Chapter 205. Animal Regulations

Article I. Generally
Section 205.040. Owner Required To Control Animal.
[Ord. No. 800-12 §1(4-3), 12-19-2012]

A.All animals, except cats, shall be kept under restraint.

B.No owner shall fail to exercise proper care and control of his or her animals to prevent them from becoming a public nuisance. The owner of every animal shall be held responsible for every behavior of such animal under the provisions of this Chapter.

C.All animals, while on the premises of its owner's real property, shall be kept in such a manner that such animals shall not become at large, as follows:

1.Confined in a building or secure structure or enclosure in such a manner so that such animal shall remain confined or secured therein and shall not become at large;

2.Confined behind a fence or other enclosure of sufficient height, strength and construction so as to prevent the animal confined therein from jumping over, through or crawling under such fence or other enclosure and so that such animal shall not become at large;

3.Secured by a chain, tether or leash or other type of restraint of sufficient length and strength so that such animal is at all times wholly on the owner's real property and shall not become at large; or

4.Any combination of the requirements of (1), (2) and (3) above so that such animal shall not become at large.

The Health Officer shall have the authority to require any owner of any animal to take any of the actions required hereunder as may be deemed appropriate by the Health Officer so as to prevent
any animal from becoming at large.

Section 205.050. Exception To Section 205.040(A), Restraint.

[Ord. No. 800-12 §1(4-4), 12-19-2012]

The provisions of Section 205.040(A) shall not apply to dogs being used in hunting, field trials and dog shows while on public lands set aside for those purposes, while on the private property of others with the actual, implied, customary or constructive consent of the owner of such private premises, or while on Federal, State, municipal or County roads or highways, in a rural area, while going to or coming from a hunting, field trial or dog show site; nor shall the provisions or prohibitions in Section 205.040(A) apply to bloodhounds or other dogs used for tracking in conjunction with police activities nor to dogs of the canine corps of any Police Force, the State Highway Patrol, any Federal Law Enforcement Agency, or the Armed Forces of the United States, while being used to conduct official business or being used for official purposes; provided however, that the dog bears a vaccination tag as required by Section 205.270 of this Chapter.

Section 205.060. Confinement of Female Animals in Heat.

[Ord. No. 800-12 §1(4-5), 12-19-2012]

Every unneutered female animal when in heat shall be confined in a building or secure enclosure in such a manner that such female animal cannot come into contact with another animal except for planned breeding.

Section 205.080. Violation of Sections 205.040 Through 205.070 — Fines.

[Ord. No. 800-12 §1(4-7), 12-19-2012; Ord. No. 804-13, 1-16-2013]

A.In the prosecution charging a violation of Sections 205.040 through 205.070, proof that an animal was running at large in violation of said Sections, together with proof that the defendant named in the complaint was, at the time described in the complaint, the person who owned such animal, shall constitute a prima facie presumption sufficient for conviction that the owner of such animal was the person that permitted such animal to run at large.

B.Failure to comply with the provisions of such Sections shall subject the owner to a fine not exceeding five hundred dollars ($500.00) or imprisonment for not more than ninety (90) days, or both, and may be adjudged to pay the costs of prosecution.

Information on applying for a dog/cat license can be found HERE.