[Code 2005 § 14-1; amended at adoption]
The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this chapter, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
ANIMAL CONTROL AUTHORITY
Means the city manager or his designee, acting alone or in concert with other local governmental units for enforcement of the animal control laws of the city, county and state and the shelter and welfare of animals.
ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER
Means any individual employed, contracted with, or appointed by the animal control authority for the purpose of aiding the enforcement of this chapter or any other law or ordinance relating to the licensure of animals, control of animals, or seizure and impoundment of animals, and includes any state or local law enforcement officer or other employee whose duties in whole or in part include assignments that involve the seizure and impoundment of any animal.
DANGEROUS DOG
Means any dog that:
A. 
Has inflicted severe injury on a human being without provocation on public or private property; or
B. 
Has been previously found to be potentially dangerous, the owner having received notice of such by the animal control authority in writing and the dog thereafter aggressively bites, attacks, or endangers the safety of humans, or thereafter being declared a potentially dangerous dog bites another dog while not on its owner’s property, exhibits habitually aggressive or damaging behavior, or is found running at large.
INTACT DOG OR CAT
Means any male or female dog or cat that has not been neutered, spayed, or sterilized.
MENACING DOG
Means any dog that growls, snarls, takes an aggressive stance, or shows its teeth toward a domestic animal, dog or cat or person, or that destroys property (e.g., fence) in an attempt to get to a person or other domestic animal.
OWNER
Means any person, firm, corporation, organization, or department possessing, harboring, keeping, having an interest in, or having control or custody of an animal.
POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS DOG
Means any dog that when unprovoked inflicts bites on a human either on public or on private property, or when unprovoked, bites another dog while not on its owner’s property, or a dog that exhibits habitual aggressive or damaging behavior off its owner’s property, a dog that has been determined to be menacing, or a dog that habitually runs at large.
PROPER ENCLOSURE OF A DANGEROUS DOG
Means, while on the owner's property, a dangerous dog shall be securely confined indoors or in a securely enclosed and locked pen or structure with at least 150 square feet of space for each dog kept therein which is over six months of age, and which is suitable to prevent the entry of children and designed to prevent the animal from escaping. Such pen or structure shall have secure sides and a secure top and shall also provide protection from the elements for the dog.
SEVERE INJURY
Means any physical injury that results in broken bones or lacerations requiring multiple sutures or cosmetic surgery.
[Code 1974, § 3-37; Code 1985, § 5-5; Code 2005 § 14-2]
In case of conflict between this chapter and the present or any future zoning ordinance, the provisions of the zoning ordinance shall prevail and supersede the provisions of this chapter.
[Code 1974, § 3-39; Code 1985, § 5-2; Code 2005 14-3]
Any person who violates, refuses or neglects to carry out any reasonable order made by the health officer or the chief of police pursuant to this chapter shall be guilty of an offense.
[Code 1974, § 3-38; Code 1985, § 5-1; Code 2005 § 14-4]
The animal control officer or any police officer of the city is hereby authorized to directly issue a citation to the owner of any animal which he observes in violation of the provisions of this chapter. In lieu of arresting such person, the animal control officer or police officer may take his name and address and the name and description of the offending animal and any other pertinent and necessary information and may issue to such owner, in writing in form prescribed by the municipal judge, an animal citation embracing the above information, and further stating the animal violation alleged to have occurred and notifying him to answer to the charge against him in the municipal court at a time not later than 10 days thereafter, specified in the citation. The officer, upon receiving the written promise of such owner, endorsed upon the citation, to answer as specified, shall release such person from custody. If the person to whom a citation is issued fails to appear as prescribed in the citation, a complaint shall be filed and the case be prosecuted as in other citations before the municipal court.
[Code 1974, § 3-34; Code 1985, § 5-4; Code 2005 § 14-5]
Every person who maliciously, or for any bet, stake or reward, instigates or encourages any fight between animals with the exception of dogs, or instigates or encourages any animal with the exception of dogs to attack, bite, wound or worry another, upon conviction, is guilty of a misdemeanor.
[Code 1974, § 3-34; Code 1985, § 5-; Code 2005 § 14-6]
Every person who keeps any house, pit or other place, to be used in permitting any fight between animals with the exception of dogs or in any other violation of § 4-5, upon conviction, is guilty of a misdemeanor.
[Code 1974, §§ 3-31, 3-32, 3-35, 3-36; Code 1985, § 5-6; Code 2005 § 14-7]
A. 
The entire area embraced within the corporate limits of the city is hereby designated as a bird sanctuary.
B. 
It is unlawful to trap, hunt, shoot or molest in any manner any bird or wild fowl or to rob bird nests or wild fowl nests. If starlings or similar birds are found to be congregating in such numbers in a particular locality that they constitute a nuisance or a menace to health or property in the opinion of the proper health authorities of the city, then the health authorities shall meet with representatives of the Audubon Society, bird club, garden club or humane society, or as many of such clubs as are found to exist in the city, after having given at least three days' actual notice of the time and place of such meeting to the representatives of such clubs. If as a result of the meeting no satisfactory alternative is found to abate such nuisance, then the birds may be destroyed in such numbers and in such manner as is deemed advisable by the health authorities under the supervision of the chief of police.
[Code 1974, § 3-19; Code 1985, § 5-7; Code 2005 § 14-8]
A. 
Whenever the owner, keeper or harborer of any animal shall observe that such animal has rabies, or when such animal acts in a manner that would indicate the symptoms of rabies:
(1) 
The owner, keeper or harborer shall deliver such animal to a veterinarian or to the animal shelter operated by the city or its licensee for impounding and quarantine for a period of not less than 10 days to determine if such animal is infected with rabies; and
(2) 
No such animal shall be released from the animal shelter until all veterinarian fees and impounding fees have been paid.
B. 
Whenever it is shown that any animal has bitten any person:
(1) 
The owner, keeper or harborer of such animal shall, upon order of the police department, deliver such animal to a veterinarian or to the animal shelter operated by the city or its licensee for impounding and quarantine for a period of not less than 10 days to determine if the animal is suffering from rabies;
(2) 
If the owner, keeper or harborer of such animal shall fail or refuse to voluntarily deliver such animal to a veterinarian or to the animal shelter, then such animal shall be taken up by the police department and impounded in the animal shelter for a period of not less than 10 days to determine if the animal is suffering from rabies; and
(3) 
No such animal shall be released from the animal shelter until all veterinarian fees and impounding fees have been paid.
C. 
Whenever any animal shall be bitten by another animal having rabies:
(1) 
The owner, keeper or harborer of such animal so bitten shall, upon being informed thereof, place the animal in the care of a veterinarian or in the animal shelter operated by the city or its licensee for a period of not less than 10 days for the purpose of determining whether such animal is infected with rabies; and
(2) 
No such animal shall be released from the animal shelter until all veterinarian fees and impounding fees have been paid.