harbor
any animal which, by loud, frequent or habitual barking, howling or
yelping, shall annoy or disturb any neighborhood or person, or by
habitually jumping upon or threatening persons upon public streets
shall cause persons thereon to be put in fear or injury or habitually
spreads garbage or habitually attacks other domestic animals, pets
or domestic fowl.
[Ord. No. 580, 2-12-2007; Ord. No. 602, 8-8-2009; Ord. No.
644, 3-11-2013]
A.
The keeping of a dangerous dog shall be
subject to the following standards:
1.
Leash And Muzzle. No person shall
permit a dangerous dog to go outside its kennel or pen unless such
dog is securely leashed with a leash no longer than four (4) feet
in length. No person shall permit such dogs to be kept on a chain,
rope or other type of leash outside its kennel or pen unless a person
is in physical control of the leash. Such dogs may not be leashed
to inanimate objects such as trees, posts, buildings, etc. In addition,
all such dogs on a leash outside the animal's kennel must be muzzled
by a muzzling device sufficient to prevent such dog from biting persons
or other animals.
2.
Confinement. All such dogs shall
be securely confined indoors or in securely enclosed and locked pen
or kennel, except when leashed and muzzled as above provided. Such
pen, kennel or structure must have secure sides and a secure top attached
to the sides. All structures used to confine such dogs must be combination
lock when such animals are within the structure. Such structure must
have a secure bottom or floor attached to the sides of the pen or
the sides of the pen must be embedded in the ground no less than two
(2) feet. All structures erected to house such dogs must comply with
all zoning and building regulations of the City. All such structures
must be adequately lighted and ventilated and kept in a clean and
sanitary condition.
3.
Confinement Indoors. No such dog
may be kept on a porch, patio or in any part of a house or structure
that would allow the dog to exit such building on its own volition.
In addition, no such animal may be kept in a house or structure when
the windows are open or when screen windows or screen doors are the
only obstacle preventing the dog from exiting the structure.
4.
Signs. All owners, keepers or harborers
of such dogs within the City shall within ten (10) days of the effective
date of this Article display in a prominent place on their premises
a sign easily readable by the public using the words "Beware of Dog."
In addition, a similar sign is required to be posted on the kennel
or pen of such animal.
5.
Insurance. All owners, keepers, or
harborers of such dogs must within ten (10) days of the effective
date of this Article provide proof to the Morehouse City Clerk of
public liability insurance in a single incident amount of three hundred
thousand dollars ($300,000.00) for bodily injury or death of any person
or persons or for damage to property owned by any persons which may
result from the ownership, keeping or maintenance of such animal.
Such insurance policy shall provide that no cancellation of the policy
will be made unless ten (10) days' written notice is first given to
the Morehouse City Clerk.
6.
Registration Requirements. All owners,
keepers or harborers of dangerous dogs must within ten (10) days of
the effective date of this Article provide to the City Clerk two (2)
color photographs of the said dog clearly showing the color and approximate
size of the animal. Further, they shall register the dog with the
City Clerk providing the name of the dog, the address where the dog
shall be maintained and execute an acknowledgment of receipt of a
copy of this Article.
7.
Reporting Requirements. All owners,
keepers or harborers of dangerous dogs must with in ten (10) days
of the incident, report the following information in writing to the
Morehouse City Clerk as required hereinafter:
8.
Irrebuttable Presumptions. There
shall be an irrebuttable presumption that any dog registered with
the City as a dangerous dog is in fact a dog subject to the requirements
of this Article.
9.
Failure To Comply. It shall be unlawful
for the owner, keeper, or harborer of a dangerous dog as defined in
this Article to fail to register that dog with the City of Morehouse
as required by this Article or for such an owner, keeper or harborer
of such a dog to fail to comply with the requirements and conditions
set forth in this Article. Any dog found to be the subject of a violation
of this Article shall be subject to immediate seizure and impoundment.
In addition, failure to comply will result in the revocation of the
license of such animal resulting in the immediate removal of the animal
from the City.
10.
"Dangerous Dog" Is Defined To Mean:
a.
Any dog which, according to the records
of the appropriate authority, has inflicted severe injury on a human
being without provocation on public or private property; or
b.
Any dog which, according to the records
of the appropriate authority, has killed a domestic animal without
provocation while on the owner's property; or
c.
Any dog owned or harbored primarily
or in part for the purpose of dog fighting or any dog trained for
dog fighting.
d.
Any dog, not owned by a governmental
or law enforcement unit, used primarily to guard public or private
property.
e.
Any dog with a known propensity,
tendency or disposition to attack unprovoked, to cause injury, or
to otherwise threaten the safety of human beings or domestic animals.
[Ord. No. 602, 8-8-2009; Ord. No. 644, 3-11-2013]
Whoever shall, in this City, own,
or have in his/her possession, custody or control, any dog, cat or
animal shall obtain a rabies vaccination for said animal, and shall
place an identification tag on said animal with the name, address
and phone number of the owner.
[Ord. No. 602, 8-8-2009; Ord. No. 644, 3-11-2013]
The duties of the humane officer
shall be to take up any animals named in this Article running at large
and confine them in the City pound. Any animal which is so taken up
by said humane officer which is identifiable by markings shall be
kept in said City pound by said humane officer, and shall make every
reasonable effort to identify the owner or custodian thereof. All
other animals not so identifiable shall be held in said City pound
for a minimum of seven (7) days. All said animals so impounded by
the City humane officer shall be redeemed by the owner only upon the
payment to the City of Morehouse the sum of ten dollars ($10.00) per
day for each day said animal has been impounded.
