[Code 1969, § 4-3; Ord. No. 386, § 2, 12-7-1982; Ord. No. 519, § 7, 11-17-1992; Ord. No. 1164, 7-18-2023]
It shall be unlawful for any person who is the owner or who has in his possession or under his control any horse, mule, ass, cattle, sheep, swine, goat, turkey, guinea or any other animal or fowl not commonly kept as a pet, except chickens or rabbits, to keep or maintain such animal or fowl within the limits of the City in any area not zoned an A-1 agricultural zoning district as defined in Section 26-101, or to permit such animal to run at large or be driven on the streets or public grounds of the City; provided, that this Section shall not apply to any animal or fowl which is being led by a halter, being ridden or being harnessed to a wheeled conveyance.
[Ord. No. 520, § 1, 11-17-1992; Ord. No. 1185, 4-15-2025]
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
ADEQUATE CARE
Normal and prudent attention to the needs of an animal, including wholesome food, clean water, shelter, and health care as necessary to maintain good health in a specific species of animal.
ADEQUATE CONTROL
To reasonably restrain or govern an animal so that the animal does not injure itself, any person, any other animal or property.
ANIMAL
Every living vertebrate except a human being.
ANIMAL SHELTER
A facility which is used to house or contain animals and which is owned, operated or maintained by a duly incorporated humane society, animal welfare society, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals or other not for profit organization devoted to the welfare, protection and humane treatment of animals.
DOMESTIC ANIMAL
An animal that is sufficiently tame to live with or near an individual owner or family and is bred for and adapted to living dependently in a residential setting, including, but not limited to, pets such as dogs and cats.
FARM ANIMAL
An animal raised on a farm or ranch and used or intended for use in farm or ranch production or as food or fiber.
HARBOR
To feed or shelter an animal at the same location for three or more consecutive days.
HUMANE KILLING
The destruction of an animal accomplished in a manner that minimizes the suffering endured by the animal to the greatest extent possible under the circumstances, but animals killed during the feeding of pet carnivores shall be considered humanely killed.
OWNER
In addition to its ordinary meaning, any person having a right of property in an animal, or who keeps or harbors an animal, or who has it in his or her care or residence, or who acts as the animal's custodian. A parent or legal guardian shall be deemed to be an owner of animals owned or maintained by minors upon their premises.
PERSON
Any individual, partnership, firm, joint stock company, corporation, association, trust, estate or other legal entity.
PESTS
Birds, rabbits or rodents which damage property or have an adverse effect on the public health, but shall not include any endangered species listed by the United States Department of the Interior nor any endangered species listed in the Wildlife Code of Missouri.
[Ord. No. 520, § 2, 11-17-1992; Ord. No. 1185, 4-15-2025]
(a) 
The provisions of this article shall not apply to:
(1) 
Care or treatment performed by a licensed veterinarian within the provisions of Chapter 340, RSMo.;
(2) 
Bona fide scientific experiments;
(3) 
Hunting, fishing or trapping as allowed by Chapter 252, RSMo., including all practices and privileges as allowed under the Missouri Wildlife Code;
(4) 
Rodeo practices currently accepted by the Professional Rodeo Cowboy's Association;
(5) 
The humane killing of an animal by the owner thereof, the agent of such owner or by a veterinarian at the request of the owner thereof;
(6) 
The lawful, humane killing of an animal by an animal control officer, the operator of an animal shelter, a veterinarian or law enforcement or health official;
(7) 
With respect to farm animals, normal or accepted practices of animal husbandry;
(8) 
The killing of an animal by any person at any time if such animal is outside of the owned or rented property of the owner or custodian of such animal, and the animal is injuring any person, domestic animal, or farm animal but shall not include police or guard dogs while working;
(9) 
The killing of house or garden pests.
[Ord. No. 520, § 3, 11-17-1992; Ord. No. 1185, 4-15-2025]
(a) 
A person commits the offense of animal neglect when he has custody, ownership, or both, of an animal and fails to provide adequate care or adequate control.
(b) 
Animal neglect is a misdemeanor.
