The purpose of this Chapter is to regulate the control, possession and ownership of animals within the City of Lakeshire in order to protect the public health, welfare and safety of the inhabitants of the City.
Every resident person who owns, controls, manages, possesses has part interest in any dog or cat kept any time during the year or who permits a dog or cat to come upon, on or in, and to remain in or about his home, place of business or other premises, shall have such dog or cat inoculated against rabies, but such inoculation requirements shall not apply to dogs or cats less than four months of age. Such dogs must be inoculated at least once each year unless a three-year type vaccine, approved by the St. Louis County Health Commissioner, is administered, in which case the dogs or cats shall be inoculated at least once every three years.
A.
Animal Kennels are hereby prohibited within the City of Lakeshire.
B.
All dogs and cats within the City of Lakeshire shall be licensed and the St. Louis County inoculation tag shall constitute proper licensing. Such tag shall be securely fastened on the collars or harnesses of the animal for which the tag is issued and shall be worn at all times.
C.
All female dogs and cats shall be kept securely confined in an enclosed place while in heat.
A.
The St. Louis County Health Commissioner and the employees of the County Department of Public Health or other persons designated by the County Health Commissioner shall have the power to catch, confine and impound dogs and other animals as follows:
1.
All dogs and cats which are required to have licenses and which are without a license displayed in the manner provided herein;
2.
All female dogs and cats, licensed or unlicensed, not securely confined in an enclosed place while in heat;
3.
All dogs or other animals affected with rabies and all dogs and other animals suspected by him or such employee to be exposed to or affected with rabies including dogs or other animals known to have been bitten by a rabid animal, whether such dog or other animal is running at large or on a leash and whether it is licensed or unlicensed.
4.
All dogs with vicious propensities.
B.
Dogs or other animals impounded in accordance with this Section shall be impounded in the County dog pound or elsewhere under the supervision of and in a manner satisfactory to the St. Louis County Health Commissioner.
A.
The St. Louis County Health Commissioner or a person designated by him shall dispose of any dog or other animal affected with rabies and he shall have the power to examine and impound any animal bitten by or exposed to any animal affected with rabies. He shall have the power to require the owners of such dogs to take necessary measures to prevent further spread of rabies, and to dispose of any exposed animal if such necessary measures are not taken by the owners.
B.
Any dog captured and impounded by the St. Louis County Department of Public Health as authorized herein and determined not to be affected with rabies by the St. Louis County Health Commissioner may be redeemed by the owner or other person having the right of possession of such animal upon the presentation of a proper license and upon payment of a redemption fee provided herein.
C.
Whenever rabies become prevalent within any area of St. Louis County which is within a radius of three miles from the limits of the City of Lakeshire, or within the City itself, the St. Louis County Health Commissioner may recommend a quarantine order on any portion or all of the City of Lakeshire. The Board of Aldermen of the City may issue a quarantine order pursuant to such recommendation. The County Health Commissioner shall, during the first week after a quarantine order is issued, take proper measures to inform the people of the City of the existence of the quarantine order and of the penalties attached to the violation of the quarantine order. A quarantine order shall direct the owner or person having custody of any dog, to securely confine or restrain on a least in the hands of a competent person, such animal during the period of quarantine. The quarantine may be terminated by the Board of Aldermen upon the recommendation of the St. Louis County health Commissioner after the necessity therefor no longer exists. No quarantine shall remain effective for more than six months from the date of the adoption of the quarantine order unless such quarantine order is specifically extended by order of the Board of aldermen.
D.
It is unlawful for any person to conceal an animal or interfere with the St. Louis county health Commissioner or person designated by him in the performance of their legal duties as provided in this chapter. The St. Louis county health Commissioner or persons designated by im shall have the right of entry to unenclosed lots or lands for the purpose of collecting any stray or unlicensed dog or other animal. The St. Louis County Health Commissioner or his duly appointed representative shall have the right of entry to any property or premises within any quarantined area during the period of such quarantine, for the purpose of examining or obtaining any dog suspected of having rabies or having been exposed to rabies.
E.
It is unlawful for any person having ownership, control, management or possession of any animal subject to rabies to abandon such animal in any area of the City. Any person violating any provisions of this subsection shall, on conviction, be fined not more than $100, and each such violation shall constitute a separate offense.
F.
It shall be the duty of any person bitten by any animal or the parent or guardian of any minor child bitten by an animal to report the same to the St. Louis County Department of Public Health immediately. Such report shall contain the name and address of the owner and of the animal, the day and time bitten, the location where bitten, and a general description of the animal.
The St. Louis County Health Commissioner shall immediately take said animal into custody or have the same confined by the owner thereof for 10 days under the supervision of the Department of Public Health to determine whether such animal be affected with rabies. If the owner shall not confine such animal in a manner satisfactory to the County Health Department, such animal shall be forthwith surrendered to the County Health Commissioner or to a person or persons designated by him upon demand.
G.
