For the purposes of this chapter, the following words and phrases shall mean:

(a)   Abandon - includes the leaving of an animal by its owner or other person responsible for its care or custody without making effective provisions for its proper care.

(b)   Allow or Permit – in addition to their common meanings, shall also include any failure to take reasonable proactive measures to restrict the animal from engaging in any activity prohibited by this Chapter.

(c)   Animal - means all vertebrate and invertebrate animals such as but not limited to bovine cattle, horses and other equines, hogs, goats, dogs, cats, rabbits, sheep, chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys, pigeons, and other fowl or wild animals, reptiles, fish, bees or birds that have been tamed, domesticated or captivated.

(d)   Animal Shelter - means the facility or facilities operated by the city or its authorized agents for the purpose of impounding or caring for animals under the authority of this chapter or state law.

(e)   At-large - means to be outside of the property of the owner(s) of the animal or other authorized person(s), and not under control by leash or lead of the owner(s) or other authorized person(s) capable of restraining the animal in areas outside of the owner’s or authorized person’s property. Animals tethered to a stationary object within range of public thoroughfares are deemed to be “At-large.”

(f)   Bite - means any actual or suspected abrasion, scratch, puncture, tear, bruise, or piercing of the skin, caused by any animal, which is actually or suspected of being contaminated or inoculated with the saliva from the animal, directly or indirectly, regardless of the health of the animal causing such bite.

(g)   Business day - means Monday through Friday but excluding official holidays recognized by the City (New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Day after Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day). Unless a provision in this Chapter specifically refers to “business” day, any reference to “day” shall mean a calendar day.

(h)   Cat - means any member of the species felis catus, regardless of sex.

(i)    Community Cat - means any free-roaming cat that may be cared for by one or more residents of the immediate area who is/are known or unknown; a community cat may or may not be feral. Community cats shall be distinguished from other cats by being sterilized and ear tipped; qualified community cats are exempt from licensing, stray and at-large provisions of this ordinance and may be exempt from other provisions directed toward owned animals.

(j)    Control - means the provision, ownership, care and/or custody of an animal or animals.

(k)   Dangerous or Vicious Animal - means any animal deemed to be dangerous or vicious per section 2-115.

(l)    Dog - means any member of the species canis familiaris, regardless of sex.

(m)  Domestic – means tame, usually by generations of breeding, and living in close a association with humans as a pet, work animal or farm animal in such a way that creates a dependency on humans so that the animal loses its ability to live in the wild.

(n)   Eartipping – means straight-line cutting of the tip of the left ear of a cat while the cat is anesthetized.

(o)   Feral - means a wild animal that exists in an untamed state or that has returned to an untamed state generally not socialized to human contact and is no longer considered domesticated. Feral animals shall include, but not be limited to cats and dogs.

(p)   Fowl - means all animals that are included in the zoological class aves, which shall include, but not limited to, chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys, guineas and pigeons.

(q)   Harbor - means any person who shall allow any animals to remain or lodge or to be fed within his or her home, store, yard, enclosure or place of business or any other premises where he or she resides or controls.

(r)    Humane Live Animal Trap - means any cage trap that upon activation encloses an animal without placing any physical restraint upon any part of the body of such animal.

(s)   Humanely Euthanize - means the proper injection of a substance that quickly and painlessly terminates the life of an animal, or any other method approved by the American Veterinary Medical Association or the American Humane Society.

(t)    Immediate Control - means the regulation and supervision by a competent person so that an animal is unable to run or get loose at will.

(u)   Kennel - means any establishment, commercial or otherwise, maintained for breeding, rearing, grooming, boarding, or otherwise harboring in an enclosure in one location only, six or more dogs.

(v)   Lake - shall include Big Creek, its wetlands and tributaries within the prescribed city limits of the City of Ellis, Kansas.

(w)  Livestock - includes, but is not limited to cattle, horses, goats, sheep or other animals commonly regarded or used as farm or ranch animals.

(x)   Neutered - means any male or female cat or dog that has been permanently rendered sterile.

(y)   Nuisance - means any act performed or permitted to occur (including permitted by lack of reasonable and appropriate action/control required for prevention) which injures or prevents another from enjoying his/her legal rights, in particular, the creation of conditions (including created by lack of reasonable and appropriate action/control required for prevention) leading to the excessive breeding of fleas or flies, odors or noises and other obnoxious circumstances caused by the keeping of animals.

