[R.O. 2001 § 210.010; CC 1990 § 210.010; Ord. No. 92.029 § 210.010, 6-8-1992]
The following words when used in this Chapter, shall have the meanings set out herein:
CAT
Shall be construed to mean any animal of the feline species, both male and female.
DOG
Shall be construed and held to mean any animal of the canine species, both male and female.
[R.O. 2001 § 210.020; CC 1990 § 210.020; Ord. No. 92.029 § 210.020, 6-8-1992]
No dog or cat above the age of four (4) months shall be permitted to be and remain in the City of Desloge, unless such dog or cat shall be vaccinated at least once each year with anti-rabies vaccine. An impounded dog or cat will not be released until vaccinated with anti-rabies vaccine.
[R.O. 2001 § 210.030; CC 1990 § 210.030; Ord. No. 92.029 § 210.030, 6-8-1992]
It shall hereafter be unlawful for any owner, keeper, or any person having the care or control of a dog or cat to suffer or permit said dog or cat to run at large within the corporate limits of the City of Desloge, Missouri, and it shall be the duty of every owner or person having the care and control of a dog or cat to keep the same within a proper enclosure upon said owner's or persons' premises, no dog or cat shall be allowed to run upon the property of another, and no dog or cat shall be allowed to roam upon the streets or sidewalks of the City of Desloge, Missouri, unless said dog or cat is securely fastened to a leash or halter and the leash or halter held by some person at all times.
[R.O. 2001 § 210.040; CC 1990 § 210.040; Ord. No. 92.029 § 210.040, 6-8-1992]
It shall be the duty of the Animal Control Warden, or his/her designee, to take up and impound, in a suitable place to be designated by the City Administrator, all dogs and cats running at large in the limits of the City.
[R.O. 2001 § 210.050; CC 1990 § 210.050; Ord. No. 92.029 § 210.050, 6-8-1992]
When any dog or cat has been impounded, under the provisions of the preceding Section, the Animal Control Warden, or his/her designee, shall immediately advertise the impounding of such dog or cat by two (2) posters giving the description of the dog or cat, stating the date of capture and the date of impending execution, to be put up in two (2) public and conspicuous places within the corporate limits of the City of Desloge.
[R.O. 2001 § 210.060; CC 1990 § 210.060; Ord. No. 92.029 § 210.060, 6-8-1992; Ord. No. 95.023 § 1, 11-13-1995; Ord. No. 2009.21 § 1, 12-14-2009]
A. 
Any animal so taken up and impounded, as provided by this Chapter, may be redeemed by the owner or the custodian thereof by paying to the City Clerk or his/her designee a ten dollar ($10.00) impoundment fee. An additional ten dollar ($10.00) animal maintenance fee for each day the animal is impounded shall be paid. Verification shall be made to the City Clerk or his/her designee that the impounded animal has a current rabies vaccination at the time of redemption. Should the impounded animal not have or if the owner cannot provide verification of vaccination, the animal shall not be redeemed until a rabies vaccination has been given by a qualified veterinarian. The cost of the vaccination shall be added to the redemption fee and paid at the time of the redemption. A reasonable effort shall be made to notify the owner or custodian of any animal impounded.
B. 
In the event that any animal so impounded should not be redeemed by the owner or custodian thereof within five (5) business days after impoundment, any other person shall be entitled to adopt such animal. All animals adopted shall be spayed or neutered and receive a rabies vaccination at the adoptive owner's expense. Should the animal not be old enough to receive this treatment, the adoptive owner shall sign a letter of intent to comply once the animal has reached the appropriate age. The City of Desloge Animal Control Officer shall verify that the above requirements are met.
C. 
If an animal is impounded and an adoptive owner cannot be found within three (3) business days after the initial five-day impoundment period, the animal shall be humanely euthanized and disposed of by a qualified veterinarian.
A. 
A person commits the offense of animal neglect if he or she:
1. 
Has custody or ownership of an animal and fails to provide adequate care; or
2. 
Knowingly abandons an animal in any place without making provisions for its adequate care.
B. 
All fines and penalties for a first finding of guilt under this Section may be waived by the court if the person found guilty of animal neglect shows that adequate, permanent remedies for the neglect have been made. Reasonable costs incurred for the care and maintenance of neglected animals may not be waived. This Section shall not apply to the provisions of Section 578.007, RSMo., or Chapter 272, RSMo.
