[R.O. 1988 § 5-24; Ord. No. 2203 § 3, 6-10-1980; Ord. No. 2247 § 5, 1-5-1981; Ord. No. 3217 § 1, 12-1-1997; Ord. No. 3264 § 2, 9-8-1998]
Every person owning, keeping, harboring or permitting a dog, cat, and/or ferret four (4) months or older to remain on their premises is required to have the animal vaccinated annually with an anti-rabies vaccine by a veterinarian licensed to practice in the State of Missouri. Every such person owning or controlling such animal shall be required to display on the animal the metallic tag issued by the veterinarian showing the animal has a current vaccination and shall see that the tag is worn constantly. This Section shall not apply to an animal whose owner is a non-resident, temporarily in the City not to exceed thirty (30) days, nor to "leader," seeing eye dogs or other animals which have been vaccinated and are trained and actually used to assist a handicapped person. No person shall remove or cause to be removed the tag from any animal without consent of the owner or keeper thereof.
[R.O. 1988 § 5-26; Ord. No. 2203 § 3, 6-10-1980; Ord. No. 3264 § 2, 9-8-1998; Ord. No. 3814 § 1, 7-16-2007]
It shall be a violation of the Code of the City of Rolla, Missouri, for an owner or keeper of a dog to permit such dog to be found running 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. A dog is under control if it is under the immediate and effective restraint of a responsible person by means of a leash attached to its collar or harness and said leash is directly controlled by the keeper or owner. This Section shall not apply to law enforcement personnel working with any Police K-9. This Section shall also not apply to areas otherwise restricted and posted by the Parks Department.
[R.O. 1988 § 5-27; Ord. No. 2464 § 1, 6-3-1985; Ord. No. 2704 § 1, 9-5-1989; Ord. No. 3264 § 2, 9-8-1998]
Any dog found running at large within the City will be humanely handled and captured by the Animal Control Officer, or other appropriate officer, and returned to the person making claim for the dog. The person making claim for the dog shall be considered the owner or keeper of said dog by virtue of the claim made, and may be cited for permitting a dog to run at large. The offense is punishable as authorized by Section 1-7 of the Code of the City of Rolla, Missouri.
[R.O. 1988 § 5-28; Ord. No. 2203 § 3, 6-10-1980; Ord. No. 2704 § 2, 9-5-1989; Ord. No. 3264 § 2, 9-8-1998]
(a) 
Any dog running at large within the City of Rolla, Missouri, whose owner or keeper cannot be found, or not wearing a collar bearing a metallic rabies tag as provided and described in Section 5-24, shall be captured by the Animal Control Officer or other appropriate officer, and impounded at the animal shelter or some other suitable place. When a dog is found running at large and its ownership is known to the Animal Control Officer, such dog shall be returned to the owner and the provisions of the foregoing Section shall be followed.
(b) 
Every female dog in heat shall be kept confined in a building or secure enclosure, or in a veterinary hospital or boarding kennel, in such manner that they cannot come in contact with another animal except for breeding purposes.
(c) 
The Animal Control Officer may impound any animal found on public property and, if necessary, a warrant may be obtained from the appropriate court enabling the officer to enter upon private property for the purpose of inspecting, caring for, or impounding neglected or abused animals as defined by Sections 578.009 through 578.012, RSMo.
(d) 
In any event upon impounding dogs or other animals, the Animal Control Officer will make every possible effort to notify the owner of such dog or animal so impounded and inform the owner of the conditions whereby ownership of the animal may be regained. Any animal routinely considered to be a pet will be impounded for five (5) calendar days, during which time it shall be the responsibility of the Animal Control Officer to see that such animal is fed and watered.
[R.O. 1988 § 5-29; Ord. No. 2282 § 1, 9-17-1981; Ord. No. 3264 § 2, 9-8-1998]
The owner of a small animal shall be entitled to resume possession of said impounded animal before it is disposed of, upon compliance with the provisions in Section 5-24 and the payment of the impoundment fees set forth in this Article. The Chief of Police or their designee shall require that such small animal be vaccinated with anti-rabies vaccine as a condition for the release of such animal, and may require such vaccination in the case of any other animal when deemed necessary. Any small animal impounded under the provisions of this Article may be reclaimed upon the payment by the owner to the City of twenty dollars ($20.00) for each day or fraction thereof such animal is kept.
[R.O. 1988 § 5-30; Ord. No. 2203 § 3, 6-10-1980; Ord. No. 3264 § 2, 9-8-1998]
Any small animal impounded under the provisions of this Article and not reclaimed by the owner within seven (7) days 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 person deemed by the Chief of Police to be a responsible and suitable owner who will comply with the provisions of this Article and pay the adoption fees, and if such small animal is a dog or cat that is not spayed or neutered, will agree to have such animal spayed or neutered within thirty (30) days as outlined in Section 273.403, RSMo. Diseased or dying animals may be humanely destroyed at the time of collection except that if the owner can be discovered from the tags on the animal they will be notified prior to disposing of the animal.
