[Adopted 1-28-2003 by Order 03-18; amended 5-28-2019 by Order 19-074 (Ch. 81 of the 1991 Code)]
This article shall be known and referred to as the "Town of
Windham Animal Control Ordinance."
The Town of Windham has established this article to protect
the public health and safety of its citizens and to promote the general
welfare of the citizens and animals residing within the Town. Animal
ownership is encouraged and welcomed within Windham; however, strong
emphasis is placed on responsible ownership of animals. Animal owners
are encouraged to respect the rights of their fellow citizens and
also those of their animals. Primary responsibility is placed upon
animal owners to properly train and/or secure their animals so as
to prevent them from causing injuries and/or creating nuisances.
If any part of this article shall be held invalid, such part
shall be deemed severable and the invalidity thereof shall not affect
the remaining parts of this article.
All dog owners must show proof of current vaccination against
rabies prior to being licensed. All cat owners are required to show
proof of current vaccination against the rabies virus if the cat is
picked up as a stray or the cat has bitten a person or other domesticated
animal. A cat owner may show proof of exemption from the requirement
for vaccination in accordance with the requirements of 7 M.R.S.A.
§ 3916, Subdivision 4.
Any domesticated animal, except livestock, that is found to
be running at large on a public way, public property, or the property
of someone other than the owner of the animal may be seized by the
Animal Control Officer, a police officer, or other person appointed
by the Chief of Police or otherwise authorized by law.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General
Provisions, Art. I)]
No dogs or other domestic animals, except a service animal as defined in 5 M.R.S.A. § 4553, shall be allowed in any Town-owned/maintained cemeteries (Chapter
39, Cemeteries).
Nothing in this article shall be construed as having any impact
upon the state animal welfare laws prohibiting cruelty to animals,
regulating dangerous dogs and prohibiting animal trespass or any other
matter involving animals.
This article shall be administered and enforced by the Animal
Control Officer, a police officer, or other person appointed or contracted
to do so by the Chief of Police.
[Adopted 8-14-2012 (Ch.
82 of the 1991 Code)]
The purpose of this article is to provide standards for the keeping of domesticated chickens. It is intended to enable residents to keep a small number of female chickens on a noncommercial basis in residential zoning districts not governed by the standards of Chapter
120, §
120-504, Agriculture, poultry facility. This article is intended to ensure that domesticated chickens do not create nuisance conditions which include, but are not limited to, noise, odor, unsanitary animal living conditions, unsanitary waste storage and removal, the attraction of rodents and parasites/insects, and nonconfined animals leaving the owner's property.
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
CHICKEN PEN
A wire enclosure connected to a henhouse for the purpose
of allowing chickens to leave the henhouse while remaining in an enclosed,
safe environment.
HENHOUSE
A structure for the sheltering of chickens.
In the event that any section, subsection, or any portion of
this article shall be declared by any court of competent jurisdiction
to be invalid for any reason, such decision shall not be deemed to
affect the validity of any other section, subsection or other portion
of this article; to this end, the provisions of this article are hereby
declared to be severable.