Chapter 6.12
CANINES AND CATS
Sections:
6.12.020 Duty of Owner or Keeper
6.12.030 Dangerous Canines or Cats
6.12.040 Canines and Cats that Bite
6.12.060 Nuisances–Running at Large–Biting/Killing
6.12.090 Redemption of Cats–Fees
6.12.100 Disposition of Impounded Canines/Cats
6.12.010 License Required
No canine/cat of the age of four (4) months, or over, shall be permitted to be or remain in the City without being licensed as herein provided. It is unlawful for a person to keep, harbor or maintain a canine/cat within the City except as provided by the terms of this chapter. All canines/cats kept in the City shall be registered as to sex, breed, name and address of the owner and name of canine/cat. At the time of such registration, such owner or keeper shall obtain a license tag for such canine/cat. See Ordinance No. 637 for all fee schedules.
It is unlawful for any owner or keeper of a canine or cat to violate this section. The first violation of this section shall constitute a Class 3 misdemeanor. A subsequent violation shall constitute a Class 1 misdemeanor. (Ord. 1224 (part), 2014: Ord. 1142 (part), 2011; Ord. 946 2004)
(Manual, Amended, 06/18/2004)
6.12.020 Duty of Owner or Keeper
It shall be the duty of every owner or keeper of any canine kept within the limits of the City to cause the license tag hereinabove mentioned to be securely attached around the canine’s neck or harness and kept there at all times during the license period. Absence of the license tag from the neck or harness of any canine shall be prima facie evidence that the canine has not been licensed and vaccinated as provided in this chapter. Cats shall be required to be licensed; however, there shall be no requirement concerning wearing of collars. Owners, however, shall be required to produce valid licenses for inspection upon demand by the Humane Services Manager or his/her Humane Services officers.
It is unlawful for any owner or keeper of a canine or cat to violate this section. The first violation of this section shall constitute a Class 3 misdemeanor. A subsequent violation shall constitute a Class 1 misdemeanor. (Ord. 1224 (part), 2014: Ord. 1142 (part), 2011; Ord. 946 2004)
(Manual, Amended, 06/18/2004
6.12.030 Dangerous Canines or Cats
No vicious, dangerous or ferocious canine or cat sick with or liable to communicate hydrophobia or other contagious or infectious diseases shall be permitted to run at large in the City. No canine shall be permitted to run at large in a pack with two (2) or more other canines. (Ord. 1224 (part), 2014: Ord. 946 2004)
(Manual, Amended, 06/18/2004
6.12.040 Canines and Cats that Bite
A. Whenever any canine or cat bites a person, the person so bitten and the owner of the animal shall immediately notify an Humane Services officer. If it is determined that the animal is infected it shall be the duty of the Humane Services officer to destroy such animal in as humane a manner as is reasonably possible. If at the end of the quarantine or impoundment a veterinarian is convinced that the animal is free from such disease, the animal may be released to the owner. An unvaccinated canine or cat that bites any person shall be confined and quarantined in the City animal shelter, or, upon request of and at the expense of the owner, at a veterinary hospital for a period of not less than ten (10) days. A canine properly vaccinated pursuant to this section that bites any person may be confined and quarantined at the home of the owner with the consent of and in a manner prescribed by the City’s Humane Services Manager or Humane Services officer. The City Humane Services officer may destroy any animal confined and quarantined pursuant to this section prior to the termination of the confinement period for laboratory examination for rabies if such animal shows clear clinical signs of rabies, or the owner or keeper of such animal consents to its destruction. If the animal dies during the period of quarantine or impoundment, its head shall be sent to the State Department of Health for examination.
B. The owner of a canine or feline that bites or claws a person shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. (Ord. 1224 (part), 2014: Ord. 946 2004)
(Manual, Amended, 06/18/2004)
6.12.050 Disturbing the Peace
No person owning or keeping any canine/cat shall suffer or permit such canine/cat to disturb the peace and quiet of the neighborhood by prolonged barking, making other loud or unusual noises, or by running through or across lawns, cultivated gardens or fields. Any owner or keeper found guilty of violating this section shall be deemed guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor. (Ord. 1224 (part), 2014: Ord. 946 2004)
(Manual, Amended, 06/18/2004)
6.12.060 Nuisances–Running at Large–Biting/Killing
A. Any canine or cat found in the City without a current license, as required by this chapter, that is also a dangerous canine or cat as set forth in Section 6.12.030 and/or any canine or cat running at large in violation of Sections 6.16.010 through 6.16.040 is declared a nuisance and shall be impounded.
