[Adopted 5-7-1968; 3-6-1979; 12-22-1997 by L.L. No. 3-1998; 10-5-1999; 5-4-2010 by Ord. No. 2010-1; 11-16-2010 by L.L. No. 5-2010; 3-5-2019 by L.L. No. 2-2019[1]]
[1]
Editor's Note: This local law also changed the title of this article from "Dogs" to "Dogs/Animals."
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
CURBING DOG
Walking said dog along the curbside of any street, so as to permit the dog to perform functions away from the area of premises of other persons.
OWNER
Any person harboring or keeping animals within the limits of the City of Amsterdam, and the parents, guardian or adult person with whom a minor animal owner resides.
No person who is the owner or who has custody and control of any dog shall permit or allow such dog or dogs, whether licensed or unlicensed, to run or be at large in the streets or on the sidewalks or public grounds of the City and elsewhere within the City, except on the premises of another person with the knowledge and assent of such other person, unless the dog is restrained by a chain or leash not exceeding eight feet in length.
All dogs when off the premises of the owner shall, when necessary, be curbed to prevent objectionable conduct or damage by said dog.
A. 
No person who is the owner of any dog or has the custody and control of any dog shall permit such dog to commit any of the acts herein set forth within the City or cause damage to the property of others. The following acts are declared to be violations of this section:
(1) 
Allowing a dog to run at large unless the dog is restrained by an adequate leash, not exceeding eight feet in length.
(2) 
Allowing a dog to engage in habitual loud howling, barking, crying or whining that is continuous and exceeds 15 minutes or allowing the dog to conduct itself in such a manner so as to unreasonably and habitually disturb the comfort or repose of any person other than the owner of such dog.
(3) 
Allowing a dog to chase, jump upon or at or otherwise harass any person in such a manner as to reasonably cause intimidation or fear or to put such person in reasonable apprehension of bodily harm or injury.
(4) 
Allowing a dog to habitually chase, run alongside of or bark at motor vehicles while on a public street or highway or upon public or private property other than property of the owner, the person having custody or harborer of the dog.
(5) 
Allowing a dog to create a nuisance by defecating, urinating or digging on public property or private property other than property of the owner.
(6) 
Allowing any dog, whether leashed or unleashed, to be in any restaurant, grocery or commercial establishment which sells food for human consumption, or in any cemetery. This prohibition shall not apply to a seeing eye dog accompanying a blind person.
(7) 
Permitting the premises, structures or enclosures in which such dog is kept to be unclean or unsanitary.
(8) 
Allowing a dog to be at large on any school premises, or the sidewalks adjacent thereof, unless the dog is on a leash not exceeding eight feet in length.
(9) 
Allowing a dog to be at large in any recreational or park areas, unless the dog is on a leash not exceeding eight feet in length. No dog shall be allowed to disturb the users of the recreational or park areas, nor shall any dog interfere with the rights of the patrons using the park or recreational area. The owner or responsible person of the dog shall be responsible for promptly removing all solid dog waste excretion from the recreational or park grounds and depositing same in a plastic bag tightly secured, and the waste material must be either removed from the area or deposited in a refuse can.
(10) 
Allowing a female dog to leave the owner's premises when that female dog is in heat.
B. 
Establishment of the fact or facts that a dog has committed any of the acts prohibited by § 73-4A of this article shall be presumptive evidence against the owner or harborer of such dog that he or she has failed to properly leash or control his or her dog.
C. 
No animal shall be kept or abandoned in an unoccupied building, dwelling or on any unoccupied property, whether indoor or outdoor. The proper care of any animal is the responsibility of the owner.
A. 
(Reserved)
B. 
Any person violating any provision of this article may, upon conviction, be punished by a fine of not more than $250, imprisonment for not more than 15 days, or both such fine and imprisonment. Said penalties are in addition to any pound fee required to redeem a dog as hereafter provided.
This article may also be enforced by such officers as the Mayor may designate and appoint.
All ordinances or parts of ordinances inconsistent with the provisions of this article are hereby repealed; it being the intention to repeal the ordinance heretofore adopted by the Common Council of the City of Amsterdam, March 3, 1964, only, and the ordinance adopted February 20, 1904, shall continue to remain in full force and effect.