[Ord. No. 602, 8-8-2009; Ord. No. 644, 3-11-2013]
If any person shall willfully break or otherwise open any pen or pound and let out any animal impounded by virtue of this Article, or shall interfere with any officer in the discharge of his/her duties under this Article by taking out of his/her possession or custody or attempting by force or otherwise to take out of possession or custody any animal or animals that may be driven by him for the purpose of impounding the same, he/she or they shall be deemed guilty of an ordinance violation and, on conviction thereof, shall be fined as set forth in Chapter 100, Article III, of this Code.
B.
All
fines and penalties for a first finding of guilt under this Section
may be waived by the court if the person found guilty of animal neglect
shows that adequate, permanent remedies for the neglect have been
made. Reasonable costs incurred for the care and maintenance of neglected
animals may not be waived. This Section shall not apply to the provisions
of Section 578.007, RSMo., or Chapter 272, RSMo.
C.
In
addition to any other penalty imposed by Section 578.009, RSMo., the
court may order a person found guilty of animal neglect to pay all
reasonable costs and expenses necessary for:
1.
The care and maintenance of neglected 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; and
4.
The avoidance or minimization of any public health risks created
by the neglect of the animals.
A.
A person
is guilty of animal trespass if a person having ownership or custody
of an animal knowingly fails to provide adequate control for a period
equal to or exceeding twelve (12) hours.
B.
For
a first conviction of animal trespass, each offense shall be punishable
by a fine not to exceed two hundred dollars ($200.00). The second
and all subsequent convictions shall be punishable by imprisonment
or a fine not to exceed five hundred dollars ($500.00), or both such
fine and imprisonment. All fines for a first conviction of animal
trespass may be waived by the court, provided that the person found
guilty of animal trespass shows that adequate, permanent remedies
for trespass have been made. Reasonable costs incurred for the care
and maintenance of trespassing animals may not be waived. This Section
shall not apply to the provisions of Section 578.007, RSMo., or Sections
272.010 to 272.370, RSMo.
A.
A person
commits the offense of animal abuse if he or she:
1.
Intentionally or purposely kills an animal in any manner not allowed
by or expressly exempted from the provisions of Sections 578.005 to
578.023 and 273.030, RSMo.;
2.
Purposely or intentionally causes injury or suffering to an animal;
or
3.
Having ownership or custody of an animal, knowingly fails to provide
adequate care which results in substantial harm to the animal.
[1]
Note: Under certain circumstances, this offense can be a felony
under State law.
[Ord. No. 602, 8-8-2009; Ord. No. 644, 3-11-2013]
No person in the City shall maintain
any place where fowl or animals are suffered to fight upon exhibits
or for sport or upon any wager.
[Ord. No. 602, 8-8-2009; Ord. No. 644, 3-11-2013]
No person in the City shall poison
any dog or cat, or any other animal if known to belong to another
person, or distribute poison in any manner whatsoever with the intent
or for the purpose of poisoning any dog or cat, or any other animal
known to belong to another person.
[Ord. No. 580, 2-12-2007; Ord. No. 602, 8-8-2009; Ord. No.
644, 3-11-2013]
Any person violating or permitting the violation of Ord. No. 644 shall, upon conviction in Municipal Court, be fined a sum as set forth in Chapter 100, Article III of this Code. In addition to the fine imposed, the Court may sentence the defendant to imprisonment for not to exceed thirty (30) days. In addition, the court shall order the registration of the subject dangerous dog revoked, and the dog removed from the City. Should the defendant refuse to remove the dog from the City, the municipal court judge shall find the defendant owner in contempt and order the immediate confiscation and impoundment of the animal. Each day that a violation of this Article continues shall be deemed a separate offense. In addition to the foregoing penalties, any person who violates this Article shall pay all expenses, including shelter, food, handling, veterinary care and testimony necessitated by the enforcement of this Article
[Ord. No. 579, 2-12-2007]
It shall be unlawful for any person
to keep any horse, mule, jenny, donkey, pony, bull, cow, calf, sheep,
hog, pig, or goat within the City limits of Morehouse.
[Ord. No. 579, 2-12-2007]
All areas west of Little River are excluded from only Section 205.210 of this Article.
[Ord. No. 579, 2-12-2007; Ord.
No. 729, 4-10-2023]
Every owner or possessor of an animal
which may die within the City, whether upon his/her own premises or
the premises of another, shall within twenty-four (24) hours after
the death of such animal, or after notification by the Chief of Police
of the death of said animal, cause the carcass to be buried or removed
from the City.
[Ord. No. 579, 2-12-2007]
It shall be unlawful for any person
to keep any domestic fowls such as chickens, turkeys, geese or ducks
within or under any building used for human habitation within this
City.
[Ord. No. 579, 2-12-2007]
It shall be unlawful for any person
to permit any chicken, turkey, geese, duck, or other domestic fowls,
under his/her custody or control, to be outside of the enclosed premises
of such person, or to run at large within the corporate limits of
the City of Morehouse at any time.
[Ord. No. 579, 2-12-2007]
It shall be unlawful for any possessor
or owner of rabbits, chickens, turkeys, geese, ducks, or other domestic
fowls to allow any accumulation of manure, liquid discharge, garbage,
vegetable water, filth or refuse of any nature, or other decayable
matter. It is their responsibility that the pen, cages, or other enclosures
be kept in a clean and wholesome condition, so that no offensive odors
shall be allowed to escape therefrom. Any complaints received by the
Mayor or Aldermen of violations of this section will result in the
possessor or owner of the animals or fowls listed in this section
to be required to remove all of the animals or fowls from the City
of Morehouse, and/or be punished as stated in Section 9 of this Article.