[Ord. No. 520, § 4, 11-17-1992; Ord. No. 1185, 4-15-2025]
(a) 
A person commits the offense of animal abuse when he:
(1) 
Intentionally or purposely kills an animal in any manner not allowed by or expressly exempted from the provisions of this article;
(2) 
Purposely, intentionally or recklessly causes injury, suffering or pain to an animal;
(3) 
Abandons an animal in any place without making provisions for its adequate care;
(4) 
Overworks or overloads an animal or drives or works an animal unfit to work;
(5) 
Having ownership or custody of an animal willfully fails to provide adequate care or adequate control; or
(6) 
Leaves any animal confined in a vehicle for more than five minutes in extreme weather conditions, with no requirement of a culpable mental state. Extreme weather conditions shall be defined as more than 80 degrees Fahrenheit or less than 30 degrees Fahrenheit as the heat or cold index taken in the vehicle and shall create a legal, rebuttable presumption of violation of this act.
(b) 
Animal abuse is a misdemeanor.
[Ord. No. 520, § 5, 11-17-1992]
The parent or guardian of a minor child is responsible for the adequate care and adequate control of any animal owned by, in control of or harbored by that minor child.
[Ord. No. 520, § 6, 11-17-1992]
If a person is adjudicated guilty of the crime of animal neglect or animal abuse and the court having jurisdiction is satisfied that an animal owned or controlled by such person would in the future be subject to such neglect or abuse, such animal shall not be returned to or allowed to remain with such person, but its disposition shall be determined by the court.
[Ord. No. 781, § 1, 10-7-2003; Ord. No. 793, § 1, 3-16-2004; Ord. No. 801, § 1(a), 8-17-2004]
(a) 
It shall be unlawful to own or keep any animal that does any of the following:
(1) 
Repeatedly runs at large.
(2) 
Trespasses on, damages or destroys the property of anyone other than its owner.
(3) 
Is diseased or vicious.
(4) 
Causes unsanitary condition of enclosures or surroundings or causes fouling of the air by odors.
(5) 
Is offensive or dangerous to the public health, safety or welfare.
(6) 
Makes disturbing barks, noises or sounds.
(7) 
Molests passer(s) by or passing vehicles.
(8) 
Attacks other domestic animals.
(9) 
Has been designated by the Chief of Police or his authorized representative to be a public nuisance animal by virtue of being a menace to the public health, welfare and safety.
[Ord. No. 781, § 1, 10-7-2003]
No person shall permit his animal or an animal in his possession or control to defecate at a location which is not the owner's property; provided, however, it shall not be a violation of this section if the feces is immediately cleaned up and placed in a trash receptacle or taken to a location where the owner may legally dispose of the feces.
[Ord. No. 781, § 1, 10-7-2003; Ord. No. 1185, 4-15-2025]
(a) 
It shall be unlawful to allow or permit any animal to trespass on private or public property so as to damage or destroy any property or thing of value. The neighbor(s) complaining about the animal must be willing to sign a complaint and testify in court as to the offending animal.
(b) 
The Chief of Police or his authorized representative shall investigate the complaint to such an extent so as to ascertain whether the animal in question is a public nuisance and/or a bother to the inhabitants of the neighborhood. If the Chief of Police or his authorized representative finds a nuisance exists, he shall serve written notice upon the custodian of the animal advising that the animal is a public nuisance.
(c) 
If, after the original offense has been noted, the nuisance persists, and the person in custody of the animal does not correct the offensive behavior, the custodian of the animal shall be brought to municipal court and fined not less than $100 for the first offense and not less than $200 for the second offense, and if a third offense occurs, the dog shall be impounded. The person in custody of the animal shall also be responsible for restitution of any damages incurred by his animal's behavior and any impound fees that the City has incurred.
[Ord. No. 781, § 1, 10-7-2003; Ord. No. 1185, 4-15-2025]
(a) 
It shall be unlawful for any person to conceal an animal or interfere with the Chief of Police or his authorized representative in the performance of his legal duty as provided in this chapter. The Chief of Police or his authorized representative shall have the right of entry onto any property or premises for the purpose of collecting any dog, cat or other animal which is on such property or premises in violation of this chapter and whose presence on such property or premises constitutes a violation of any of the provisions of this chapter, or whose presence or existence is a violation of the provisions of this chapter.
(b) 
The Chief of Police or his authorized representative shall have the right of entry to any property or premises for the purpose of examining or obtaining any dog, cat or any other animals suspected of have rabies, having been exposed to rabies, having bitten a person or other another animal, or when such animal appears to be the subject of immediate danger due to animal abuse or neglect as defined in this chapter.
[Ord. No. 801, § 1(b), 8-17-2004]
Unless otherwise provided, violations of this chapter are punishable as provided in Section 1-7.