It shall be the duty of every physician to report immediately to the St. Louis county Department of Public Health, the full name, age, and address of any person under his care or observation who has been bitten by an animal affected with rabies or suspected of being affected with rabies, and every veterinarian treating or having under observation any animal affected with rabies, or suspected of being rabid, or suspected of having been exposed to rabies, shall report to the County Health Department of Public Health the license number of such animal and the owner’s name and address.
H.
Any person destroying an animal affected with rabies or suspected of being affected with rabies shall immediately notify the County Health Department of Public Health and shall surrender the carcass of such animal upon demand. The owner or custodian of any such destroyed animal shall immediately provide the County Department of Public Health with full particulars thereof, including the time, date, location, the names and addresses of any person bitten by said animal, and also the name and address of the owner or person having custody of any animal exposed to the animal destroyed.
When any fierce or dangerous dog or one that has previously bitten any person is kept upon any premises, it shall be the duty of the owner and of the keeper of such dog to post a notice on the premises conspicuously visible to the public and reading in letters not less than two inches high “BAD DOG HERE”, or “BEWARE BAD DOG.” In case a minor is the keeper or owner of such dog the duty of posting this notice shall devolve upon the adult person in whose family the minor lives or who is in charge of the premises where such dog is kept.
A.
It shall be unlawful for any person or persons owning, controlling, possessing, or having the management or care, in whole or in part of any dog or any cat, whether licensed or not, to permit the dog or cat to go off the premises of the owner or keeper thereof, unless such dog or cat is:
1.
Securely tied or lead by a line or leash not more than six feet in length;
2.
When at “heel” of a competent person, a competent person herein being described as a human being that is capable of controlling and governing the dog or cat in question, and to whose commands the dog or cat is obedient;
3.
When within a vehicle being driven, parked or stopped;
4.
When not more than 50 feet from a competent person, if such dog or cat is not annoying or worrying any human being or domestic animal, or trespassing on private property, or in a public area where dogs or cats are forbidden.
B.
The fact that a dog is muzzled shall be no defense for violations of this section.
C.
Any person charged with the violation of any provisions of this Section shall, if found guilty of such violation, pay the following fines:
Schedule of Penalty for violation | 1st Offense | 2nd offense |
|---|---|---|
For dogs licensed in accordance with this Chapter | $5 | $10 |
For dogs not so licensed | $10 | $15 |
Ten additional dollars shall be assessed as a fine for each subsequent offense.
In any prosecution charging a violation of Section 225.080 hereunder, proof that a dog was running off the premises in violation of said Section, together with proof that the defendant named in the complaint was, at the time described in the complaint, the owner or keeper of such dog, shall constitute a prima facie presumption that said owner or keeper was the person who permitted said dog to go off the premises.
A.
The St. Louis County Health Commissioner or his employees, the Chief of Police of the City of Lakeshire, the City Clerk, and the St. Louis County Department of Public Health shall be responsible for the administration of this chapter when appropriate. They shall have the possession of all the powers necessary to the effective administration and enforcement thereof.
B.
All powers, rights, duties, and obligations granted or imposed upon the St. Louis County Health Commissioner and his employ shall be extended to an encompassed within the other duties of the Chief of Police of the City of Lakeshire and his deputies.
The Mayor is hereby empowered and authorized to enter into a contract with St. Louis County and its appropriate officers and departments for the common service of rabies control. All such contracts shall be approved by the Board of Aldermen.
A.
Every person owning, having charge of, or being responsible for a dog, cat, puppy, kitten or other animal shall keep it from creating a nuisance.
B.
A dog, cat, puppy, kitten or any other animal creates a nuisance if it:
1.
Soils, defiles or defecates on property other than property of a person responsible for the animal, unless such waste is immediately removed by a person responsible for the animal and deposited in a waste container or buried on ground where the person responsible for the animal has permission or the right to bury it.
2.
Damages public property or property belonging to a person other than a person responsible for the animal.
3.
Causes unsanitary or dangerous conditions.
4.
Causes a disturbance by excessive barking, howling, meowing or other noisemaking.
5.
Chases vehicles, including bicycles.
6.
Molests, attacks, bites or interferes with persons or other animals on public property or property not belonging to a person responsible for the animal.
7.
Impedes refuse collection, mail delivery, meter reading, or other public service activities by annoying persons responsible for such activities.
8.
Tips, rummages through, or damages a refuse container.
C.
Any person who owns, has charge of or is responsible for a dog, cat, puppy, kitten or any other animal and who shall fail to keep said animal from creating a nuisance, as defined herein, shall be guilty of a violation of the Lakeshire Municipal Code and shall be subject to the penalties as provided in Section 225.130.
No more than two domestic pets shall be kept in any one apartment or single-family dwelling within the City. Small bird, fish and small rodents, such as gerbils or mice, are accepted.
Any person violating any provisions of this Chapter, where no penalty is otherwise indicated, shall be guilty of a Class B violation as defined in Chapter 215 and subject to the penalties provided herein.