ANIMALS
Chapters:
6.04 Animal Control.
6.08 Dog Licenses ,Regulations and
Penalties.
6.12 Impoundment of Animals.
6.16 Kennels.
Chapter 6.04
ANIMAL CONTROL
Sections:
6.04.010 Definitions.
6.04.020 Prohibited animals.
6.04.060 Cruelty to animals.
6.04.070 Violation -- Penalty.
6.04.010 Definitions. When used in this chapter, the following
words and phrases have the meanings ascribed to them in this section:
"At large" refers to
an animal off the premises of the owner and not under control of the owner or
any other person by leash or chain.
"Keeping" means
owning, maintaining, sheltering, harboring or otherwise retaining control over,
or possession of, an animal.
"Owner" means any
person keeping an animal. (Prior code
Section 5-1-01)
6.04.020 Prohibited animals.
A. The keeping of goats, swine, horses, sheep, cattle and
any other animal within the limits of the town is prohibited.
B. The keeping of all outdoor fowl, including chickens,
turkey, peafowl, and bantams within the limits of the town is prohibited.
C. Household pets, including dogs and cats are permitted,
provided that they are confined within the owner's or tenant's property, either
by fence or leash.
D. The keeping of more than three permitted animals is
prohibited, except when an increase results from birth. The owner shall have ninety (90) days to
wean such animals and reduce the excess to the number permitted.
6.04.060 Cruelty to animals. It is prohibited for any person to willfully
or cruelly inflict pain upon, or injure, any animal. (Prior code Section 5-1-80)
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6.04.070 Violation -- Penalty. Failure to comply with the requirements, prohibitions or
standards of this chapter, after reasonable notice where applicable, will
render the owner or violator subject to a fine of not less than fifty dollars
nor more than five hundred dollars.
(Prior code Section 5-1-90)
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Chapter 6.08
DOG LICENSES
AND REGULATIONS
Sections:
6.08.010 License and collar required.
6.08.020 Licensing procedures.
6.08.030 License tags.
6.08.040 Running at large prohibited.
6.08.050 Nuisance conditions prohibited.
6.08.060 Vicious dogs.
6.08.010 License and collar required. It is unlawful for any person to keep any
dog over the age of six months, unless the dog has attached to its neck a
substantial collar on which a valid license tag issued by the town is
fastened. (Prior code Section 5-2-01)
6.08.020 Licensing procedures.
A. Dog licenses shall be obtained at the office of the town
clerk.
B. The owner of the dog shall pay the license fee as set
forth in the table of fees in the appendix of this code, and shall present a
certificate from a licensed veterinarian showing that the dog has received a
rabies vaccination, which will remain viable for the period of the license.
C. Licenses shall be issued for the period of one year,
commencing January l of each calendar year, and shall be renewable for
additional periods of one year each January l.
All licenses shall be purchased by January 1 of each calendar year.
D. For the purposes of determining the license fee, the
owner of a spayed female dog shall present a certificate of a licensed
veterinarian showing that the dog has been spayed.
E. Renewal licenses may be issued to spayed female dogs
without the presentation of a certificate showing that the dog has been
spayed. (Prior code Section 5-2-10)
6.08.030 License tags.
A. Upon licensing or renewal, the town clerk shall deliver
to the dog's owner a tag of metal or other permanent substance, to be fastened
to the dog's collar.
B. The tag shall state the year of the license, and shall
bear a unique serial number. The serial
number of the tag and the owner's name and address shall be
recorded together in the registry of dogs, to be
maintained by the town clerk. (Prior code
Section 5-2-20)
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6.08.040 Running at large prohibited. It is unlawful for any dog, licensed or
unlicensed, to run at large. (Prior
code Section 5-2-02)
6.08.050 Nuisance conditions prohibited. It is unlawful to keep or permit to run at
large a dog which:
A. Causes injury to other persons or property;
B. Chases persons or vehicles not trespassing on the owner's
property;
C. Unreasonably disturbs the peace of the town by undue
howling or barking. (Prior code Section
5-2-30)
6.08.060 Vicious dogs. It is unlawful to keep a dog of a vicious
nature. The mayor and chief of police
is empowered to restrain, control, kill, or quarantine any vicious dog, whether
such dog be licensed or unlicensed. A
"vicious dog" is defined as one which bites or attempts to bite any
human being without provocation or which harasses, chases, bites, or attempts
to bite any other animal. The term
animal shall include domestic pets.
6.08.070 VIOLATION -- PENALTY
Failure to comply with the requirements of this chapter will render the owner or violator subject to the following fines:
A. Unlicensed Dogs: The fee for the dog license plus - First offense $25.00 second offense $50.00; third offense $75.00.
B. Dogs At Large: The fee for impoundment plus – First offense $50.00; second offense $100.00; third offense $150.00; subsequent offenses $200.00 each occurrence.
C. Vicious Dogs: The fee for impoundment, euthanasia, restitution to the victim, plus any other expenses incurred by the town to control or incarcerate vicious dog, plus a minimum fine of $100.
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Chapter 6.12
IMPOUNDMENT OF ANIMALS
Sections:
6.12.010 Authority.
6.12.020 Notice of impoundment.
6.12.030 Redemption of impounded animals.
6.12.040 Disposition of unclaimed animals.
6.12.050 Records of impounded animals.
6.12.060 Confinement or muzzling required
when.
6.12.010 Authority. Any animal kept or allowed to run at large
in violation of the provisions of this title may be seized and impounded by any
law enforcement officer. (Prior code
Section 5-3-01)
6.12.020 Notice of impoundment. The impounding official shall give notice of
the impoundment of any animal by causing personal service on the owner, or on
some responsible person at the owner's residence or place of business. If such person cannot be found, notice shall
be given by detention of the animal and by posting the information of
impoundment in two separate places in the town. (Prior code Section 5-3-10)
6.12.030 Redemption of impounded animals.
A. The owner must redeem the impounded animal within four
days after the giving of notice, or it shall be subject to disposal under the
provisions of this chapter.
B. At the time of redemption, the owner shall pay such
impounding fees, plus licensing fees if
an unlicensed dog, as shall be set forth in the table of fees in the appendix
of this code.
6.12.040 Disposition of unclaimed animals.
A. The refusal or failure of the owner to redeem the animal
and pay the impounding fees shall be held to be an abandonment of the animal by
the owner.
B. The chief of police may offer the animal for sale. The sale and certificate of sale shall confer title and ownership of the animal free of all claims and interest of the previous owner, provided the purchaser pay any outstanding impoundment fees, plus licensing fees.
C. In the event that the animal is not purchased or redeemed, it may be disposed of in a humane manner by any law enforcement officer of veterinarian.
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D. Whenever an animal is to be disposed of under this
chapter, any person may apply to the police court for permission to remove the
animal permanently from the municipality.
Upon such person's filing with the court his written agreement to remove
the animal from the municipality, pay any outstanding impoundment fees, and be
responsible for its remaining out permanently, the police judge may, in his
discretion, make an order allowing the animal to be removed from the
municipality instead of being put to death.
(Prior code Sections 5-3-30, 5-3-40)
6.12.050 Records of impounded animals. The chief of police shall maintain a record
of the disposition of all impounded animals, including date of impoundment,
notice given, redemption or disposition and date of redemption or disposition. (Prior code Section 5-3-50)
6.12.060 Confinement or muzzling required
when. Whenever danger to the public
safety is imminent, the mayor may require that all dogs be quarantined on the
premises of their owner, or that they be securely muzzled. (Prior code Section 5-3-60)
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