[1]
Editor's note — Prior history: AO No. 50-76; GAAB 17.05.070, 17.10.010, 17.10.020, 17.15.040; AO No. 78-65A; AO No. 83-97, 11-21-1983; AO No. 84-35; AO No. 86-39; AO No. 96-134(S-2), 7-1-1997.
A. 
It is unlawful for any animal to be in a public place unless it is controlled by a leash, and in the control of a person competent to restrain the animal except:
1. 
Control of an animal by command is allowed if the animal is engaged in an activity that precludes it from accomplishing that activity if restrained, and the animal is in an area normally associated with that activity, and the activity is conducted in a manner that minimizes impact with the general public;
2. 
A dog may be unconfined in areas sanctioned by the municipality as off leash dog areas. The owner or custodian of a dog, unconfined in an off leash dog area, must have a leash restraint immediately available for the physical control of the dog and be physically capable of controlling the dog;
3. 
An animal, at shows and events, may be unconfined during the time of the demonstration in a manner which does not pose a threat to public health and safety or the safety of other animals;
4. 
An animal may be humanely attached in or to a vehicle in a public place, provided the animal may not:
a. 
Be capable of removing or detaching itself from the vehicle;
b. 
Be attached so as to fall, jump, be thrown from or dragged by the vehicle;
c. 
Be exposed to prolonged inclement weather; or
d. 
Pose a threat to public health and safety or the safety of other animals.
5. 
An animal may be humanely contained inside an attended or locked, fully enclosed container.
(AO No. 2001-158(S-4), § 1, 1-1-2003)
A. 
The owner or custodian of a cat over the age of four months shall maintain an identification worn by the cat at all times except:
1. 
When the cat is on the private property of the owner or custodian; or
2. 
When the cat, under control by leash or control by confinement, is either in a public place or on the private property of another.
B. 
Identification must be either a collar or tag which includes the current name, address and telephone number of the owner, or a microchip registering the owner.
(AO No. 2001-158(S-4), § 1, 1-1-2003)
A. 
It shall be unlawful for any owner or custodian of an animal to permit it to make chronic animal noise.
1. 
The animal care and control center may, upon receiving a complaint alleging chronic animal noise, issue a written notice to comply to the animal owner or custodian. The notice shall contain:
a. 
The definition of chronic animal noise.
b. 
The nature and times of the complaint.
c. 
Penalties for violation.
d. 
Means and methods of curtailing chronic animal noise.
e. 
Time permitted to comply with the notice.
2. 
If the violation continues after the time permitted by the notice to comply, a NOV may be issued in accordance with section 4 below.
3. 
An animal owner issued three or more NOV's within one year period may be required to forfeit an animal to the municipality, except as provided below. The chief animal control officer may elect to make the animal available for adoption. Adoption must be made to a person other than the owner, custodian, or person residing on the owner or custodian's premises.
a. 
A forfeiture order shall not be sought against an owner who has taken verifiable steps to correct the problem prior to receipt of a third NOV within the one year period. Verifiable steps include, but are not limited to, debarking of the cited animal, acquisition and use of a barking control device, or structural modification of the property where the animal is kept so as to reduce noise. To the extent that such efforts are not successful, the owner may be subject to additional citations and fines as provided in chapter 17.70.
4. 
NOV's for chronic animal noise shall only be issued after receipt of a. or b. below, and completion of an investigation by animal control:
a. 
A written statement to the animal care and control center, signed by two or more persons living at different addresses, both in the immediate neighborhood of the animal making the chronic animal noise, one of whom must be both the statement preparer and the original complainant; or
b. 
A written statement to the animal care and control center, signed by one person living in the immediate neighborhood of the chronic animal noise, where additional date and time specific evidence is provided.
B. 
No owner or custodian of an animal shall permit the animal's feces to be left on public or other person's private property.
C. 
No owner or custodian of an animal shall permit it to upset garbage on public or private property.
(AO No. 2001-158(S-4), § 1, 1-1-2003; AO No. 2004-86, § 2, 5-18-2004; AO No. 2008-96, § 1, 9-16-2008; AO No. 2013-142, § 2, 12-17-2013)
A. 
