[Adopted 9-9-2002 by Ord. No. 02-03]
A. 
The purpose and intent of this article is to protect the health, safety and general welfare of Town residents from vicious or dangerous animals.
B. 
Nothing in this article is intended to restrict or inhibit the municipal animal control officer in the performance of his or her duties.
C. 
Nothing in this article nullifies, overrides or is intended to override state regulations regarding vicious animals.
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
FREE
Any animal running at large or not under direct physical control of that animal's owner.
FINES
Shall be determined annually by the Town Council, in consultation with Animal Control.
OWNER
Person primarily responsible for keeping an animal. In cases where animals are ostensibly owned by a minor, the parent or guardians of said minor are considered the owners for purposes of this article.
VICIOUS OR DANGEROUS ANIMAL
A. 
A dog or other animal that has attacked, bitten or physically injured a human being without provocation two or more times;
B. 
A dog other animal which, more than once approaches a person in a menacing fashion without provocation;
C. 
A dog with a known propensity, tendency or disposition to attack people unprovoked;
D. 
A dog that inflicts injury on another animal without provocation;
E. 
A dog bred, trained or harbored primarily for the purpose of dog fighting or attacks on humans or other animals;
F. 
A dog that has been declared a vicious dog under this article by the municipal animal control official; or,
G. 
Any animal defined as vicious under C.G.S. § 26-40a.
The following individuals, organizations, entities and circumstances are exempt under this article:
A. 
Veterinarians, breeders and kennels;
B. 
Animal rescue organizations;
C. 
Legal entertainment entities;
D. 
Scientific research facilities;
E. 
Law enforcement animals; and
F. 
Actions by an animal in response to unwarranted invasion of pet's habitat or owner's residence.
A. 
Restraint of a vicious animal.
(1) 
The owner of a dangerous or vicious animal may not allow it to run free, unconfined in municipal limits, beyond the owner's premises.
(2) 
The animal must be muzzled securely, restrained by a responsible adult, when not penned or inside the owner's premises.
(3) 
The restraint chain must have minimum tensile strength of 300 pounds and be up to six feet in length.
(4) 
The muzzle and chain must be humane.
B. 
Confinement of vicious animal.
(1) 
All vicious animals must be penned when not chained or leashed directly by the owner, or securely confined within the owner's residence.
(2) 
Pens. All structures to pen or house dangerous and/or vicious animals must comply with zoning regulations, building regulations and state law.
C. 
Insurance.
(1) 
All owners of animals determined to be dangerous and/or vicious under this article must obtain liability insurance on said animal, at a minimum $50,000, and name the Town of Stratford as additional insured.
(2) 
Annually, owners of a dangerous and/or vicious animal must certify to the Town that such insurance is currently in effect.
D. 
Notice requirement to Animal Control.
(1) 
Owners are required to notify Animal Control within 12 hours if their previously identified dangerous and/or vicious animal becomes unleashed or unpenned and is roaming free.
(2) 
Notice must also be given if there is offspring or birth from previously identified dangerous and/or vicious animal.
A. 
Determination of viciousness.
(1) 
If a dog is running loose, Animal Control may, after investigation determine if it is vicious, then seize and impound the dog and impose citations and fines; or the officer may issue a warning with conditions of control and confinement as provided herein.
(2) 
Any Town resident or municipal employee may, under oath, notify the animal control officer of a dangerous or vicious animal.
B. 
Citation and fine.
(1) 
Animal Control may, after investigation, impose a fine, and issue conditions to the owner on the proper keeping of a dangerous and vicious animal.
(2) 
Conditions may include, but are not limited to, muzzling, penning, chaining, construction of a pen, or removal of the dog from Town limits.
(3) 
The owner must pay all fines and costs of impounding the animal prior to the animal being released from impoundment.
(4) 
Unpaid fines may become an assessment on real property and can be levied as are all other municipal fines.
C. 
Impounding roaming dangerous animal.
(1) 
Animal Control must contact the owner by phone or in person within 48 hours of impounding a dangerous and/or vicious animal.
(2) 
If after due diligence the owner cannot be identified or located, the Animal Control Officer may impound the animal and request assistance of animal rescue groups or shelters.
(3) 
A fee for each day of impoundment may be assessed for food and care which is to be paid by the animal's owner.
D. 
Initial and intermediate remedies.
(1) 
Obedience training, muzzle and penning animal.
(2) 
Reduce number of animals owned by an individual at one location.
(3) 
Placing a conspicuous sign at the residence notifying the public of the dangerous animal.
E. 
Remedies for continued violations.
(1) 
Cancellation of dog registration.
(2) 
Ban on owner maintaining multiple animals.
(3) 
In case of neglect or cruelty, or repeated violations of this article, permanently remove the animal from the owner's custody, after notice and hearing.
(4) 
Sterilization of animal.
(5) 
Destroy dangerous and/or vicious animal after notice and hearing if the owner is found in violation of this article more than three times in one calendar year.
F. 
Appeals process.
(1) 
In case of dangerous and/or vicious animals, whether or not the animal has been impounded, and where violations of this article have been determined and fines levied, the owner who wishes to contest such citations and fines must deliver written notice of contest within 10 days of the date of the citation.
(2) 
Whenever the owner is found in violation and timely requests a hearing in writing, and in cases where it is proposed to destroy the dangerous and/or vicious animal even if the owner has not requested a hearing, the Animal Control Officer must set a hearing date and give written notice of same within 15 days of receipt of the request for hearing, or within 15 days of the Animal Control Officer's determination to destroy the animal.
(3) 
Said hearing must be held not less than 30 days, nor more than 45 days from the date of mailing of the notice of the requested hearing.
(4) 
At the hearing, a hearing panel of at least three municipal officials designated by the Mayor, one of whom must be an Animal Control Officer, shall consider all evidence before it, including possible provocation, severity of injury or attack, previous aggressive history of the dog, observed behavior of the dog, statements from interested persons, including the owner, and any other relevant facts and circumstances of the event giving rise to the citation.
[Amended 3-12-2007 by Ord. No. 07-03]
(5) 
Owners, persons attacked or the Town Attorney may bring civil actions under this article to the Superior Court.