C. 
In addition to any other penalty imposed by Section 578.009, RSMo., the court may order a person found guilty of animal neglect to pay all reasonable costs and expenses necessary for:
1. 
The care and maintenance of neglected animals within the person's custody or ownership;
2. 
The disposal of any dead or diseased animals within the person's custody or ownership;
3. 
The reduction of resulting organic debris affecting the immediate area of the neglect; and
4. 
The avoidance or minimization of any public health risks created by the neglect of the animals.
A. 
A person is guilty of animal trespass if a person having ownership or custody of an animal knowingly fails to provide adequate control for a period equal to or exceeding twelve (12) hours.
B. 
For a first conviction of animal trespass, each offense shall be punishable by a fine not to exceed two hundred dollars ($200.00). The second and all subsequent convictions shall be punishable by imprisonment or a fine not to exceed five hundred dollars ($500.00), or both such fine and imprisonment. All fines for a first conviction of animal trespass may be waived by the court, provided that the person found guilty of animal trespass shows that adequate, permanent remedies for trespass have been made. Reasonable costs incurred for the care and maintenance of trespassing animals may not be waived. This Section shall not apply to the provisions of Section 578.007 or Sections 272.010 to 272.370, RSMo.
[Ord. No. 2025.03, 2-10-2025]
A. 
A person is guilty of animal abuse when a person:
1. 
Intentionally or purposely kills an animal in any manner not allowed by or expressly exempted from the provisions of Sections 578.005 to 578.023 and 273.030, RSMo.;
2. 
Purposely or intentionally causes injury or suffering to an animal; or
3. 
Having ownership or custody of an animal knowingly fails to provide adequate care or adequate control. Adequate care and control are described by the following:
a. 
The parent or guardian of a minor child is responsible for the adequate care of any animal owned by, in the control of, or harbored by said minor child.
b. 
No person shall beat, cruelly ill-treat, torment, overload, overwork or otherwise abuse an animal or cause, instigate, or permit any dogfight, or other combat between animals or between animals and humans.
c. 
No owner shall fail to provide his/her animals with sufficient and wholesome food at intervals of no less than twelve (12) hours unless directed by a veterinarian.
d. 
No owner shall fail to provide clean, fresh water available to his/her animals. Pets which are restrained outside must have water available to them in a sufficient amount to last them for the duration of their stay outside.
e. 
No owner shall fail to provide adequate shelter and protection from the weather, including, but not limited to, shade when the sun, heat or humidity is likely to cause heat-related problems and dry, warm bedding in cold winter months. This shall be at the discretion of the Animal Control Officer.
f. 
All fecal accumulation in any pen, run, cage or yard where animal is sheltered must be kept reasonably cleared in such a manner as to prevent the breeding of flies and creating offensive odors. All pens, runs, and cages are required to be in the rear yard, and a minimum of five (5) feet from adjoining property lines, and six (6) feet from primary structure.
g. 
No owner shall fail to provide veterinary care when needed to ease pain or suffering of said pet or when required to preserve the health of the pet and to prevent the spread of disease to other animals or humans.
h. 
No owner or person shall intentionally or purposely kill dogs, cats, or other pets in any manner except humane euthanasia performed by a licensed veterinarian or other individual licensed and authorized to do so.
i. 
No owner or person shall purposely abandon any animal in any place for any reason.
j. 
Every female dog, cat, or any other animal, in estrus must be confined to an enclosed building or structure for the duration of its heat cycle. Said animal may be taken outside for short periods providing the owner keeps it under restraint and is accompanying the female during this time.
k. 
No person shall crop a dog's ears or dock a dog's tail, except for a licensed veterinarian.
l. 
All dogs, cats, or any other animal kept as a pet, must wear a tag, provided by their veterinarian, showing proof of rabies vaccination and ownership. All dogs, cats, ferrets, and any other animal kept as a pet, upon reaching four (4) months of age or older, must be kept vaccinated for rabies only by a licensed veterinarian.
m. 
Any person who, as the operator of a motor vehicle, strikes a domestic animal shall immediately report such an injury to the appropriate local authority.
n. 