(z)   Own - means and includes own, keep, harbor, shelter, manage, possess, or have a part interest in any animal. If a minor owns any such animal subject to the provisions of this chapter, the head of the household of which such minor is a member shall be deemed to own such animal for the purposes of this chapter.

(aa) Owner - means the one who owns, or his or her employee, agent, or other competent person into whose charge an animal has been placed by the actual owner as described in subsection (q) above.

(bb) Physical Control - means adequate domination or power to influence/suppress the actions of the animal to prevent the animal from engaging in biting, aggression towards people or animals, straying, being at-large or other behaviors regulated by this ordinance by the use of a proper leash or similar device attached to an appropriate collar or harness.

(cc) Vaccination - means an injection of a vaccine, approved by the State Board of Public Health and administered by a licensed veterinarian for the purpose of immunizing an animal against rabies.

(dd) Veterinarian - means a doctor of veterinary medicine licensed by the State of Kansas.

(ee) Waterfowl - includes domestic and wild ducks, geese, cormorants, grebes and like avian species.

(ff)  Willful Feeding - shall include any regular, habitual or incidental placing of foods such as whole corn, cracked corn or bread on the ground, in the river or in a ground or water feeder as may be accessible by waterfowl.

(Ord. 1185; Ord. 1197, Sec 2; Code 2005; Ord. 1467)

(a)   There is hereby created the position of animal control officer for the city and such officer shall be charged with the enforcement of this chapter. Any person employed by the city as an animal control officer and commissioned by the chief of police of the city shall have such powers and authority as allowed by law in the enforcement of this chapter. All animal control officers shall be subject to the supervision and direction of the chief of police of the city.

(b)   Except as provided in subsection (c), it shall be the duty of the animal control officer to take up and impound all animals found in the city in violation of the provisions of this chapter.

(c)   As an alternative to the provisions of subsection (b) of this section, any law enforcement officer or the animal control officer may issue a citation to the owner, harborer or keeper of an animal in violation of this chapter, and the person receiving the citation shall appear in the municipal court of the city to answer the charged violation of this chapter.

(Code 1990; Ord. 1373)

When deemed necessary by law enforcement officers or the animal control officer for the health, safety and welfare of the residents of the city, such officers and/or their agents may:

(a)   Place a humane trap on public or a requesting resident’s property for the purpose of capturing any animal defined in this chapter as creating a nuisance in the city;

(b)   Use any tranquilizer guns, humane traps, or other suitable devices to subdue and capture any animal that is deemed by the animal control officer, in his or her discretion, to be of a danger to itself or to the public health and safety.

(c)   Use firearms or other suitable weapons to destroy any rabid animal, any vicious animal as defined in section 2-115, or any animal creating a nuisance as defined in section 2-111, where such animal is impossible or impractical to catch, capture or tranquilize.

(Code 1990)

(a)   The animal control officer or any law enforcement officer shall have the right of entry upon any private unenclosed lots or lands for the purpose of collecting any animal whose presence thereupon is a violation of this chapter.

(b)   It shall be unlawful for any person to interfere with the animal control officer in the exercise of his or her duties.

(Code 1968, 2-102; Code 1990)

A municipal pound shall be established to carry out the provisions of this chapter. Such a pound may be operated by a contractor and all services required herein may be provided by a contractor. When so contracted, the pound shall have the following services and facilities as a minimum:

(a)   Adequate pickup and impounding of all stray and ownerless dogs and cats and animals otherwise in violation of the provisions of this chapter.

(b)   Group holding facilities for stray, ownerless and unvaccinated animals impounded for violation of the provisions of this chapter.

(c)   Individual isolation facilities for sick, biting, rabid and suspected rabid animals.

(Code 1968, 2-312; Code 1990)

(a)   It shall be unlawful for any unauthorized person to open, unlock, break open or attempt to break open the pound, or to take or let out any animal placed therein, or take or attempt to take from an authorized officer of this city any animal taken up by him or her under the provisions of this chapter, or in any manner interfere with or hinder any authorized officer or employee of this city in catching, taking up, or impounding any animal.

(b)   It shall be unlawful for any person or persons, other than those duly authorized, to care for, feed, attempt to feed, or interfere in any way with the care of impounded animals.