[R.O. 1988 § 5-32; Ord. No. 2203 § 3, 6-10-1980; Ord. No. 3264 § 2, 9-8-1998]
No person shall own, keep, or harbor any animal which does damage to shrubs, gardens or property.
[R.O. 1988 § 5-33; Ord. No. 2203 § 4, 6-10-1980; Ord. No. 3264 § 2, 9-8-1998]
Apprehension of cats running at large in violation of Section 5-31 shall be the responsibility of the affected person. The City will make available humane box traps to be used by the complainant to apprehend such cats. A reasonable deposit will be required for use of such traps. The City will pick up all cats apprehended and handle them in accordance with Sections 5-26 through 5-30 upon receipt of a signed complaint noting violation of Section 5-31.
[R.O. 1988 § 5-34; Ord. No. 2203 § 3, 6-10-1980; Ord. No. 3264 § 2, 9-8-1998]
Any person having the right to have any small animal killed and who shall request the humane destruction of said animal, shall be charged a fee commensurate with current veterinarian service fees for humane destruction of a small animal or for humane destruction plus disposal of the body.
[R.O. 1988 § 5-35; Ord. No. 2203 § 3, 6-10-1980; Ord. No. 2247 §§ 6 — 8, 1-5-1981; Ord. No. 3264 § 2, 9-8-1998]
(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. It shall be the duty of the person owning, harboring or permitting any animal to be about their premises to notify the City Police 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.
(c) 
Home Confinement. If, upon examination, the first 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 their commitment to do so, will be permitted to confine the animal for ten (10) days, conditioned upon their undertaking to have the animal examined by a licensed veterinarian on the 10th day, with reports of the examination to be made expeditiously to the Police Department. If in home confinement an animal is not maintained in confinement, 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 the 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 5-29. If not claimed within five (5) days, Section 5-30 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 their premises has bitten any person, to dispose of such animal in any manner.
(g) 
Death While Confined; Duty To Notify Police Department. The animal control division or a veterinarian or owner shall notify the Police Department immediately of the death of any animal while under their 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 that 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) 
Whenever rabies becomes prevalent in the City, the Mayor shall, according to the necessity of the case, issue a quarantine order, requiring every owner or person in charge of any dog or dogs within the limits of the City to either kill or impound their dog or dogs, or to have such dog or dogs immunized. Said order shall be published once in the paper officially publishing the business of the City; and in the absence of such paper, shall be posted as in case of sales of personal property. The Mayor is authorized by proclamation, to terminate any such quarantine whenever, in their judgment, the necessity for it no longer exists.
(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 six (6) months quarantine by the owner 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 shall 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 six (6) months.
(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.
[R.O. 1988 § 5-36; Ord. No. 2203 § 3, 6-10-1980; Ord. No. 3264 § 2, 9-8-1998]
No person will own, keep, possess, or harbor an animal which has a history of inflicting to any human being injury on more than two (2) separate incidents reported to the Animal Control Officer. No Section of this Chapter shall be construed as preventing a person from exercising reasonable self-defense tactics to prevent an animal attack.
[R.O. 1988 § 5-37; Ord. No. 2203 § 3, 6-10-1980; Ord. No. 3264 § 2, 9-8-1998]
It shall be unlawful for any person to own, keep, harbor or permit a dog, cat, or ferret on their premises that has not been vaccinated within one (1) year immediately preceding the date of an alleged injury.
[R.O. 1988 § 5-38; Ord. No. 2203 § 3, 6-10-1980; Ord. No. 3264 § 2, 9-8-1998; Ord. No. 4358 § 1, 8-21-2017]
No person shall own, keep or harbor any animal which, by loud, frequent or habitual barking, howling or yelping, shall annoy or disturb any neighborhood or persons, or by habitually jumping upon or threatening persons upon public streets shall cause persons thereon to be put in fear or injury or habitually spreads garbage or habitually attacks other domestic animals, pets or domestic fowl. A written complaint, signed by no fewer than two (2) witnesses from separate households, shall be filed with an Animal Control Officer or a Police Officer, alleging any of the circumstances set forth herein. An Animal Control Officer or Police Officer personally observing any of the circumstances set forth herein may also initiate such a complaint.
[R.O. 1988 § 5-39; Ord. No. 3264 § 2, 9-8-1998; Ord. No. 4096, 5-20-2013]
The adoption rate for animals at the Rolla Animal Shelter shall be thirty-five dollars ($35.00) per animal plus the cost of a current anti-rabies vaccination if one is required.