MARCH PET CORNER

Well it has been a busy time for the Animal Control Department and with this Pet Corner I would like to try and explain to pet owners in the City about the certain responsibilities that are mandated by the City for the privilege of owning a pet.

The City of Barnesville has a set of Ordinances that mandate certain things, which as pet owners we have to do.

?Section 1: Running at large prohibited

No dog or cat shall be permitted to run at large within the limits of the City.

This restriction does not prohibit the appearance of any dog or cat upon the streets or public property when the dog or cat is on a leash and is kept under the control of the person charged with its care.  A leash must not exceed six feet in length if off the owner?s property?

This section is pretty self-explanatory when ?Fido? goes out of the door, and decides to go across the street to visit ?Fifi? he is violating this ordinance, which could cost you as the owner a citation.

?Section 2: Licenses

A. License required- No person shall keep any dog or cat over the age of six months within the City without securing an annual license therefore from the clerk, who shall keep a record of all licenses issued and shall issue a metal tag for each license.

B. The annual license fee shall be $5.00 for each neutered, spayed or desexed dog or cat or $10.00 for each dog or cat, which is not neutered, spayed or desexed.  All dogs must be inoculated against rabies every two years and cats every 12 months.  Veterinarians certificated will be required for rabies inoculation and to prove the desexing of animals.  Animals must wear license and rabies inoculation tags at all times.

C.Affixing the tag- The owner shall permanently affix the tag to the collar of the dog or cat so licensed in such a manner that the tag may be easily seen.  The owner shall see that the tag is constantly worn by the dog or cat.?

Licenses help support the Animal Control Department, and are a tool used to find the pet?s owner.  Licenses are available at City Hall, the Police Department, Animal Control Department, Barnesville Animal Care Clinic and Pretty Pet Grooming

Section 3: Pet Nuisances

The owner or custodian of any pet shall prevent the pet from committing the city any act, which constitutes a nuisance.  It is a nuisance for any animal to habitually or frequently bark or cry at night, to frequent school grounds, parks or public beaches, to chase vehicles, to molest or annoy any person away from the property of his owner or custodian, or to damage, defile or destroy public or private property.  Failure of the owner or custodian of a pet to prevent the pet from committing such a nuisance is in violation of this ordinance.

This section applies to dogs that constantly bark

Section 4: Confinement of certain pets

Any pet, which bites a person, shall be quarantined for such a time as may be directed by the City Health Officer.  During the quarantine the animal shall be securely confined and kept from contact with any other animal.  At the discretion of the Health officer the quarantine may be on the premises of the owner; however, if the health Officer requires other confinement the owner shall surrender the animal for the quarantine period to an animal shelter or shall, at his own expense, place it in a veterinary hospital.

Section 5:

Proceedings for destruction of certain pets:

Upon sworn complaint to the County Court that any one of the following facts exists

A.That any animal at any time has destroyed property or habitually trespasses in a damaging manner on the property, of persons other than the owner;

B. That any pet at any time has attacked or bitten a person outside the owners or custodians premises;

C. That any pet is vicious or shows vicious habits or molests pedestrians or interferes with vehicles on the public streets; or

D.That any pet is a public nuisance as heretofore defined; the Judge shall issue a summons directed to the owner of the pet commanding him to appear before the court to show cause why the pet should not be seized by any police officer or otherwise disposed of in a manner authorized in this section. Such a summons shall be returnable not less than two (2) nor more than six (6) days from the date thereof and shall be served at least two days before the time of the scheduled appearance. Upon such hearing and finding the facts true as complained of, the Court may either order the pet destroyed or order the owner or custodian to remove it from the City or may order the owner or custodian to keep it confined to a designated place. If the owner or custodian violates such order, any police officer may impound the pet described in such order.

Costs of the proceedings specified by this section shall be assessed against the owner or custodian of the pet if the facts in the complaint are found to be true; or to the complainant if the facts are found to be untrue.

Section 6 : Impounding

A.Any dog or cat found unlicensed or running at large contrary to the provisions of this ordinance may be impounded by any police officer who shall give notice of the impounding to the owner of such dog or cat if known. If the owner is unknown the officer shall post notice at the City Hall that if the dog or cat is not claimed within five (5) days of the posting of the notice it will be disposed of

B. Redemption ? Any dog or cat may be redeemed from the pound by the owner within the time stated in the notice by the payment to the clerk of the license fee of the current year, if unpaid, together with an impounding fee of twenty five dollars ($25.00) and a charge for all costs incurred by the city in connection with impounding the dog or cat and caring for it until redemption. The $25.00 fine shall double for the second violation within a calendar year and each subsequent violation within a calendar year shall double the previous fine.

Animals impounded are taken to the impound facility. A picture is taken of the animal and a notice is posted on the green bulletin board, with a photo, description of the animal and location of pick up. Please locate this board and if your pet goes missing check this board and contact either a Police or Animal control officer.

Section 7 : Disposition of Unclaimed Dogs or Cats.

Any dog or cat which is not redeemed within the time specified in subdivision 6 (a) may be sold for not less then the amount provided in that subdivision to anyone desiring to purchase the dog or cat if it is not requested by a licensed education or scientific institution under Minnesota statues section 35.71 . All sums received in addition to the fees fixed by subdivision (b) shall be paid to the owner if he makes a claim within one year of the sale and furnishes satisfactory proof of ownership. Any dog or cat, which is not claimed by the owner or sold, shall be painlessly destroyed and buried at the owner?s expense.

By State law the City must make unclaimed animals available to education and scientific institutions?.

Section 8 : Pound

The pound shall be either (a) provided by the City within the city limits of Barnesville; or (b) contracted for by the City to any other facility capable of providing pound services.

The City has a new impound facility that was built in January of 2001.  It is located by the Public Works Building.  It is a small green and white building with dog runs on the south side.  It can impound 4 dogs and 4 cats at this time.  Look for the open house at the impound facility this spring.

Section 9 : Penalties

Any person violating the terms of this ordinance is guilty of a petty misdemeanor.

A petty misdemeanor can carry a fine of up to $100.00 plus court costs.

The Judge determines this amount.

I hope to those residents that were unaware of the pet ordinances, this will help.   Julie and I hope that you can understand that as Animal control officers for the City it is our job to enforce these ordinances to make the City free from stray and lost animals.

Remember, ? leash them, License them and love them?