As used in this article, unless the context
indicates otherwise, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
AT LARGE
Off the premises of the owner or keeper and not under the
control of the owner or keeper or a competent person authorized by
the owner or keeper, either by leash, cord, chain or otherwise.
DOG
Both male and female.
No person shall cause or permit any dog owned
or kept by him to run at large within the Town of Bar Harbor. A dog
while on any premises other than that of its owner or keeper or while
on any public way or place shall be under restraint and not at large
within the meaning of this article if it is controlled by a leash,
cord, or chain or "at heel" beside a competent person and obedient
to that person's commands or on or within a vehicle being driven or
parked or within the property limits of its owner or keeper. Nothing
in this article shall be held to require the leashing or otherwise
confining of any dog, except a bitch in heat, while on the premises
of its owner or keeper. A leash, cord or chain used to restrain a
dog shall not be more than eight feet long.
The owner or keeper of any bitch in heat shall
keep the same confined or otherwise restrained by a leash, cord, or
chain at all times that said bitch is in fact in heat.
No person shall own, keep or harbor any dog
which, by loud, frequent and habitual barking, howling or yelping,
shall disturb the peace of any person.
A dangerous dog is hereby defined to be a dog
at large which shall cause reasonable fear of bodily injury to any
person by attacking or threatening to attack such person. Any such
dog is hereby declared to be a nuisance. The owner or keeper of any
dangerous dog shall keep the same confined in a secure enclosure or
on a chain or leash controlled by the owner or keeper or competent
person authorized by the owner or keeper at all times and shall not
permit such dog to be at large within the Town.
If any dangerous dog cannot be safely taken
up, such dog may be slain by any law enforcement officer duly authorized
to enforce the laws of the State of Maine and the ordinances of the
Town of Bar Harbor. In all cases where any dog which has bitten a
person or caused an abrasion of the skin of any person is slain by
any said law enforcement officer, whether by order of court or otherwise,
and a period of less than 15 days has elapsed since the day on which
such dog bit any person or caused an abrasion of the skin of any person,
it shall be the duty of said law enforcement officer slaying such
dog to forthwith deliver the carcass to the Chief of Police who shall
forward the carcass to the Town Manager who shall cause the same to
be examined by a veterinarian.