No person shall expose any known poisonous substance, whether mixed with food or not, so that the same may be liable to be eaten by any animal. It shall not be unlawful for a person to expose on his/her own property common rat poison mixed only with vegetable substances.
o. 
Any animal that is confined in a vehicle or building or enclosure of any kind and is showing signs of imminent danger due to weather-related conditions and whose owner or caretaker cannot be located will be removed by the Animal Control Officer under the supervision of a Police Officer and taken into protective custody and receive veterinary care as needed at the owner's expense. This shall be at the discretion of the Animal Control Officer.
p. 
No person shall find and keep a dog, or any other animal kept as a pet, without making a reasonable attempt to locate the owner by notifying animal control and posting notices or advertising in paper or attempts thereof.
q. 
Owners who prove to be habitually negligent in their responsibilities of pet ownership are subject to having their animals removed from their care permanently. This decision shall be made by the Police Chief, Director of Planning and Public Works and Building Official with statements provided by them, by the ACO, from all parties involved.
B. 
For purposes of this Section, "animal" shall be defined as a mammal.
[1]
Note: Under certain circumstances, this offense can be a felony under State law.
[R.O. 2001 § 210.090; CC 1990 § 210.080; Ord. No. 92.029 § 210.080, 6-8-1992; Ord. No. 2012.01 § 1, 1-9-2012]
No person or family shall have more than three (3) cats or more than three (3) dogs which are over the age of six (6) months present on their premises unless said person or family has a license to operate a kennel under the Zoning Code of the City of Desloge.
[R.O. 200 § 210.100; CC 1990 § 210.100; Ord. No. 92.029 § 210.100, 6-8-1992]
Duly authorized City personnel may destroy dogs in a pack consisting of four (4) or more dogs, on sight, if said dogs are running at large.
[R.O. 2001 § 215.020]
Any person in physical possession and control of any animal shall remove excreta or other solid waste deposited by the animal in any public or private area not designated to receive such wastes, including, but not limited to, streets, sidewalks, parking lots, public parks or recreation areas and private property. The provisions of this Section shall not apply to a guide dog accompanying any blind person.
[R.O. 2001 § 210.110; CC 1990 § 210.110; Ord. No. 92.029 § 210.110, 6-8-1992]
Any person violating the provisions of this Article shall be deemed guilty of an ordinance violation and upon conviction shall be punished by a fine of not less than five dollars ($5.00) nor more than five hundred dollars ($500.00). Each day a violation continues shall be deemed a separate offense.
[Ord. No. 2024.21, 9-9-2024]
A. 
It shall be the duty of the Animal Control Officer (ACO) to keep or cause to be kept accurate and detailed records of all bite cases reported and investigations of such bite cases.
B. 
Any dog, cat, or any other animal kept as a pet, which has bitten a person or another animal and said person or animal's wound results in blood drawn shall be put under a ten (10) day quarantine as directed by the National Veterinary Compendium.
1. 
It shall be the duty of every physician to report immediately to the City Animal Control Officer (ACO) the name, age, and address of any person under his/her care for having been bitten by an animal and every veterinarian treating or having under observation an animal suspected of having been exposed to rabies shall report to the Animal Control Officer the owner's name and address and animal's vaccination history.
2. 
If said animal is current on rabies vaccination, animal will be quarantined for ten (10) days, not counting the first (1st) initial day of bite incident, at owner's residence under the following guidelines:
a. 
Animal will be kept indoors for the ten (10) day period. The owner may take the animal out briefly to allow it to void but must be restrained and in the owner's presence and immediately taken back indoors afterward.
b. 
At end of the ten (10) day quarantine the Animal Control Officer shall observe the animal and notify the victim of its condition. The owner must then post warning signs on property which notify persons approaching said property that animal may bite. Examples: "This animal bites" or "Warning" or "Beware of Animal" or likes thereof.
c. 
In addition to the penalty set forth in Section 210.110 at any point throughout the quarantine period if it is found that the owner is not complying with proper procedure, the animal shall be confiscated from owner to finish quarantine at City Pound.
3. 
If said animal is not current on rabies vaccination, owner must relinquish pet to the Animal Control Officer for quarantine at the City Pound or with a licensed veterinarian of the owner's choice.
a. 
