Chapter 6.05
DOGS
Sections:
6.05.010 License application and issuance.
6.05.030 Police or animal control officers – Duty to make reports.
6.05.040 Police or animal control officers – Complaint response.
6.05.050 Dogs running at large.
6.05.060 Disposal of dog waste.
6.05.110 Number of dogs and cats allowed per household.
6.05.010 License application and issuance.
It is unlawful for any person or persons to own or harbor any dog over the age of eight weeks within the corporate limits of the city of Coulee Dam unless such person or persons shall first procure a license therefor as provided in this chapter. It is, however, a defense to this section if the dog or dogs are in town on a temporary basis, not to exceed two weeks, and have prior written documentation from the animal control officer or his designee of when the dog or dogs are to be in town and when they are to be removed. (Ord. 821 § 1, 2024; Ord. 359 § 3, 1988. Formerly 6.05.030)
6.05.020 License fees.
The license fee shall be in the sum of $5.00 for every neutered or fixed dog and the sum of $10.00 for every dog that has not been neutered or fixed. Upon proof that the dog has been neutered or fixed (or not) and payment of the required license fee to the city clerk, the city clerk shall issue a license to the party making application therefor. The license shall expire on the first day of January next succeeding the date of the issuance thereof and the time fixed for the issuing of a license shall commence on the first day of January of each year, and no license shall be issued to expire at any other time than the date set forth in this section. The license fee set forth in this section shall be paid in full for any year or part thereof. The city clerk shall, together with such license, furnish a suitable tag which shall be worn by the dog for which such license is issued and shall be fastened to such dog in such manner that it can easily be inspected at all times by city authorities. Lost tags will be replaced by the city clerk upon payment of an additional fee of $2.00. The city clerk shall keep a record of the names of all persons to whom such licenses are issued with the number of each license. (Ord. 821 § 1, 2024)
6.05.030 Police or animal control officers – Duty to make reports.
It shall be the duty of the police officers and/or animal control officers designated by the city to enforce this chapter. The police officers and/or animal control officers designated by the city shall make reports. (Ord. 821 § 1, 2024)
6.05.040 Police or animal control officers – Complaint response.
Police officers and/or animal control officers designated by the city shall respond to all complaints received by them concerning any dog that has bitten or attacked any person or domestic animal or has damaged property. Any dog which has bitten any person shall be confined for observation purposes for not less than 14 days at such place and in such manner as directed by the police officers and/or animal control officers designated by the city. If such dog is impounded, the owner or person in control of the dog shall be civilly liable for the storage fees, penalty and/or disposal costs. (Ord. 821 § 1, 2024)
6.05.050 Dogs running at large.
(1) Every owner or person having control of a dog or dogs shall exercise proper care and control of the animal to prevent the animal from becoming a public nuisance. Molesting passersby, chasing vehicles, attacking other domestic animals and/or damaging property shall be deemed a nuisance and it is unlawful for the owner or custodian of a dog to allow such a nuisance to exist.
(2) Further, it is unlawful for any owner or custodian of a dog or dogs to allow the dog or dogs off their property, or other property the dog or dogs have a legal right to be on, without being controlled by a leash, not to exceed eight feet in length, or under the direct supervision of a reasonable person. Under no circumstances can the dog or dogs be any further than 10 feet from the person supervising the dog or dogs and under no circumstances may they be allowed on other person’s private property without the property owner’s permission. (Ord. 826 § 1, 2024; Ord. 821 § 1, 2024; Ord. 359 § 2, 1988. Formerly 6.05.020)
6.05.060 Disposal of dog waste.
(1) It shall be unlawful for the owner or person having charge of any dog or dogs to permit, either willfully or by failure to exercise due care, such animal to commit a public nuisance by defecating in any area of the city other than the premises of the owner or person having charge or control of the animal, unless said owner or person having charge takes immediate steps to remove and properly dispose of said feces.
(2) It shall be unlawful for the owner or person having charge of any dog or other animal to take said dog or animal off of the private property of said person without having in the possession of the owner or person having charge of the dog or animal proper means of disposal for the feces of the dog.
(3) “Disposal” is defined, for the purposes of this section, as the removal of feces by means of a bag, scoop or other device and an eventual disposal in a trash receptacle, by burying or by other means of lawful disposal. (Ord. 821 § 1, 2024; Ord. 359 § 5, 1988. Formerly 6.05.050)
6.05.070 Living conditions.
All pens, kennels, yards and other premises where animals are confined or kept for private or commercial purposes shall be maintained in a clean condition so as to avoid unhealthy conditions for the animals or the accumulation of animal waste. All animal waste shall be picked up and disposed of in a proper manner at least one time per week, weather permitting. When weather makes it unreasonable or impossible to pick up and dispose of the waste, the waste must be picked up and disposed of in a proper manner as soon as weather permits. (Ord. 821 § 1, 2024)
6.05.080 Impoundment.
Any dog found running at large, contrary to the provisions of this chapter, within the corporate limits of the city shall be subject to seizure by any police officer or any other city authority designated by the city for the purpose of seizing such dogs.
