[Ord. No. 2007-03 §1(5-24), 1-8-2007; Ord. No. 2024-55, 7-29-2024]
A. 
Every person owning, keeping, harboring, or permitting a dog to remain on his/her premises shall register and secure a license for such dog if over the age of four (4) months. Dog licenses shall be issued by the City Clerk upon payment of the license fee fixed by the City Council for each spayed or neutered male or female and a fee for each unneutered male or unspayed female. Application for a dog license shall be made by the owner or keeper on a form provided by the City, which states the applicant's name and address, and the name, breed, color and sex of each dog owned or kept by him/her. Before any dog license is issued, the owner or keeper shall present to the City Clerk a certificate of vaccination from a licensed veterinarian showing the veterinarian has vaccinated the dog being licensed with an anti-rabies vaccine and a certification from a veterinarian verifying neutering or spaying. This provision shall not apply to a dog whose owner is a non-resident temporarily within the City not to exceed thirty (30) days and to service dogs. Service dogs may be registered by the owner, but no license fee shall be charged for such dogs.
Licenses shall be issued for each calendar year beginning January 1, after which the applicant shall be assessed a penalty equal to fifty percent (50%) of the license fee. Dogs becoming four (4) months of age shall be licensed within sixty (60) days of attaining such age.
B. 
No vicious dog shall be granted a license, unless the owner provides proof of homeowner's or renter's insurance with a limit of not less than one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000.00) for coverage against personal injury or death of any person resulting from attack by a dog.
C. 
No dog as outlined in Section 205.390 shall be issued a license.
D. 
Subject to the above, if during the license period ownership of the dog is transferred to the new owner, upon application by the new owner to the City Clerk, the transfer fee is five dollars ($5.00).
[Ord. No. 2007-03 §1(5-25), 1-8-2007]
Upon payment of the license fee, the City Treasurer shall issue to the owner a license certificate and a metallic tag for the dog so licensed. The shape of the tag shall be changed each year and shall have stamped thereon the year for which it was issued and the number corresponding with the number of the certificate. Every owner shall be required to provide each dog with a collar to which the license tag shall be affixed and shall see that the collar and the tag are worn constantly unless the dog, accompanied by owner, is engaged in hunting or other sport where a collar might endanger the dog's safety. In this instance the owner shall produce the tag or other proof of ownership if so requested by the Animal Control Officer. In case a dog tag is lost or destroyed, a duplicate shall be issued by the City Treasurer upon presentation of a certificate showing the license fee paid for the current year and the payment of three dollar ($3.00) fee for such duplicate. Dog tags shall not be transferable from one dog to another and no refunds will be made on any dog license tag because of the death or loss of the dog or the owners leaving the City before the expiration of the license period. No person shall remove or cause to be removed the collar or tag from any dog without consent of the owner or keeper thereof.
[Ord. No. 2007-03 §1(5-26), 1-8-2007]
It shall be a violation of the Code of the City of Chillicothe, Missouri, for an owner or keeper of a dog (or cat) to let such dog (or cat) run at large, which is defined to mean off the premises of the owner and not under the control of the keeper, owner or responsible member of the household of the keeper or owner. A dog (or cat) is under control if it is under the immediate and effective restraint of a responsible person.
[Ord. No. 2007-03 §1(5-27), 1-8-2007]
Any licensed dog found running at large in the City will be humanely handled by the Animal Control Officer taken up and secured at the animal control shelter. Notification will be made to the owner of the dog's impoundment. The licensee or person making claim for the dog shall be considered the owner or keeper of said dog by virtue of the license application or the claim made and will be cited for the offense of permitting a dog to run at large.
[Ord. No. 2007-03 §1(5-28), 1-8-2007]
Any dog running at large in the City of Chillicothe, Missouri, whose licensed applicant owner or keeper cannot be found or not wearing a collar bearing a dog license tag as provided and described herein, shall be taken up by the Animal Control Officer and impounded at some suitable place for one (1) week during which time it shall be the responsibility of the Animal Control Officer to see that such dog is fed and watered. If an unlicensed dog is found running at large, but its ownership is known to the Animal Control Officer, impoundment shall be in accordance with Section 205.330.
[Ord. No. 2007-03 §1(5-29), 1-8-2007]
A. 
The owner of a dog or other animal shall be entitled to resume possession of any impounded dog or other animal before it is disposed of, upon compliance with the license provisions herein and the payment of the impoundment fees set forth in this Article. The Animal Control Officer shall require that such dog be vaccinated with anti-rabies vaccine as a condition for the release of such dog and may require such other vaccinations of the animal when deemed necessary.
B. 