At the end of the quarantine period, providing animal is healthy and exhibiting no signs of illness, if the City Pound is where the animal was quarantined, the owner will pay the required impound fee to the City Pound regardless of whether owner wishes to receive their animal back or surrenders it to the City of Desloge for disposal.
b. 
If the animal was kept with a veterinarian, no fee to the City will be required. If the owner surrenders the animal, said animal shall not be made available for adoption and instead will be immediately and humanely euthanized.
c. 
Animal Control Officer must have an appointment with a veterinarian for the same day that animal is released from quarantine for its rabies vaccination. The Animal Control Officer shall take the animal to appointment and then owner may pick animal up from veterinarian office after receiving rabies vaccination.
d. 
Owner must post warning signs on the property which notify persons approaching said property that animal may bite. Examples: "This Animal Bites" or "Warning" or "Beware of Animal" or the likes thereof.
4. 
If animal dies while under quarantine, regardless of location or cause of death, the head shall be removed and submitted for rabies testing. There will be a handling fee for this service payable by the owner of said animal.
[Ord. No. 2024.21, 9-9-2024]
A. 
A person commits the offense of keeping a dangerous animal if said person owns or possesses an animal that has previously bitten, attacked or aggressively pursued any person or domestic animal without provocation and that animal bites any person on a subsequent occasion.
B. 
Any person who owns or possesses an animal subject to this Section and Subsections thereof shall abide by the following requirements:
1. 
Vicious Animal Confinement. All vicious animals shall be securely confined within a building or in a securely enclosed and locked pen.
2. 
Standards Of Vicious Animal Pens. A pen used for containing a vicious animal must have secure sides of sufficient height for the breed and a secure top attached to the sides to prevent escape. Such pen must have a secure bottom or floor attached to the sides of the pen or the sides of the pen must be embedded in the ground no less than two (2) feet as to prevent animals from digging and getting loose. The pen must be locked with a key or combination lock when such animals are inside the structure. One (1) or more signs must be posted stating "Beware of Animal" or "This Animal Bites" or the likes thereof. Said signs must be visible from all directions for any person approaching the pen or building to see.
3. 
Building Confinement Of Vicious Animals. When confined within a building, no vicious animals may be kept on a porch, patio or in any part of said building that would allow the animal to leave on its own volition. No such animal shall be kept in a building where windows are not secured in a manner that would prevent the animal from escaping. Signs stating a "warning" must be posted at all entrances to the building. In addition, the owner shall display a sign on his or her premises that there is a vicious animal on the property. This sign shall be visible and capable of being read from each thoroughfare from which the property may be entered.
4. 
Care Of Pen/Building. All structures which house vicious animals must comply with all applicable zoning and building regulations. All such structures must be adequately lighted and ventilated and kept in a clean and sanitary condition.
5. 
Vicious Animals Outside Of Their Pen Or Building. No person shall permit a vicious animal to go outside its pen or building unless such animal is muzzled and securely leashed with a leash no longer than six (6) feet in length. The animal must be under the actual physical control of a capable adult. Such an animal shall not be leashed or tied to an inanimate object such as trees or posts or any other structure or object.
6. 
Vicious Animal Insurance. The owner or keeper of an animal defined as vicious under this Section must provide proof of insurance to the Animal Control Officer upon request by an insurance company licensed to do business in the State of Missouri providing personal liability coverage with a minimum liability amount of one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000.00) for the injury or death of any person, damage to property of others and for acts of negligence by the owner or his/her agents. Such insurance policy shall provide that no cancellation of the policy will be made unless ten (10) days' written notice is first given to the Animal Control Officer.
7. 
Seizure And Disposition Of Vicious Animals. Any animal deemed vicious and found to be unrestrained or in violation of this Section at any point in time may be subject to be impounded and destroyed by humane euthanasia.
8. 
Deeming An Animal Vicious. An animal may be deemed vicious by the Police Chief, Director of Public Works and Building Official or the Animal Control Officer after reviewing the statements from all parties involved submitted by the Animal Control Officer.
9. 
Thirty (30) Days To Comply. The owner will have thirty (30) days to comply with the vicious animal standards or to have the animal removed from the City limits. If the owner relocates the animal, they must notify the Animal Control Officer of the animal's new location.
10. 
Vicious animal registration tag must be purchased and renewed annually. The cost for the vicious animal registration tag shall be seven dollars ($7.00) annually.