(1) If the dog is licensed and wearing a current license tag when apprehended, the police officer and/or animal control officer shall at their discretion take the dog back to the owner of record or impound the dog and notify the owner of impoundment. After any such seizure, a written record thereof shall be kept in a record book for that purpose at the city clerk’s office, which record shall give a general description of such dog, and such dog so seized shall be held for a period of 48 hours from the time of impounding, exclusive of holidays and weekends, during which time the owner of such dog, upon establishing ownership of such dog, may recover the same by purchasing a license for such dog if none has been issued and paying the impoundment fee and boarding fee as set by the city, to be paid at the city clerk’s office. The impound fee will be doubled each time that such dog is impounded. The owner, by paying such impound fee, shall not thereafter be immune from prosecution under this chapter.
(2) If such dog is not claimed within 48 hours, exclusive of holidays and weekends, from the time of impounding, the dog may be disposed of as directed by the city. If the owner of the dog is found and requests that the city dispose of the dog as the city sees fit, a disposal fee as set by the city will be due if the city has to dispose of the dog, payable at the city clerk’s office. Any funds received from the sale of such dogs, in addition to the cost of boarding such dogs, shall be placed in the current expense fund of the city. (Ord. 821 § 1, 2024; Ord. 359 § 7, 1988. Formerly 6.05.070)
6.05.090 Nuisance.
It shall be unlawful for an owner or custodian of any dog to keep or harbor any dog or other animal, which, by frequent or habitual howling, yelping, barking or the making of other noises, shall annoy or disturb any person. For a police officer or animal control officer to issue a citation, (s)he must be called to respond to the area to verify that a nuisance exists. In the alternative, a complaint may be filed by two or more persons of separate households of any frequent, repetitive or continuous noise made by any animal which unreasonably disturbs or interferes with the peace, comfort and repose of property owners or possessors; provided, that notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, if the owner or other person having custody of the animal cannot, with reasonable inquiry, be located by the investigating officer, or if the animal is a repeat violator of this section, the animal shall be impounded by the animal control authority or their designee, subject to redemption in the manner provided by this chapter. (Ord. 821 § 1, 2024; Ord. 359 § 6, 1988. Formerly 6.05.060)
6.05.100 Restricted areas.
All animals are prohibited from entering any public area designated and posted as restricted. It is also a violation to have or keep an animal on public property not posted, when asked to remove such animal by person of authority. (Ord. 821 § 1, 2024)
6.05.110 Number of dogs and cats allowed per household.
The total maximum number of dogs and cats per household will not exceed four, of which no more than two shall be dogs. (Ord. 821 § 1, 2024)
6.05.120 Service dogs.
Service dogs are dogs that are used by enforcement agencies and the physically disabled. All service dogs shall be exempt from all the provisions of this chapter, with the exception of CDMC 6.05.110. (Ord. 821 § 1, 2024)
6.05.130 Violation – Penalty.
Any person violating the provisions of this chapter shall have committed a civil infraction and shall be subject to a fine at the rate as set forth in this section.
(1) CDMC 6.05.010, failure to license dog. First offense, $50.00 plus state assessments; second offense, $100.00 plus state assessments; and for each subsequent offense $150.00 plus state assessments.
(2) CDMC 6.05.050, Dogs running at large.
(a) Dogs running at large. First offense, $50.00 plus state assessments; second offense, $100.00 plus state assessments; and for each subsequent offense, $150.00 plus state assessments.
(b) Dogs off property without being on a leash or leash of proper length; or under direct supervision of a reasonable person; or on other person’s private property. First offense, $50.00 plus state assessments; second offense, $100.00 plus state assessments; and for each subsequent offense, $150.00 plus state assessments.
(3) CDMC 6.05.060, Disposal of dog waste.
(a) Animal defecating in any area of the city and failure to clean up. First offense, $50.00 plus state assessments; second offense, $100.00 plus state assessments; and for each subsequent offense, $150.00 plus state assessments.
(b) Failure to have proper means of disposal for animal feces or improper disposal of feces. First offense, $50.00 plus state assessments; second offense, $100.00 plus state assessments; and for each subsequent offense, $150.00 plus state assessments.
(4) CDMC 6.05.070, living conditions of dogs; failure to pick up dog feces or dispose of in a proper manner. First offense, $50.00 plus state assessments; second offense, $100.00 plus state assessments; and for each subsequent offense, $150.00 plus state assessments.
(5) CDMC 6.05.090, nuisance; disturbing the peace by habitual howling, yelping, barking or the making of other noises. First offense, $50.00 plus state assessments; second offense, $100.00 plus state assessments; and for each subsequent offense, $150.00 plus state assessments.
(6) CDMC 6.05.100, restricted areas; animals entering prohibited area. First offense, $50.00 plus state assessments; second offense, $100.00 plus state assessments; and for each subsequent offense, $150.00 plus state assessments.
(7) CDMC 6.05.110, number of dogs and cats allowed per household. First offense, $50.00 plus state assessments; second offense, $100.00 plus state assessments; and for each subsequent offense, $150.00 plus state assessments. (Ord. 821 § 1, 2024; Ord. 359 § 8, 1988. Formerly 6.05.080)