Any pet impounded under the provisions of this Chapter may be redeemed by the owner or keeper upon payment of a redemption fine of thirty-five dollars ($35.00) plus an additional fine of ten dollars ($10.00) per day of impoundment or any fraction thereof to offset the costs of impoundment for the first (1st) offense. The second (2nd) offense shall require a sixty dollar ($60.00) redemption fine and an additional fine of ten dollar ($10.00) per day of impoundment or any fraction thereof, to offset the costs of impoundment. The third (3rd) offense and every offense thereafter in any calendar year shall require a one hundred dollar ($100.00) redemption fine and an additional fine of ten dollars ($10.00) per day of impoundment or any fraction thereof to offset the costs of impoundment.
C. 
Dogs or other animals not claimed in a timely fashion may be adopted upon payment of an amount not less than that due the City as redemption fees for a first (1st) time offense.
[Ord. No. 2007-03 §1(5-30), 1-8-2007]
Any dog or cat impounded under the provisions of this Article and not reclaimed by the owner within one (1) week may be humanely destroyed by a veterinarian or a qualified person designated by the City by injection of a substance that is considered to be humane or placed in the custody of some responsible and suitable owner who will comply with the provisions of this Article and pay the adoption fees and if such dog or cat is an unspayed female, will agree to have such female spayed within ninety (90) days. Diseased or dying dogs or cats may be humanely destroyed at the time of collection, except that if the owner can be discovered from the tags on the animal, he/she will be notified prior to disposing of the animal.
[Ord. No. 2007-03 §1(5-32), 1-8-2007]
A. 
Required Confinement And Notice Of Authorities. Any animal that shall bite any person or other animal, causing an abrasion of the skin, shall be immediately confined for a period of ten (10) days by the Animal Control Officer. It shall be the duty of the person owning, harboring or permitting any animal to be about his/her premises to notify the Animal Control Officer immediately upon knowledge or notice that such animal has bitten any person or other animal and if such animal has been or will be delivered to a veterinarian.
B. 
Required Immediate Veterinarian Examination. All animals subject to confinement will as quickly as practicable be transported by the owner or, if the owner is unavailable or unwilling, by the Animal Control Officer to a licensed veterinarian for examination. All costs associated with this procedure shall be the obligation of the owner of the animal.
C. 
Home Confinement. If upon examination the first (1st) offender animal is free of apparent signs of central nervous system disease and has received rabies vaccination more than thirty (30) days prior to the bite and not more remotely than one (1) year or has received a vaccination more remotely than one (1) year and has a certificate from a licensed veterinarian certifying the continuing effectiveness of such vaccination, the owner, with facilities to and who will assure the Animal Control Officer of his/her confinement to do so, will be permitted to confine the animal examined by a licensed veterinarian on the tenth (10th) day, with reports of the examination to be made expeditiously to the Police Department. If in-home confinement of an animal is not maintained, it will be picked up by the Animal Control Officer and confined in the facilities of a licensed veterinarian.
D. 
Veterinarian Confinement. In all cases other than those described in Subsection (C) above, the animal will be confined in the facilities of the licensed veterinarian.
E. 
Payment Of All Veterinarian Charges. All inspection confinement charges of the veterinarian will be paid by the person owning or harboring the animal. If the animal is not claimed by the owner at the end of confinement period, the animal will be impounded by the City and released to the owner only upon payment of all veterinary charges and fees in Section 205.350. If not claimed within one (1) week, Section 205.360 will apply.
F. 
Disposition Of Animal Without Quarantine Observation Prohibited. It shall be unlawful for any person with notice or knowledge that an animal owned, harbored or permitted to remain about his/her premises has bitten any person, to dispose of such animal in any manner and a violation of the terms of this Section shall be deemed a violation subject to punishment under Section 100.340 of this Code.
G. 
Death While Confined — Duty To Notify Police Department. The Animal Control Officer or a veterinarian or owner shall notify the Police Department immediately of the death of any animal while under his/her observation or care. All animals which have bitten any person shall be secured in such a manner so as to prevent their biting other animals while such animal remains in the City pound or in the care of a veterinarian.
H. 
Destruction Of Dangerous Animal Prior To Quarantine — Laboratory Examination Of Brain. If any dangerous, fierce or vicious animal cannot be safely taken up or impounded, such animal may be slain by any Police Officer. In all cases where the animal has bitten a person or caused an abrasion of the skin is slain by any Police Officer, whether by order of court or otherwise, and a period of less than fifteen (15) days has elapsed since the day upon which such animal bit any person or caused an abrasion of the skin of any person, it shall be the duty of the Chief of Police to cause to be delivered without delay, the head with brain of such animal to the State Division of Health laboratory or other authorized laboratory for analysis.
I. 
