Sec. 2.201Β Unlawful Possession
It shall be unlawful for any person to own, keep, possess or harbor any animal in the city, except as provided in this chapter, and any failure, neglect or refusal to comply with the provisions of this chapter or any act or omission contrary to the terms hereof shall be deemed a violation hereof.
Sec. 2.202Β Kennels Prohibited
(a)Β No boarding of animals or animal kennels is permitted.
(b)Β It is unlawful for anyone to keep or harbor more than three (3) dogs and three (3) cats on any property within the city.
Sec. 2.203Β Wild Animals*
(a)Β Wild animals as used in this section shall mean and include any wild mammal, amphibian, reptile or fowl which is not naturally tame or gentle but is of wild nature or disposition and which, because of its size, vicious nature, or other characteristics, would constitute a danger to human life or property. Such animals shall include but not be limited to lions, tigers, leopards, panthers, bears, wolves, foxes, elephants, rhinoceroses, alligators, crocodiles and all other forms of poisonous reptiles and other like animals.
(b)Β It is unlawful for anyone to keep or harbor any wild animals within the city limits.
(Ordinance 0707 adopted 10/9/07)
Sec. 2.204Β Impoundment of Animals
(a)Β It shall be unlawful for the owner, harborer, keeper or custodian of any dog to permit such dog to run at-large upon the streets, alleys, or any public place within the city or upon the property of another without the property ownerβs consent. A dog shall at all times be under the control of the owner, a member of the ownerβs family, or an employee or agent of said owner(s) by means of a leash or lead of sufficient strength and length to control the dogβs actions. At all other times, a dog shall be confined to the premises of the owner by a substantial fence of sufficient strength and height to prevent the dog from escaping, or inside the house of the owner or secured on the premises of the owner by a tether of sufficient strength.
(b)Β Unrestrained dogs and nuisance animals may be taken by the code enforcement officer or the cityβs contracted animal control personnel and impounded in an animal shelter, and there be confined in a humane manner, at the ownerβs, harborerβs, keeperβs, or custodianβs expense.
(c)Β In addition to, or in lieu of impounding and keeping of an animal found at-large, the code enforcement officer may issue written ordinance violation notice to the known owner of such animal. Such notice shall impose upon the owner a penalty as prescribed in the Code of Ordinances fee schedule, and it must be paid to the city within seventy-two (72) hours from the date such notice is mailed or delivered to the residence. In the event that such penalty is not paid within the time period prescribed, a citation may be initiated by the code enforcement officer.
(d)Β Upon receiving a report that an animal has bitten or is suspected of having bitten a human, the code enforcement officer shall direct the owner of the animal by written notice to impound the animal with a licensed veterinarian. The owner of the animal shall impound said animal and present to the code enforcement department a written receipt from a licensed veterinarian within twenty-four (24) hours of such direction. If the owner of the animal cannot be readily determined, the code enforcement officer may impound such dog with a licensed veterinarian for a period of ten (10) days or take such other action as may be necessary to determine whether the animal has rabies. The cost of the impoundment shall be paid by the owner of the animal. In the event the owner of the animal cannot be found, the cost of impounding shall be paid by the party bitten or his or her agent.
Sec. 2.205Β Disposition of Impounded Dogs, Cats, and Other Animals
(a)Β Impounded dogs and cats shall be kept for not fewer than three (3) working days.
(b)Β Any animal not reclaimed by its owner within three (3) working days shall become the property of the city at the cityβs discretion and shall be placed for adoption in a suitable home or humanely euthanized.
