DOG and CAT REGULATION
and LICENSING
section 10.02
A. “At Large” Off the premises of the owner and is neither controlled by a
leash, command of owner of suitable age, nor confined in a vehicle or cage.
B. “Cat” Domesticated feline animals, male or female, whole or neutered.
C. “Dog” Domesticated dog, male or female, whole or neutered.
D. “Potentially Dangerous Dog” Dog that when unprovoked, bites a human or domestic animal; chases or approaches a person on foot or on bicycle, on the streets, sidewalks in an attitude of attack; or has a tendency to attack, causing injury or threatening the safety of humans or domestic animals.
E. “Dangerous Dog” Dog that has, without provocation, inflicted substantial bodily harm on a human being, killed a domestic animal while off the owner’s property, bitten a person or domestic animal more than once, or chased or approached a person on any public property to attack, on two or more occasions.
F. “Substantial Bodily Harm” Bodily injury involving substantial disfigurement, fracture, loss or impairment of function of any bodily member or organ.
Running at Large Prohibited. It is unlawful for the owner of any dog or cat to permit animal to run at large. A police or animal control officer may seize, impound or restrain any dog or cat found running at large.
Dog and Cat License Required. It is unlawful for the owner of any dog or cat, 6 months of age or more, to keep animal in the City without a City license.
Application. Application for a dog or cat license shall be supplied by the City and accompanied by a certificate of a veterinarian which states that the animal is inoculated against rabies for at least the period for which the license is applied.
Period and Fees. All dog and cat licenses shall expire on January 1st of each license year or six months after the dog or cat’s birth.
Tag Required. On payment of license fee, the City will give one tag to owner of dog or cat. It is unlawful for the owner of the animal to fail to have tag firmly affixed to a collar which shall at all times be kept on animal. Tags are non-transferable. No refund shall be made on any license when leaving the City or death of animal before license expires.
Impoundment. Police or animal control officers may seize, impound or restrain an unlicensed dog or cat, or one without a tag attached to a collar found in the City. To enforce this Section, said officers are empowered and instructed to enter upon any public or private property on which they have reasonable cause to believe there is a dog or cat that is not licensed or tagged.
Disposition of Impounded Dogs and Cats
Notice of Impounding. The officer who seized, impounded or restrained any
dog or cat shall notify the owner. If the owner cannot be ascertained, then the officer shall make available to the Police Department, City Hall and impounding kennel for public inspection the following information: 1) a description of the dog,
2) location of impoundment, and 3) the condition for its release.
Redemption. All dogs and cats seized, impounded or restrained must be held by the pound master for redemption by the owner for at least 5 regular business days. If an owner then does not claim the animal, rights of redemption can be waived and the animal may be disposed. An impounded dog or cat shall be released to their owners: 1) If animal is owned by a City resident, after payment of impound fees, and, if necessary, purchase of a license. 2) If animal is not owned by a City resident, proof of rabies immunization must be shown plus payment of impound fee.
Disposition of Unclaimed Dogs and Cats. Any animal not claimed within the five-day period must be made available to any licensed institution which has requested the animal. If a tag on the animal, or by statement of owner declares animal not be used for research, the animal must not be made available to any such institution and may, be sold or destroyed in a proper and humane manner .
Animal Pound Records. Accurate record of time of impoundment shall be kept on each animal and preserved for a minimum of 6 months and shall show description, seized location and date, name and address of the person from whom any animal was received and name and address of the person to whom any animal was transferred.
Public Nuisance
A. Unlawful Acts. It is unlawful for the owner of any dog or cat to: 1) permit animal to habitually bark, cry, whimper, howl, whine, or emit any other loud or unusual noises, 2) permit animal to damage or defecate on private or public property, or, 3) interfere with an officer or City employee in the performance of duty.
B. Impoundment. An animal control or police officer may seize, impound or restrain any dog or cat which has been permitted to habitually bark, cry, whimper, howl, whine or emit any other loud or unusual noise for a period of two or more hours whenever the owner of such animal cannot be immediately located or has failed, upon order, to prevent animal from making noise.