For the purpose of this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings ascribed to them in this section:
AT LARGE
Off the premises of the owner, unless controlled by a leash, cord,
chain or unless within a vehicle or under restraint in an open vehicle being
driven or parked on the street.
OWNER
Any person, firm, organization, association or corporation owning,
keeping or harboring a dog.
The licensing provisions of this chapter shall not apply to any dog
belonging to a nonresident visiting within the Town without the intention
of becoming a resident, but the owner of such dog shall comply with the remaining
provisions of this chapter.
No person shall interfere with, hinder or molest any dog control officer
in the performance of his duty or seek to release any dog in the custody of
a dog control authority, except as provided in this chapter.
It shall be the duty of a dog control officer to keep or cause to be
kept an accurate and detailed record of the licensing, impoundment and disposition
of all dogs coming into his custody and maintain a record of complaints against
the dog and/or owner.
No dog shall be kept within the limits of the Town unless such dog shall
have been licensed by its owner in accordance with the statutes of the state.
[Amended 8-26-1991]
Unlicensed dogs, wherever found or dogs found running at large shall
be taken and impounded by a dog control officer in a shelter designated by
the Town as the Town Animal Shelter and there confined for a period of not
less than eight days.
[Amended 9-23-1985]
Any dog impounded in accordance with this chapter may be reclaimed upon
payment of the following charges:
A. An impoundment fee of $25 shall be charged for each dog,
except that, upon the second impoundment of the same dog, the fee shall be
$50, and upon the third and all subsequent impoundments of the same dog, the
fee shall be $75. In addition to such fee, a further fee for board shall be
paid at the rate of $20 per dog per day of impoundment. All impoundment fees
collected shall be turned over to the Town Treasurer.
B. If there have been no previous offenses within the preceding
period of 12 months, it would then be treated as a first offense.
Whenever any dog bites a person, the owner of such dog shall immediately
notify the dog control officer, who shall order the dog held on the owner's
premises or shall have it impounded for a period of two weeks. The dog shall
be examined immediately after it has bitten anyone and again at the end of
the two-week period. If at the end of the two weeks a veterinarian is convinced
that the dog is then free from rabies, the dog shall then be released from
quarantine or from the pound, as the case may be. If the dog dies within the
period, its head shall be sent to the State Department of Health for examination
for rabies.
No person owning any dog shall suffer or permit such dog to disturb
the peace and quiet of the neighborhood by continuous barking, by making other
loud or unusual noises or by running through or across cultivated gardens
or fields.
This chapter shall not replace, annul or in any way impair or remove
the necessity for compliance with any other rule, regulation, bylaw, permit
or provision of law. Where this chapter imposes a greater restriction upon
the control of animals, the provisions of this chapter shall control.