Except as otherwise required or permitted by this title, an owner of an unclassified animal shall restrain it at all times. An owner of a classified animal shall confine and control such animal as required by Chapter 17.40.
1. 
A dog left outdoors shall not be restrained by a choke-type collar, pinch-type collar, any collar that is too small for the dog, or by any rope, chain, or cord directly attached to the animal's neck.
B. 
It is unlawful for the owner or custodian of a female animal in estrus to allow it to come in contact with an unsterilized male of its species, except for planned breeding purposes.
C. 
It is unlawful to maintain an animal with a known infectious or contagious disease without proper and adequate veterinary care and confinement.
D. 
It is unlawful for any person, other than a peace officer in the performance of duties, to release an animal from restraint without the consent of the animal's owner or custodian, except to preserve the animal's life or prevent injury.
E. 
The municipality may establish designated areas, known as dog parks, for dogs off leash in areas which minimize impact with other uses.
F. 
The municipality may establish designated outdoor public areas where dogs or other animals are not permitted to be present, regardless of control or restraint by a leash or other means.
(AO No. 2001-158(S-4), § 1, 1-1-2003; AO No. 2004-86, § 3, 5-18-2004; AO No. 2019-34, § 1, 4-18-2019; AO No. 2019-91(S-1), § 2, 12-3-2019)
A. 
An animal owner or custodian shall provide an animal with adequate fresh food, water, shelter, proper veterinary care and humane care, as required.
B. 
An animal owner or custodian shall maintain all areas, where an animal is kept and to which it has access, in a clean and sanitary condition and free from objectionable odor.
C. 
An animal owner or custodian shall maintain an animal in a manner that allows the animal freedom of movement to obtain adequate fresh food, water, and shelter from inclement weather. Shelter must include appropriate space, heat, ventilation, sanitary conditions, and shelter from wind, temperatures, precipitation and sun conditions, consistent with the animal's breed, size, age, and species.
D. 
A notice to vacate the premises may be issued if the chief animal control officer determines any premises where animals are kept do not meet the criteria set forth in this section, or the owner or custodian has failed to comply with the lawful orders of the chief animal control officer.
1. 
A notice to vacate shall specify the effective date, which shall be not less than 24 hours after it is issued.
2. 
It shall be unlawful to maintain any animals required to be removed on the premises following the effective date of a notice to vacate.
3. 
Any animal remaining on the premises is subject to impound and may become property of the Municipality of Anchorage.
(AO No. 2001-158(S-4), § 1, 1-1-2003; AO No. 2019-91(S-1), § 3, 12-3-2019)
A. 
It is unlawful to sell an animal that the seller knows, or has reason to know, is diseased, injured or otherwise physically defective without first disclosing to the buyer the nature of the disease, injury or defect.
B. 
It is unlawful to sell an unweaned horse, dog, cat, ferret or bird.
(AO No. 2001-158(S-4), § 1, 1-1-2003)
A. 
An owner or operator of a commercial facility, multi-animal facility, animal rescue, animal rescue shelter, mushing facility, or any other facility associated with keeping of domestic animals for which a license is required, as specified under chapter 17.15 and any other municipal regulations, shall:
1. 
Provide adequate and appropriate shelter to ensure animal health, safety, and welfare. Each animal shall be provided with adequate floor space to allow it, according to its species, breed, and size to stand and turn freely and exercise normal postural movements, as well as allow adequate room for bedding and food and water bowls.
2. 
Maintain the facility in a sanitary condition. Primary enclosures shall be cleaned daily so the animal avoids contact with excrement.
3. 
Provide timely veterinary care as necessary, so the animal does not suffer due to lack of or delay of veterinary care.
4. 
Provide for the humane care and feeding of animals and ensure the availability of adequate food and fresh water.
5. 
Ensure no animals prohibited by federal, state and municipal laws are kept.
6. 
Provide lighting, whether natural or artificial or a combination of both, at a sufficient level for inspection of the animals, routine cleaning, and proper animal care.
7. 
Ensure all animals are confined or in control on any premises where the animals are kept.
