[Adopted 12-15-2025 by Ord. No. 2025-17]
ANIMAL FIGHTING PARAPHERNALIA
Equipment, products, implements, and materials of any kind that are used, intended for use, or designed for use in the training, preparation, or conditioning of an animal for fighting, or in furtherance of animal fighting, and includes, but is not limited to, the following: breaking sticks, cat mills, treadmills, fighting pits, spring poles, veterinary medicine without a prescription therefor, treatment supplies, gaffs, slashers, heels, or any other sharp implement designed to be attached in place of the natural spur of a rooster, cock, or game fowl.
BAIT
Attack with violence, to provoke, or to harass an animal with one or more animals for the purpose of training the animal for, or to cause an animal to engage in, a fight with or among other animals.
OWNER/KEEPER
Any person who possesses, maintains, houses or harbors any pet or otherwise has custody of any pet, whether or not the owner of such pet.
PERSON
Any individual, corporation, company, partnership, firm, association, owner, caretaker, guardian, handler or political subdivision of this state subject to municipal jurisdiction.
PET
A domesticated animal kept for amusement or companionship.
A. 
It shall be unlawful for any person to leave any animal outdoors and unattended for a continuous period of time greater than 30 minutes if the National Weather Service has issued a weather alert or storm warning or if the temperature during such period is below 32° F. or above 85° F. The animal shall be considered outside regardless of access to an outdoor doghouse or similar structure, unless the structure is a properly functioning climate-controlled and weather resistant structure.
B. 
No animal shall be left outside during a snowstorm, ice storm or thunderstorm.
A. 
No person shall withhold proper shelter, light, space, protection from weather, veterinary care, and/or immune care from any pet.
B. 
No person shall fail to provide any pet with sufficient edible food and potable drinking water on a daily basis. Food and water must be in an animal food consumption or water consumption type of container, feeder or waterer.
C. 
No person shall abandon a maimed, sick, infirm or disabled animal to die in a public place.
D. 
No animal shall be subjected to unnecessary suffering or cruelty, such as subjecting the animal to fear, injury, pain, physical abuse, torment, maiming, poisoning or prolonged confinement.
E. 
No animal shall be confined in a parked or standing vehicle or enclosed trailer for a period of 15 minutes or more when the temperature is below 32° F. or above 85° F.
It shall be unlawful for any person to:
A. 
Keep, use, be connected with or interested in the management of, or receive money for the admission of a person to, a place kept or used for the purpose of fighting or baiting a living animal;
B. 
Allow or permit a place owned or controlled by the person to be used for the fighting or baiting of a living animal;
C. 
Be present for, witness, pay admission to, encourage, or assist in the fighting or baiting of a living animal;
D. 
Own, possess, keep, train, promote, purchase, or knowingly sell a living animal for the purpose of fighting or baiting that animal;
E. 
Gamble on the outcome of a fight involving a living animal; or
F. 
Own, possess, buy, sell, transfer, or manufacture animal fighting paraphernalia for the purpose of engaging in or otherwise promoting or facilitating the fighting or baiting of a living animal.
A. 
In addition to imposing penalties set forth in this chapter, and notwithstanding other seizure and impounding sections of the chapter, any officer or agent authorized or empowered to enforce and perform any duty under this chapter is hereby authorized to go upon any premises and seize for impounding any animal when such officer reasonably believes that any provision of this article has been violated, except upon the premises of the owner of the animal if the owner is present and forbids the entry of the officer or agent; then a warrant shall be issued according to law at the request of such officer or agent.
B. 
Prior to seizing any animal under this article, such officer or agent shall provide written notice to the owner, either in person or by posting such written notice upon the premises, of the nature of the violation and such.
C. 
Notice must contain an order to bring the violation into compliance within 24 hours of receipt of such notice.
A. 
If such animal has been seized for impounding pursuant to § 43-56, then the officer or agent shall notify the Health Officer and/or Animal Control Officer immediately that he/she has seized and impounded the animal pursuant to § 43-56. If the identity of the owner is not known, then the officer shall, through a reasonable effort, attempt to determine the identity of the owner of any animal seized and impounded pursuant to § 43-56. If the animal's owner cannot be identified within 14 days, then that animal shall be made available for adoption.
B. 
Any owner of any animal removed under this article may gain possession of the animal within 14 days upon an adequate showing to the confiscating officer or agent that the violation has been brought into compliance. Should an owner fail to adequately show that the violation has been brought into compliance within 14 days, then said animal shall be made available for adoption.
A. 
The owner of the seized animal pursuant to § 43-56 and/or § 43-57 who is found by clear and convincing evidence to have violated this article, or any rule or regulation adopted pursuant thereto, or to have failed to comply with a court's order, shall be subject to a fine of not less than $250 nor more than $1,000 per day of the violation, and each day's continuance of the violation shall constitute a separate and distinct violation.
B. 
Any fines or penalties imposed under this article shall be in addition to and not in lieu of any fines or penalties set forth in this chapter or pursuant to any other applicable law.