[Ord. 706, Jan. 2009]
It shall be unlawful for any person to own, keep, possess or maintain any dog in such a manner so as to constitute a public nuisance as provided in this chapter. The following acts or actions by an owner or possessor of any dog are hereby declared to be a public nuisance and are, therefore, unlawful:
(1) 
Failure to exercise sufficient restraint necessary to control any dog as required by § 10-302.
(2) 
Maintaining a vicious dog other than in a manner as described in § 10-303.
(3) 
Maintaining any dog that is diseased and/or dangerous to the public health.
(4) 
Failure to confine a female dog while in heat in such a manner as described in § 10-303.
(5) 
Allowing or permitting any dog to damage the property of anyone other than its owner, including, but not limited to, turning over garbage containers or damaging gardens, flowers, or vegetables.
(6) 
Maintaining his or her property in a manner that is offensive, annoying, or dangerous to the public health, safety, or welfare of the community because of the number, type, variety, density, location, or condition of the dogs on the property.
(7) 
Allowing any dog to habitually bark, whine, or howl in a serious annoyance or interference with the reasonable use and enjoyment of neighboring premises. For the purposes of this section "habitually" shall mean continuously for a period of ten (10) minutes, or intermittently for one-half (1 1/2) hour or more.
[Ord. 706, Jan. 2009]
(1) 
The owner shall confine within a building or secure enclosure every fierce, dangerous, or vicious dog, and shall not take such dog out of such building or secure enclosure unless such dog is securely muzzled.
(2) 
Every female dog in heat shall be kept confined in a building or secure enclosure, or in a veterinary hospital or boarding kennel, in such manner that such female dog cannot come in contact with another dog except for intentional breeding purposes.
[Ord. 706, Jan. 2009]
It shall be unlawful for any person to own, keep or harbor any dog or cat which has not been vaccinated against rabies in accordance with Tennessee Code Annotated, §§ 68-8-104, 68-8-107, and 68-8-108. Every dog or cat owner shall attach a metal tag or other evidence of vaccination to a collar which shall be worn at all times by the animal vaccinated; provided, that the collar may be removed in the case of hunting dogs while in chase or returning from the chase. Nothing in this section shall be construed as permitting the use of an unvaccinated dog in either the hunt or chase.
[Ord. 706, Jan. 2009]
The animal control officer shall take up and impound any dog or cat found running at large in violation of this chapter; provided that, if any dog or cat so found is sick, injured or of a vicious nature, the animal control officer may humanely destroy such dog or cat immediately.
[Ord. 706, Jan. 2009]
Every dog or cat which has bitten humans or has been exposed to rabies or which is suspected of having rabies shall be impounded for a period of ten (10) days or more by the animal control officer, or at the option of the owner of such dog or cat, shall be detained in a reputable veterinary hospital on condition that such owner shall make arrangements with such veterinary hospital and shall be liable for the payment of the charges while such dog or cats confined therein. During such confinement the dog or cat shall be under the observation and supervision of the animal control officer, and it shall be released or humanely destroyed by the animal control officer after the termination of the observation period according to instructions from the director of health. The director may order the animal control officer to destroy such dog or cat at any time during the period of observation if evidence is such as to convince the director that the dog or cat has rabies. During the period of observation, the owner of such dog or cat shall be liable for board fees, if such dog or cat is confined at the pound.
[Ord. 706, Jan. 2009]
If any dog or cat seized as provided in this chapter is inoculated, the animal control officer shall give notice by postcard sent by United States mail to the address of the owner given on the inoculation record, within twenty-four (24) hours after the seizure of such dog or cat.
[Ord. 706, Jan. 2009]
The animal control officer shall provide clean, comfortable and sanitary quarters for all dogs and cats, keeping males and females and vicious dogs in separate stalls, and shall provide a liberal allowance of wholesome food and fresh, clean water and clean bedding.
[Ord. 706, Jan. 2009]
The owner of a inoculated dog or cat may claim and redeem it by paying the animal control officer an impoundment fee of ten dollars ($10.00) and board for each day after the first forty-eight (48) hours of detention at the rate of five dollars ($5.00) per day. The owner of an un-inoculated dog or cat may claim and redeem it upon payment of the inoculation fee required and impoundment fee of ten dollars ($10.00) and board for each day such dog or cat is detained at the rate of five dollars ($5.00) per day; provided, however, that, upon a second offense the above impoundment fee shall be twenty-five dollars ($25.00) and upon third and subsequent offenses shall be fifty dollars ($50.00) in addition to the board of five dollars ($5.00) per day as set out above.
[Ord. 706, Jan. 2009]
Any registered dog or cat impounded shall be kept for a period of three (3) days after notice to the owner, and if not redeemed within such period may be humanely destroyed or otherwise disposed of. Any unregistered dog or cat impounded shall be kept for three (3) days and if not claimed or redeemed shall be humanely destroyed or otherwise disposed of.