Emergency Epidemic Controls. It shall be the duty of the Mayor, whenever in his/her opinion the danger to the public safety from rabid animals is great and imminent, to publish his/her proclamation order requiring all persons owning, keeping or harboring any animal to securely muzzle or confine same for the period prescribed in the proclamation. All animals not so muzzled or confined during such period shall be presumed to be an abandoned or unknown animal.
J. 
Disposition Of Animal Bitten Or Scratched By Another Animal. If an animal which has either not been vaccinated for rabies or has not received timely booster vaccinations for same is bitten or scratched by an animal adjudged to be rabid, such animal shall be forthwith destroyed or held under ten (10) days quarantine by the owner in the same manner as other animals are quarantined. If an animal which has been vaccinated for rabies is bitten or scratched by an animal adjudged to be rabid, such animal be given a rabies booster vaccination and shall be watched for abnormal behavior for a period of thirty (30) days. If an animal is bitten or scratched by an animal and it is not known whether that animal is rabid, the bitten or scratched animal shall be quarantined for a period of ten (10) days.
K. 
Disposition Of Animals After Quarantine. Any animal which becomes rabid during the period it is confined shall be killed and the Health Officer may order the Chief of Police to deliver the head with the brain of such animal to the State laboratory or other authorized laboratory for analysis.
[Ord. No. 2007-03 §1(5-33), 1-8-2007]
No person will own, keep, possess or harbor an animal which has a history of inflicting to any human being injury on two (2) separate incidents reported to the Animal Control Officer unless it can be proven that the animal was defending itself against unwarranted harassment by a human. No Section of this Chapter shall be construed as preventing a person from exercising reasonable self-defense tactics to prevent an animal attack.
[Ord. No. 2007-03 §1(5-34), 1-8-2007; Ord. No. 2022-40, 5-9-2022]
A. 
If the Animal Control Officer or City Police declares that a dog is a vicious dog, the Animal Control Officer shall dispose of the dog as follows:
1. 
If the Animal Control Officer finds that the dog made a severe [defined as one in which the dog repeatedly bit or vigorously shook its victim or the victim suffered bodily injury characterized by severe bite wounds, broken bones, lacerations, or severe ripping or tearing at muscle that would require reasonably prudent person to seek medical aid or attention] or fatal attack upon a human being or domestic animal, the Animal Control Officer shall cause the dog to be humanely euthanized as set out in Subsection (C) herein.
2. 
If the Animal Control Officer finds that the dog had been provoked to make a severe [as defined above] or fatal attack upon a human being or domestic animal, the Animal Control Officer shall either cause the dog to be humanely destroyed or return the dog to its owner subject to the owner's written agreement to control the dog as provided below. The agreement may include a provision that if the animal attacks again, it shall be humanely euthanized.
3. 
The Animal Control Officer has discretion to dispose of all other dogs declared to be vicious either by causing them to be humanely euthanized or returned to its owner subject to the restrictions as provided in below, after giving notice and an opportunity to be heard to the dog's owner as provided in below.
B. 
Before the Animal Control Officer returns a vicious dog to its owner, the Animal Control Officer shall secure that owner's written agreement to control the dog as provided herein.
1. 
Any vicious dog shall wear at all times a bright collar with the words "Vicious Dog" embroidered or stamped on the collar so the dog can readily be identified as a vicious dog. The owner, at his/her expense, shall allow a veterinarian chosen by the Animal Control Officer to implant a microchip identification in the dog.
2. 
The owner or custodian of the vicious dog shall notify the Animal Control Office immediately if the dog is loose or missing or has attacked another animal or human being.
3. 
The owner or custodian of the vicious dog shall notify the Animal Control Office within twenty-four (24) hours if the dog has died or has been sold or given away to a new owner or custodian. The owner or custodian transferring custody to a new owner or custodian shall comply with the notice provisions of Subsection (C). If the dog has been sold or given away, the owner or custodian shall provide the Animal Control Office with the name, address and telephone number of the new owner or custodian. The new owner or custodian, if the animal is kept within Chillicothe, must comply with the requirements in this Chapter for keeping a vicious animal.
4. 
While on its owner's property, a vicious dog must be securely confined indoors or in a securely enclosed and locked pen or structure, suitable to prevent the animal from escaping. Such a pen or structure must have a minimum dimension of five (5) feet by ten (10) feet, must have strong, secure sides and a secure top. If it has no bottom secured to the sides, the sides must be embedded into the ground no less than twelve (12) inches. The enclosure must also provide adequate shelter from the elements. The enclosure, when occupied by a vicious dog, shall not be occupied by any other animal, unless the vicious dog is a female with young under three (3) months of age, in which case the young may occupy the same enclosure as the mother.
5. 
No vicious dog may be kept in any area of the owner's property that would allow the dog to exit easily (i.e., behind screen doors or screened windows), nor may any vicious dog be pully chained without a physical barrier to prevent contact with other animals or people or the escape of the dog.
