Chapter 7.10
ADMINISTRATION OF ANIMAL CONTROL
Sections:
7.10.030 Animal control center.
7.10.040 Animal control officers and agents.
7.10.010 Purpose.
The purpose of this title is to promote public health and safety and to encourage responsible pet ownership and the humane care of animals. (Ord. 18-07 § 2 (part), 2019.)
7.10.020 Definitions.
As used in this title:
“Abandoned animal” means an animal:
1. Surrendered under Section 7.20.030;
2. That has not been reclaimed from quarantine, impound, or protective custody for a period of ten days or more after the animal could be lawfully released to its keeper;
3. In protective custody for ten days or more that cannot be lawfully released to its keeper; or
4. That has been impounded three or more times in a sixty-day period.
“Adoption eligible” means an abandoned animal that has been evaluated for health and temperament by the animal control officer or the police chief and determined to be suitable for adoption. An animal that has been classified for level three or level four aggressive behavior is not adoption eligible.
“Animal” means all members of the phylum chordata.
“Animal control agent” is the person acting on or in behalf of the animal control officer enforcing the provisions of this title and shall include all city police officers.
“Animal control center” is any area, temporary or permanent, designated by the animal control officer for the holding of animals. A center can be publicly or privately owned and operated.
“Animal control officer” is the person designated by the city manager as having the responsibility of enforcing the provisions of this title.
“At large” means not under restraint or not controlled.
“Bite” means the animal, by using its teeth, breaks the skin of a human being or animal.
“Cat” means felis catus.
“Chronic animal noise” means repeated vocalization by an animal or animals for more than thirty consecutive minutes. Daytime noise generated by a licensed kennel in its reasonable and customary manner of operation only during feeding and loading/unloading times is excused to a maximum of thirty consecutive minutes.
“Control,” in relation to an animal, means to simultaneously monitor, direct, and restrict an animal’s movements and activities so as to prevent violations of this title. Specific types of control are defined as follows:
1. “Control by leash” means to control an animal by a securely attached leash, chain, or an item physically capable of restraining the animal. The item must be in the secure possession of a person physically and mentally capable of monitoring, directing, and restricting the animal’s movements and activities.
2. “Control by harness” means to control an animal by a harness or other similar device attached directly or indirectly to a person or object.
3. “Control by command” means to control an animal by visual and/or audible commands to which the animal responds promptly and accurately. A person must be present, monitor the animal, and be physically and mentally capable of directing animal movements and activities by visual and/or audible commands.
4. “Control by collar” means to control an animal by electronic collar with or without handheld remote and having all parts of the device working and visible at time of training or activation.
5. “Control by barrier” means to control an animal on property under the possession of an animal’s keeper by means of a physical barrier such as a fence or wall that is sufficient to prevent the animal from passing beyond the barrier.
“Dog” means canis familiaris.
“Domestic animal” means dogs.
“Feral” means not domesticated or cultivated; or having escaped from domestication and become wild.
“Humane care” means providing the animal with, though not limited to, the following:
1. Sufficient wholesome and nutritious food at least once daily which will keep the animal in healthy physical condition;
2. Sufficient daily quantities of fresh water which meet the hydration requirements for the animal;
3. Adequate shelter which provides adequate air and ventilation and which prevents the animal from being exposed to inclement or adverse weather conditions, overheating from sunlight, unsanitary conditions and dirty, wet and uncomfortable conditions which may endanger the health or welfare of the animal;
4. Veterinary care when needed to treat the animal for sickness or disease or to prevent suffering of the animal;
5. Sufficient exercise as needed by the animal; and
6. Protection from acts of animal cruelty.
“Impound” or “impoundment” means city custody and confinement of an animal in a veterinarian’s office or hospital, in the animal control center, or at other locations approved by the city manager or animal control officer for violation of this title. “Impound” does not include quarantine or protective custody.