B. Any licensed canine/cat found in the City to be without proper supervision and maintenance, or any licensed canine/cat disturbing the peace and quiet of any neighborhood as hereinabove set forth, or running at large in such manner as to endanger the personal property of any person is declared to be a nuisance and shall be impounded.
C. Any canine that has bitten or killed a person or has bitten or killed a dog, cat, domestic animal or livestock is declared a nuisance and may be ordered destroyed by the court. (Ord. 1224 (part), 2014: Ord. 1206 (part), 2013: Ord. 946 2004)
(Manual, Amended, 06/18/2004)
6.12.070 Vaccination
All canines/cats four (4) months of age or older kept in the City shall be required to have a current certificate issued by a licensed veterinarian showing the canine/cat has been vaccinated for rabies. The certificate of vaccination shall indicate an effective immunization against rabies for at least twelve (12) months from the date of application for the license. This certificate of vaccination must show owner’s name and address, canine/cat description, date of rabies vaccination, date revaccination is due; type, manufacturer and serial number of vaccine used, and must be signed by a veterinarian. This certificate shall be prerequisite to obtaining a license as required in Section 6.12.010. A veterinarian shall perform the vaccination.
It is unlawful for any owner or keeper of a canine or cat to violate this section. The first violation of this section shall constitute a Class 3 misdemeanor punishable pursuant to State statute. A subsequent violation shall constitute a Class 1 misdemeanor. (Ord. 1224 (part), 2014: Ord. 1142 (part), 2011; Ord. 946 2004)
(Manual, Amended, 06/18/2004)
6.12.080 Notice
When a canine/cat is impounded, the Humane Services Manager or Humane Services officer shall immediately give written notice to the owner or keeper thereof, if known, by mailing a copy of the notice addressed to the canine/cat owner or keeper at the address listed upon the registration certificate or at the owner’s or keeper’s last known address. The notices shall specify that if such unlicensed canine/cat is not redeemed within five (5) days of the date of said notice, the canine/cat may be sold or destroyed. Licensed canines/cats left unclaimed after six (6) days may be sold or destroyed. Any stray canine/cat impounded whose owner cannot be located shall be retained by the City’s animal control facility for three (3) days, not including days closed or holidays and then may be sold or destroyed. (Ord. 1224 (part), 2014: Ord. 946 2004)
(Manual, Amended, 06/18/2004)
6.12.090 Redemption of Cats–Fees
The owner or keeper of any cat impounded hereunder may redeem the same by paying the charges that have accrued up to the time of making the redemption, and when the same are paid to the City’s animal shelter, it shall be the duty of the shelter to release the cat and deliver him/her to the owner or keeper. (Ord. 1224 (part), 2014: Ord. 946 2004)
(Manual, Amended, 06/18/2004)
6.12.100 Disposition of Impounded Canines/Cats
Any canine/cat not redeemed by the owner or keeper within six (6) days after notice has been given by the Humane Services Supervisor, the Humane Services Manager or his/her Humane Services officer(s), shall be destroyed or sold. The Humane Services Supervisor shall report the number of canines and cats so killed and removed under his/her supervision at least once a month to the Humane Services Manager. (Ord. 1224 (part), 2014: Ord. 946 2004)
(Manual, Amended, 06/18/2004)
6.12.110 Violations–Penalties
Any person who is found to have been the owner or caretaker of a canine when the canine committed an act constituting a nuisance as defined in Section 6.12.060(C) shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. The canine committing said act may also be ordered destroyed by the court. Any person who is found to have been the owner or caretaker of a canine when the canine committed an act constituting a nuisance as defined in Section 6.12.060(A) and/or (B) shall be guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor. (Ord. 1224 (part), 2014: Ord. 1206 (part), 2013)