8. 
Keep only the number of animals in the facility or on premises which allows for appropriate space, safe keeping, humane care and sanitary environment consistent with the animal's breed, size, age, and species for all animals kept.
9. 
Comply with the provisions of this title, municipal regulations, and the terms, conditions and limitations of any license issued under chapter 17.15.
10. 
Comply with the provisions of Title 21 (Land Use Planning) of this Code.
B. 
An owner or operator of an animal rescue or animal rescue shelter shall maintain:
1. 
Medical records for each animal under its care. All medical records shall be made available to the new owner.
2. 
A current listing of foster homes within their network to be made available for review upon request by Anchorage Animal Care and Control and kept confidential.
3. 
Except for the rescue organization facility address on the license application, all other foster homes in the network shall obtain a multi-animal facility license as required per section 17.15.060A.2.
(AO No. 2001-158(S-4), § 1, 1-1-2003; AO No. 2017-87, § 3, 6-13-2017; AO No. 2019-91(S-1), § 4, 12-3-2019)
A. 
In order to quarter four or more dogs for a period of between 14 to 31 days for use in competition, both the dog owner or custodian and owner of the property upon which the dogs are quartered shall be responsible to:
1. 
Comply with standards 1 through 7 in section 17.10.050, except all dogs kept for competition must be confined;
2. 
Maintain security measures to ensure the safety of the dogs, as well as other animals and persons that may come in contact with the dogs, including posting the premises to warn persons of the presence of dogs; and
3. 
Comply with any other reasonable terms and conditions of the chief animal control officer or designee, to ensure the health, safety, and welfare of animals and the public.
4. 
Provide written notice in advance to all neighbors within a 300 foot radius if the dogs are to be quartered outside (which does not include quartering within a dog truck).
5. 
The owner or custodian shall occupy the premises where the dogs are quartered.
(AO No. 2001-158(S-4), § 1, 1-1-2003; AO No. 2019-91(S-1), § 5, 12-3-2019)
A. 
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code, legally licensed dogs with current rabies vaccinations may be allowed, unleashed, in areas recommended by the animal control advisory board with concurrence of the parks and recreation commission and the mayor, subject to approval by the assembly. Off-leash dog parks spaces are listed on the municipal website.
B. 
Rules and regulations promulgated for the use of off-leash dog park spaces shall be posted and shall include the following:
1. 
Dogs must be leashed upon entering and leaving the off-leash dog park space.
2. 
Classified dogs and female dogs in heat are prohibited.
3. 
The owner or custodian of the dog must remain in the dog park space with the dog.
4. 
Dogs must be under control as defined in this chapter.
5. 
Dog feces must be cleaned up by the dog owner or custodian.
6. 
Holes dug by dogs must be filled by the dog owner or custodian.
7. 
Owners or custodians are responsible for all actions of their dogs.
C. 
Additional rules and regulations for each off-leash dog park space may be needed and will be recommended by the animal control advisory board with concurrence of the parks and recreation commission and approval by the director of the parks and recreation department and the chief animal control officer. Additional approved rules and regulations shall be posted.
D. 
It shall be unlawful for any owner or custodian of a dog to permit the dog to violate rules and regulations under Section 17.10.090.
(AO No. 2003-108(S), § 1, 7-22-2003; AO No. 2003-127, § 1, 9-30-2003; AO No. 2004-86, § 4, 5-18-2004; AO No. 2015-74, § 1, 7-14-2015; AO No. 2019-91(S-1), § 6, 12-3-2019)
[1]
Editor's note — This section is automatically repealed on 12-31-2004 unless the conditions in AO No. 2004-121 are met, whereby the section remains in the Code.
In public areas closed to animals, no person shall bring an animal into, permit an animal under his control to enter or remain, or otherwise possess an animal. Public areas closed to animals includes any park areas closed to animals by the director of the parks and recreation department, any areas closed by the municipal department or agency with management authority over the public area, and the following areas:
A. 
Campbell Creek Estuary Natural Area. (See section 25.70.060H.1.)
(AO No. 2019-34, § 2, 4-18-2019)