[Adopted 2-8-1984; amended in its entirety 3-9-2005]
Any person, upon becoming the owner or keeper of any dog of the age
of six months or older, shall cause such dog to be licensed within 30 days
thereof, until the 30th day of the ensuing June, in the manner and subject
to the terms and conditions provided in C.O.S. § 22-338. If the
new owner has written proof of purchase or transfer and the license is obtained
within 30 days, he shall not be required to pay any penalties as provided
by said section for failure to secure a license for a dog over six months
of age. Any person becoming the owner of a licensed dog shall present the
license and tag of such dog to the Branford Town Clerk and, for a fee of $1,
the Town Clerk shall issue, in lieu thereof, a new license and tag, which
shall be recorded in the name of the new owner.
No owner or keeper of any dog shall allow such dog to roam at large
upon the land of another and not under control of the owner or keeper or the
agent of the owner or keeper, nor allow such dog to roam at large on any portion
of any public highway and not attended or under control of such owner or keeper
or his agent, provided nothing in this section shall be construed to limit
or prohibit the use of hunting dogs during the open hunting or training season.
The unauthorized presence of any dog on the land of any person other than
the owner or keeper of such dog or on any portion of a public highway when
such dog is not attended by or under the control of such owner or keeper shall
be prima facie evidence of a violation of the provisions of this section.
Violation of any provision of this section shall be an infraction.
No person shall own or harbor a dog or dogs which is or are a nuisance
by reason of vicious disposition or excessive barking or other disturbance,
or, by such barking or other disturbance, is or are a source of annoyance
to any sick person residing in the immediate vicinity. Violation of any provision
of this section shall be an infraction.
Any dog captured or impounded under the provisions of this article shall
be redeemed by the owner or keeper thereof; or the agent of such owner or
keeper, upon proper identification, and presentation to the municipal animal
control officer of a license and tag for such dog, and upon the payment by
such owner or keeper or his agent of the redemption fee established by the
Town of Branford, which shall not exceed $15, and the cost of advertising
incurred under the provisions of C.O.G. § 22-332; provided no dog
seized for doing damage under the provisions of C.G.S. § 22-355
shall be released, except upon written order of the Municipal Animal Control
Officer. When the owner or keeper of any such impounded dog fails to redeem
such dog within 24 hours after receiving notification to do so, or, where
the owner was unknown, within 24 hours after notification was effected by
means of publication in a newspaper, such owner or keeper shall pay, in addition
to such redemption fee and the cost of advertising, the amount determined
by the Municipal Animal Control Officer to be the full cost of detention and
care of such impounded dog. In addition, any owner or keeper of any such impounded
dog who fails to redeem such dog within one hundred and twenty hours after
receiving notification to do so shall have committed an infraction.
No dog, leashed or unleashed, shall be allowed on public or association-owned
beaches in the Town, unless such dog is assisting the handicapped. The dog
assisting said handicapped person must be leashed or on proper restraints.
A violation of this article will result in a fine of $50 for the first
offense; a second offense will result in a fine of $75; third and subsequent
offenses will result in a fine of $100. All penalties shall be paid to the
Town of Branford for deposit in a fund established to benefit the "Daniel
Cosgrove Animal Shelter."
