For purposes of this chapter only, animal means all members of the Phylum Cordata, Subphylum Vertebrata, excluding non-domestic animals and humans, unless otherwise specifically stated.
(AO No. 2003-77, § 1, 5-20-2003)
B.
It is unlawful for any person, with criminal negligence, to knowingly or recklessly use a tranquilizer gun or blowpipe to capture or immobilize an animal unless authorized by the chief animal control officer or designee.
C.
Violation of this section is a class A misdemeanor.
(AO No. 96-134(S-2), §§ 19, 52, 7-1-1997; AO No. 98-59(S), § 2, 5-19-1998; AO No. 2003-77, § 1, 5-20-2003; AO No. 2014-42, § 8, 6-21-2014)
A.
It is unlawful for any person, with criminal negligence, to:
1.
Maintain an animal in an inhumane manner, including failure to provide adequate food, water, housing and care; or
2.
Keep an animal on vacant property or in an unoccupied structure, unless the animal is cared for in a humane manner; or
3.
Have an animal within, on or attached to a motor vehicle under conditions that may endanger the health, safety or welfare of the animal, including but not limited to insufficient control or extreme temperature.
a.
A peace officer is authorized to remove an animal from a motor vehicle at any location when the officer reasonably believes there is a violation of this section. Any animal so removed shall be delivered to the animal care and control center after the removing officer leaves written notice of the removal and delivery, including the officer's name, in a conspicuous, secure location on or within the vehicle.
b.
No peace officer shall be held criminally or civilly liable for action taken under this subsection.
B.
Violation of this section is a class A misdemeanor.
(AO No. 2014-42, § 8, 6-21-2014)
A.
It is unlawful for any person, with criminal negligence, to:
1.
Cause or allow an animal to fight another animal or a human being, unless the animal is:
a.
Acting in defense of itself, its owner or custodian, or the property of its owner or custodian against trespass, tort or other crime in or on the premises of the owner or custodian at the time the injury or damage was sustained by the victim; or
b.
Acting in defense of an owner, custodian or third person, within the immediate vicinity of the animal, from attack or assault; or
c.
Acting in defense of physical abuse, assault or attack to itself or its offspring, by another animal or a person or persons; or
d.
Responding to pain or injury; or
e.
Trained and used by an authorized law enforcement unit to act in a manner directly associated with the proper execution of its duties; or
f.
Trained or is being trained for the sport of Schutzhund competition; or
g.
Hunting, animal herding, or abating predators, or in training for hunting, animal herding or predator abatement, on the property of, or under the control of, its owner or custodian, and the injury or damage was to a species appropriate to the work of the animal.
2.
Own, possess, keep or train any animal with the intent that the animal shall be engaged in an exhibition of fighting with another animal or human being; or
3.
Manufacture, buy, sell, barter, exchange, or possess any of the implements commonly known as gaffs or slashers, or any other sharp or pointed implement designed to be attached in place of the natural spur of a gamecock or fighting bird; or
4.
Train any animal for the purpose of fighting, or allow an exhibition of fighting on the person's premises, or to be a spectator at such training or exhibition of fighting.
B.
Violation of this section is a class A misdemeanor.
(AO No. 96-134(S-2), §§ 19, 52, 7-1-1997; AO No. 98-59(S), § 2, 5-19-1998; AO No. 2003-77, § 1, 5-20-2003; AO No. 2014-42, §§ 8, 54, 6-21-2014)
A.
It is unlawful for the driver of a vehicle involved in an accident that injures an animal to fail, with criminal negligence, to stop the vehicle as close to the scene of the accident as possible and:
1.
Inform the animal's owner of the injury, if ownership is readily ascertainable; or
2.
Inform a peace officer or the animal care and control office of the injury, the time and location of the accident, the description of the injured animal, identification the animal may possess, if the information can be safely and reasonably attained, and the apparent nature of the injury.
B.
Violation of this section is a minor offense punishable as set forth on the minor offenses fine schedule.
(AO No. 96-134(S-2), §§ 19, 53, 7-1-1997; AO No. 98-59(S), § 2, 5-19-1998; AO No. 2003-77, § 1, 5-20-2003; AO No. 2014-42, § 8, 6-21-2014)
A.
It is unlawful for any person, with criminal negligence, to use any type of trap, such as steel jaw traps, snares or spring traps that might physically harm an animal, to capture animals for noncommercial reasons.