6. 
A sign indicating the presence of a vicious dog shall be present at and large enough to read from any public thoroughfare from which the property is entered and the owner or custodian of the dog shall post a notice conspicuously visible to the public at each entrance to the premises and on each side of the dog's enclosure, if any, reading in letters not less than two (2) inches high "VICIOUS DOG - BEWARE." A sign with a picture of a growling dog shall also be displayed at all places where the notice of vicious dog is posted. Any sign shall be approved in advance, in writing, by the Animal Control Officer and a copy of the approved sign shall be maintained in the Animal Control's file on the dog.
7. 
A vicious dog may be off the owner's premises only if it is securely muzzled and on a strong leash no more than four (4) feet long and under the control of a competent person.
8. 
The owner or custodian of a vicious dog shall present to the Animal Control Office proof that the owner or custodian has procured liability insurance to include bodily injury and property damage in the amount of at least one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000.00). Such insurance shall be for an initial period of twelve (12) months and must be continuously renewed without a break in coverage for as long as the vicious dog lives or is kept in Chillicothe. This policy shall contain a provision requiring the City to be notified by the issuing company at least ten (10) working days prior to any cancellation, termination, or expiration of the policy.
9. 
All owners or custodians of vicious dogs must, within ten (10) days of such declaration, provide the Animal Control Office with two (2) sets of color photographs of the vicious dog, one (1) of each side and showing the color and approximate size of the dog. The owners or custodians shall in addition provide the following information: The dog's name or names and the name, address and phone number of the dog's veterinarian.
10. 
All owners or custodians of vicious dogs must, within ten (10) days of such declaration, have the dog spayed or neutered and must provide evidence of such spaying or neutering from a duly licensed veterinarian to the City.
11. 
Any dog not controlled as provided in this Subsection shall be subject to immediate seizure and impoundment for ten (10) days for the owner or custodian to comply with this Subsection. If the owner or custodian does not comply with this Subsection within such time, then the dog shall be euthanized.
C. 
The Animal Control Officer shall give owners of dogs declared to be vicious notice of the Animal Control Officer's declaration and intended disposition of the dog, as provided herein.
1. 
Notice Of Declaration Of Vicious Dog And Of Disposition. Immediately upon determining that a dog is vicious, and at least ten (10) business days prior to any humane euthanasia of any such dog, the Animal Control office shall notify the dog's owner, if known, or known custodian if the owner is unknown or unable to be contacted, of the declaration and of any scheduled euthanasia. The notice shall state the owner's right to request a hearing before the City Administrator of any determination made by the Animal Control Officer by submitting a written request for hearing to the Animal Control Officer within five (5) business days of receiving the aforesaid notice.
2. 
Hearing. Upon timely receipt of the written request submitted pursuant to Subsection (C)(1), above, the Animal Control Officer shall schedule a hearing at which all interested parties may be heard, including the owner, individuals possessing knowledge of the characteristics of the dog in question, and any other individuals who may come into contact with the dog if it is not destroyed. After all parties have an opportunity to be heard, the City Administrator shall make the final determinations as to whether a dog is a vicious dog and what its disposition shall be under the provisions of this Chapter. The City Administrator's determination and decision is final for all purposes, and there shall be no further administrative relief available.
D. 
The Animal Control Officer may declare a dog to be vicious because of its prior acts even after its owner or custodian has removed it from the City. Such a dog may not be returned to the City.
E. 
Should the Animal Control Officer receive from any court of competent jurisdiction a stay of an order of euthanasia on a dog, the dog shall remain impounded in the City animal facility until the court has issued its final order.
F. 
The penalty imposed for any violation of Section 205.390 shall be a fine of no less than one hundred dollars ($100.00) and up to five hundred dollars ($500.00). Further, any person in violation of Section 205.390 shall have no less than five (5) and no more than ten (10) days to remove the animal from the City. Failure to do so shall result in the euthanasia of the animal at the owner's expense.
[Ord. No. 2007-03 §1(5-35), 1-8-2007]
It shall be unlawful for any person to 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 any person at any location other than on the owner's property or shall cause persons thereon to be put in fear of injury or habitually spreads garbage or habitually attacks other domestic animals, pets or domestic fowls.
[Ord. No. 2007-03 §1(5-37), 1-8-2007]
It shall be unlawful for any owner, keeper or person harboring any female dog or cat to permit or suffer her to run at large within the City while she is in heat, whether she has the collar or tag required by the Article on her or not. If the owner of such female dog or cat cannot be immediately found, such dog shall be impounded by any Police Officer. Every female dog or cat in heat shall be kept confined in a building or secure enclosure or in a veterinary hospital or boarding kennel in such manner that such female dog or cat cannot come in contact with another animal, except for breeding purposes.