“Keeper” includes any person, group of persons, partnership, firm, trust or corporation harboring, keeping, causing or permitting an animal to be harbored or kept, having an animal in possession or custody, permitting an animal to remain on or about premises or having legal title to an animal. “Keeper” includes any adult member of a family or group of persons sharing a residential unit where another member of the family or group has an interest in, has control, custody or possession of an animal which is kept in or on the premises of the shared residential unit. A licensed veterinarian treating an animal or any person in custody of an animal for the purpose of protective custody or impound under this title is not a keeper of the animal.
“Protective custody” means an animal seized and placed in the custody of a veterinarian licensed under AS 08.98, the city, or a responsible public or private custodian who has previously volunteered to accept animals seized under this title and to provide shelter, care, and necessary medical attention based on a determination that such custody is reasonably necessary for the humane care of the animal. “Protective custody” is intended to provide humane care to an animal, not as a sanction for violation of this title.
“Provoked” means to incite or stimulate to action; to anger, enrage, exasperate, or vex.
“Quarantine” is the strict confinement upon the private premises of the animal’s keeper, in a veterinarian’s office or hospital, in the animal control center, or at other locations approved by the city manager, under restraint by leash, chain, closed cage, or paddock.
“Restraint” or “restrain” means to confine or control an animal.
“Sterilized” or “sterile” means neutered, spayed, or rendered incapable of reproduction.
“Stray” is an animal without a known keeper or without a keeper who can be determined with reasonable effort.
“Unprovoked” means not caused by anything done or said.
“Unweaned animal” means an animal younger than six weeks old, separated from the care of its mother, and/or an animal still dependent on its mother’s milk.
“Wolf” means canis lupis.
“Wolf dog” means the offspring of a wolf or wolf hybrid. For the purposes of this title, “wolf dogs” and “wolf hybrids” shall be synonymous.
“Wolf hybrid” is a hybrid of the species canis lupis and canis familiaris. (Ord. 18-07 § 2 (part), 2019.)
7.10.030 Animal control center.
A. The city shall maintain an animal control center under the direction of the city manager or the city manager’s designee.
B. The animal control center may keep animals which city assumes custody of under this title.
C. The city may contract with a private person or entity to perform the functions of the animal control center. (Ord. 18-07 § 2 (part), 2019.)
7.10.040 Animal control officers and agents.
A person designated by the city manager as animal control officer, under the supervision of the police chief, shall be responsible for domestic animal registration, rabies vaccinations, investigation of animal bites, animal-related complaints, maintaining the animal control program, health and safety clinics, and the animal control center, enforcement and issuance of citations, and the destruction and disposal of vicious or unwanted animals. Police officers also have the authority to enforce this title. (Ord. 18-07 § 2 (part), 2019.)
7.10.050 Fees.
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Registration Valid for the expiration of the rabies vaccination. Fees reflect per year and are available for advanced purchase up to three years. |
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a. Unsterilized animal |
$10.00 |
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b. Sterilized animal |
$5.00 |
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c. Duplicate |
$1.00 |
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Adoption Plus registration fee above |
$35.00 |
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Impound per day, commencing 24 hours after the time of impoundment |
$25.00 |
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Pick-up |
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a. Unregistered animal |
$50.00 |
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b. Registered animal |
$35.00 |
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Plus impound fee per day |
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Kennel permit new, extended, or re-issued (three-year period) |
$25.00 |
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Surrender of animal |
$25.00 |
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Euthanize |
$50.00 |
(Ord. 18-07 § 2 (part), 2019; Ord. 19-04 § 2 (part), 2019.)
7.10.060 Penalties.
Offenses in this title are violations and are punishable by the fines established in the minor offense schedule in Section 1.20.040. If a fine for an offense is not established in the fine schedule, the defendant must appear in court and, if convicted, may be punished by a fine up to three hundred dollars. (Ord. 19-04 § 2 (part), 2019.)