1.
Any humane-type trap used for the purposes of capture of animals shall be monitored by the person using it at least once every 12 hours. Any animal captured shall be cared for in a humane manner and returned to the animal's owner, an animal control officer, or the animal care and control center.
2.
No person may use any trap for capture of domestic animals and noncommercial purposes of a type not approved by the chief animal control officer or designee.
3.
No person may offer false information to any peace officer or animal control authority concerning the identity or ownership of a trapped animal the person has trapped.
B.
This section does not apply to prevent, prohibit or regulate sport or commercial trapping of game animals authorized by this code, state, or federal law. This section does not apply to trapping for purposes of rodent or nuisance animal control.
C.
Violation of this section is a class A misdemeanor.
(AO No. 96-134(S-2), §§ 19, 52, 7-1-1997; AO No. 98-59(S), § 2, 5-19-1998; AO No. 2003-77, § 1, 5-20-2003; AO No. 2014-42, §§ 8, 54, 6-21-2014; AO No. 2019-50(S), § 4, 6-6-2019)
A.
A person who with criminal negligence violates this chapter shall, upon conviction, be prohibited from owning or maintaining another animal for as long as the court determines.
B.
In addition to any fine or imprisonment, the court may also require the defendant to receive mandatory counseling at defendant's expense and/or complete community work service as provided for in AS 12.55.055.
C.
A person convicted of violating this chapter, and who owns the animal, shall relinquish all rights of ownership of the animal, and/or any other animals owned by that individual, to the municipality. The rights of persons not convicted under this chapter to an animal, and the rights of persons to an animal prior to a final determination of criminal charges brought under this chapter, shall be determined under chapter 17.25 of this Code and its regulations.
D.
A person convicted of violating this chapter shall pay any and all costs incurred by the animal care and control center for animals involved, including but not limited to, housing, feed and veterinary care, costs related to the animal's care, housing, feed, veterinary services such as medical care, diagnostics, and lab fees, and expenses of the investigation.
E.
A person convicted of violating this chapter may be subject, upon court order, to periodic unannounced visits for a period of up to one year or the term of probation, whichever is greater, by an animal control officer or other peace officer authorized to enforce the provisions of this chapter. Such period may be extended by the court upon motion.
F.
A person convicted of violating this chapter is subject to penalties set forth herein per animal. Penalties per animal imposed for offenses committed against multiple animals shall run consecutively.
(AO No. 96-134(S-2), §§ 19, 54, 7-1-1997; AO No. 98-59(S), § 2, 5-19-1998; AO No. 2003-73, § 3, 4-22-2003; AO No. 2003-77, § 1, 5-20-2003; AO No. 2014-42, § 8, 6-21-2014)
A.
It is unlawful for a person, with criminal negligence, to violate any provision of chapter 17.40 "regulation of animal behavior," pertaining to animals classified as level three, four or five.
B.
Violation of this section is a class B misdemeanor.
(AO No. 96-134(S-2), § 56, 7-1-1997; AO No. 98-59(S), 2, 5-19-1998; AO No. 2003-77, § 1, 5-20-2003; AO No. 2014-42, § 8, 6-21-2014)
A.
It is unlawful for any person, with criminal negligence to own, possess, keep, maintain, harbor, transport, sell or advertise for sale any wolf hybrid within municipal boundaries except as provided under state law.
B.
Violation of this section is a class B misdemeanor.
(AO No. 92-75(S); AO No. 96-134(S-2), § 60, 7-1-1997; AO No. 98-59(S), § 2, 5-19-1998; AO No. 2003-73, § 3, 4-22-2003; AO No. 2003-77, § 1, 5-20-2003; AO No. 2014-42, § 8, 6-21-2014)
A.
This chapter does not apply to:
1.
Impounding, euthanizing or other disposition of an animal in a humane manner as authorized by law; or
2.
Killing or injuring an animal where necessary to protect a human being or domesticated animal from death or bodily injury; or
3.
Euthanasia of an animal by request of its owner or the owner's authorized agent.
(AO No. 2003-77, § 1, 5-20-2003)
A.
A person commits the crime of harming a police dog if the person intentionally causes physical injury to or, without causing physical injury to, torments, kicks, strikes, stones, or tampers with a police dog, knowing the dog to be a police dog.
C.
Violation of this section is a class A misdemeanor.
(AO No. 2014-42, § 8, 6-21-2014)