Chapter 6.14
CRUELTY TO ANIMALS
Sections:
6.14.010 Definitions – Construction.
6.14.020 Certain acts as cruelty.
6.14.030 Transporting or confining in cruel manner.
6.14.040 Confinement without food and water.
6.14.050 Old or diseased animals at large.
6.14.010 Definitions – Construction.
A. As used in this chapter:
1. “Animal” includes every living creature, except man.
2. “Owner” and “person” means and includes corporations as well as individuals.
3. “Torture,” “torment” and “cruelty” mean and include every act, omission, or neglect whereby unnecessary or unjustifiable physical pain or suffering is caused or permitted.
B. The knowledge and acts of agents of and persons employed by corporations in regard to animals transported, owned or employed by, or in the custody of such corporations, shall be held to be the act and knowledge of such corporations as well as of such agents or employees. (Ord. 2008-10 § 2).
6.14.020 Certain acts as cruelty.
Every person who tortures, torments, deprives of necessary sustenance, cruelly beats, mutilates or cruelly kills, or causes, procures, authorizes, requests or encourages to be so tortured, tormented, deprived of necessary sustenance, cruelly beaten or mutilated or cruelly killed, any animal; and whoever, having the charge or custody of any animal, either as owner or otherwise, inflicts unnecessary suffering or pain upon the same, or unnecessarily fails to provide the same with the proper food, drink, air, light, space, shelter or protection from the weather, or who cruelly abandons any animal, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. (Ord. 2008-10 § 2).
6.14.030 Transporting or confining in cruel manner.
Any person who willfully transports or confines or causes to be transported or confined any domestic animal or animals in a cruel or unnecessarily painful manner, posture or confinement shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. Whenever any such person shall be taken into custody to be subject to arrest pursuant to a valid warrant therefor by any officer or authorized person, such officer or person may take charge of the animal or animals; and any necessary expense thereof shall be a lien thereon to be paid before the animal or animals may be recovered. If the expense is not paid, it may be recovered from the owner of the animal or the person guilty of a violation of this section. (Ord. 2008-10 § 2).
6.14.040 Confinement without food and water.
Any person who impounds or confines or causes to be impounded or confined any domestic animal, shall supply the same during such confinement with a sufficient quantity of good and wholesome food and water, and in default thereof shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. (Ord. 2008-10 § 2).
6.14.050 Old or diseased animals at large.
Every sick, disabled, infirm or crippled domestic animal which is abandoned in the city shall be taken into custody by the animal control officer, and if unclaimed by the owner within the period of time as set forth in GMC 6.04.090, shall be disposed of in accordance with such section. (Ord. 2008-10 § 2).
6.14.060 Poisoning animals.
It is unlawful for any person to willfully or maliciously poison any domestic animal; provided, that the provisions of this section shall not apply to the killing by poison of such animal under permit for nuisance birds or the killing of such animal in a lawful and humane manner by the owner thereof, or by a duly authorized servant or agent of such owner, or by a person acting pursuant to instructions from a duly constituted public authority. Any nuisance bird killed shall be disposed of in a safe manner as determined by the chief of police. (Ord. 2008-10 § 2).
6.14.070 Violation – Penalty.
Any person convicted of a violation of this chapter shall be punished by a fine of not more than $1,000 or sentenced to jail for a period of not more than 90 days or both such fine and jail term. (Ord. 2008-10 § 2).