When used in this chapter the following words and terms, unless the context indicates a different meaning, shall be interpreted as follows:
Animal.
A warmblooded animal, any living creature, including but not limited to: dogs, cats, cows, horses, birds, fish, mammals, reptiles, insects, fowls, and livestock, but specifically excluding human beings.
Animal control officer.
The person or persons primarily responsible for the enforcement of regulations regarding animals; the term “animal control officer” shall include but is not limited to the chief of police and all peace officers of the city.
Dangerous animal.
(1) 
Any animal that when unprovoked inflicts bites on or attacks a human being or other animal either on public or private property or, in a vicious or terrorizing manner, approaches any person in apparent attitude of attack upon the streets, sidewalks, or any public or private grounds or places;
(2) 
Any animal with a known propensity, tendency or disposition to attack unprovoked to cause injury or to otherwise endanger the safety of human beings or animals; or
(3) 
Any animal suspected of being a dangerous animal if the owner, keeper or harborer of such animal fails or refuses to make such animal for inspection by an animal control officer.
Harboring of animals.
The keeping and caring, including but not limited to feeding and providing water, for an animal for three days or longer.
Humanely euthanized.
To cause the death of an animal by a method which:
(1) 
Rapidly produces unconsciousness and death without visible evidence of pain or distress; or
(2) 
Utilizes anesthesia produced by an agent which causes painless loss of consciousness, and death following such loss of consciousness.
Livestock.
Horses, mules, cows, hogs, goats, potbellied pigs and sheep of any and all kinds and shall include both the male and female species of such animals.
Owner.
Any person, firm, or corporation having title to any animal; or a person who has, harbors, or keeps, or causes or permits to be harbored or kept, an animal in his care, or who permits an animal to remain on or about his premises.
Person.
Any individual, firm, association, partnership, or corporation.
Pot bellied pig.
The term “pot bellied pig” shall refer to a variety of swine that is no more than eighteen inches (18") in height at shoulder level when full grown, has short erect ears, and a straight tail. No swine shall be considered a pot bellied pig if its weight exceeds ninety-five (95) pounds, or unless registered with a licensed breeder.
Running at large.
Not completely confined by a building, wall, or fence of sufficient strength or construction to restrain the animal, except when such animal is either on a leash or held in the hands of the owner or keeper, or under direct supervision of the owner or keeper within the limits of the owner’s private property. An animal within an automobile or other vehicle of its owner, shall not be deemed running at large.
Stray animal.
Any animal for which there is no identifiable owner or harborer.
Vaccination.
An injection with a United States Department of Agriculture approved rabies vaccine.
Veterinarian.
A veterinarian licensed to practice veterinary medicine.
Vicious animal.
Any individual animal that has on two previous occasions, without provocation, attacked or bitten any person or other animal, or any individual animal which any police officer or animal control officer has reason to believe has a dangerous disposition likely to be harmful to humans or other animals.
Wild animals.
Shall include all species of animals which commonly exist in a natural, unconfined state and are usually not domesticated. This shall apply regardless of state or duration of captivity, the term shall include, but not be limited to: skunks, foxes, lions, tigers, panthers, bears, wolves, alligators, crocodiles, apes, monkeys, elephants, rhinoceroses, and all forms of poisonous or constricting reptiles, and other like animals.
(1995 Code, sec. 2.101; Ordinance adopting Code)
(a) 
Enforcement of this chapter shall be the responsibility of any peace officer or any animal control officer.
(b) 
Any peace officer or any animal control officer shall have the authority to issue citations for any violation of this chapter.
(c) 
If the person to be cited is not present, any peace officer or any animal control officer may send the citation to the alleged offender by registered or certified mail.
(d) 
It shall be unlawful for any person to interfere with any city employee or animal control officer in the performance of his duties.
(e) 
Any peace officer or any animal control officer shall have the authority to humanely euthanize and/or destroy any animal in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.
(f) 
The animal control officer shall have the authority to use a tranquilizer gun in the lawful discharge of his duties.
(1995 Code, art. 2.200; Ordinance adopting Code)
(a) 
Definitions:
For the purpose of this section, the following words shall have the meaning expressed below:
Adult animal.
Any animal, as defined herein, which is more than six (6) months of age.
Kept within the city.
The harboring, possessing, or owning of animals in any residential district within the city.
Litter.
One or more newborn animals under six (6) months of age.
(b) 
It shall be unlawful for any person to keep within the city, in any residential district, more than three (3) adult dogs and/or three (3) adult cats.
(c) 
Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection, any person who desires to keep additional animals in a residential area, with the exception of a new litter of puppies or kittens which may be kept for four (4) months, shall apply to the city council for a special permit to keep the same, the applicant shall provide the city council with satisfactory proof from adjoining property owners that there is no objection to the issuance of the permit, and shall pay the city a fee of forty dollars ($40.00) per animal for such permit. The permit shall expire one (1) year from the date of its issuance. The city council shall promulgate rules and regulations to govern the issuance of such special permit.
(1995 Code, sec. 2.1102; Ordinance adopting Code)
No person or persons who shall willfully ride his horse or mule on any sidewalk in the public square in the city which has been graveled, graded, or macadamized, without any lawful excuse for so doing shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor.
(1995 Code, art. 2.1600)
(a) 
It shall be unlawful for any owner to cause, permit, suffer, or allow any dog or another animal possessed by him, kept, or harbored (other than a cat), to run at large, as defined herein.
(b) 
Any peace officer or animal control officer is authorized to impound animals which may be running at large.
(1995 Code, art. 2.300; Ordinance adopting Code)
(a) 
The following are deemed public nuisances and are hereby declared to be unlawful:
(1) 
The keeping of any animal, which causes loud and unusual or frequent barking, howling, or other noise that disturbs the peace and quiet of any person of ordinary sensibility.
(2) 
The keeping of any animal, in such a manner as to endanger the public health; to annoy neighbors by the accumulation of animal waste which causes foul and offensive odors; or is considered to be a hazard to any other animal or human being.
(3) 
The keeping of bees in such a manner as to deny the lawful use of adjacent property or endanger personal health and welfare or the keeping of any animal in such a manner to deny the lawful use of adjacent property, public property, or to endanger personal health and welfare.
(4) 
Any animal pens, stables, or enclosures and property not kept free from carrion or any putrescible material.
(5) 
The keeping or harboring of a wild animal.
(6) 
Any house, building, business, lot, yard, pen, enclosure, or ground in which an animal is kept that is unsanitary or offensive to a person of ordinary sensibility residing in the vicinity thereof, or to the public at large.
(b) 
Any peace officer or animal control officer shall make such determination of public nuisance and shall give notice to the owner to abate such condition. In the event such condition is not abated within ten (10) days of such notice, each day thereafter the nuisance is not abated shall constitute a separate violation of this section. A certified letter, return receipt requested, to the owner as shown on the city tax rolls at the address of such nuisance or written warning, signed by owner, issued by animal control officer or any peace officer, shall constitute proper notice. Subsection (a)(1) of this section shall be excluded from this ten-day notification requirement outlined in this subsection.
(1995 Code, sec. 2.601; Ordinance adopting Code)
Notwithstanding any of the provisions herein, any structure such as pens, doghouses, etc. existing as of the date of this section which may be in violation of the terms and conditions herein, shall be allowed to continue, except that if such structure is either removed or falls into a state of disrepair to the extent of 50% of its value, any replacement structure shall conform to the provisions of this chapter.
(1995 Code, sec. 2.1701; Ordinance adopting Code)