(Code 1968, 2-316; Code 1990)

It shall be unlawful for any person to:

(a)   Willfully or maliciously kill, maim, disfigure, torture; beat with a stick, 2-3 chain, club or other object; mutilate, poison, burn or scald with any substance; or otherwise cruelly set upon any animals, except that reasonable force may be employed to drive off vicious animals;

(b)   Drive or work any animal cruelly or cruelly work any maimed, mutilated, infirm, sick or disabled animal, or cause, allow or permit the same to be done;

(c)   Have, keep or harbor any animal which is infected with any dangerous or incurable and/or painfully crippling condition except as provided in section 2- 108.

(d)   Sell or offer for sale, barter, give away, or use as an advertising device or promotional display, living baby chicks, rabbits, ducklings or other fowl under two months of age in any quantity less than 12; or to sell, offer for sale, barter, give away, or display animals or fowls as specified in this section which have been dyed, colored or otherwise treated so as to impart to them an artificial or unnatural color. This section shall not be construed to prohibit the sale of animals or fowls as specified in this subsection, in proper facilities, by hatcheries or persons engaged in raising and selling such animals and fowls for recognized animal husbandry purposes;

(e)   Promote, stage, hold, manage, or in any way conduct any game, exhibition, contest or fight in which one or more animals are engaged for the purpose of injuring, killing, maiming, or destroying themselves or any other animal;

(f)   Neglect or refuse to supply such animal with necessary and adequate care, food, drink, air, light, space, shelter or protection from the elements as necessary for health and well-being of such kind of animal.

(g)   Abandon or leave any animal in any place without making provisions for its proper care;

(h)   These provisions shall not apply to the exceptions sanctioned under section 2-108.

In addition to the penalties provided in section 1-116 of this code, the municipal court judge may order a person convicted of violation under this section to turn the animal involved over to a designated humane society. All such animals taken by the designated agency may be placed with another or more suitable person or destroyed humanely as soon thereafter as is conveniently possible.

(Code 1968, 2-105; Code 1990)

The provisions of section 2-107 shall not apply to:

(a)   Normal or accepted veterinary or veterinary hospital practices or treatment of animals under active veterinary care;

(b)   Bona fide experiments carried on by commonly recognized research facilities;

(c)   Killing, attempting to kill, trapping, catching or taking of any animal in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 32 or Chapter 47 of the Kansas Statutes Annotated;

(d)   Rodeo practices accepted by the rodeo cowboys’ association;

(e)   The humane killing of an animal which is diseased or disabled beyond recovery for any useful purpose, or the humane killing of animals for population control, by the owner thereof or by an authorized agent such as a licensed veterinarian, at the request of the owner;

(f)   The humane killing of an animal by the animal control officer, a public health officer or a law enforcement officer in the performance of his or her official duty;

(g)   The humane killing of an unclaimed animal after three full business days following the receipt of such animal at a municipal pound or an incorporated humane society shelter by the owner, operator, or authorized agents of such establishments.

(Ord. 1168, Sec. 1; Code 2002)

It shall be unlawful for the owner, lessee, occupant or person in charge of any premises in the city to possess and maintain any animal or fowl within the city or permit to be maintained thereon any stable, shed, pen or other place where horses, mules, cattle, sheep, goats or swine, or undomesticated animals are kept. This provision shall not apply to:

(a)   The maintaining of a stockyard or sales barn for the loading, unloading, temporary detention and sale of such livestock, if the location of such stockyard or sales barn does not otherwise violate the zoning ordinances of the city;

(b)   The maintaining of dogs which are regulated by Article 2 of this chapter;

(c)   The maintaining of non-poisonous and non-vicious animals and fowl which are commonly kept as household pets, such as cats, hamsters, rabbits, parakeets, and comparable animals, when kept as household pets and in a safe and sanitary manner in accordance with section 2-113 of this chapter;

(d)   The transporting of animals through the city by ordinary and customary means.

(e)   The maintaining of chickens, not to exceed a total of twelve (12), which are kept in a coop and fenced enclosure located in the backyard of the property only and must be a minimum of ten (10) feet from the rear and side property line. Roosters are prohibited under this section.

(Code 1968, 2-101,103; Code 1990; Ord. 1371)

It shall be unlawful for any person to use, place, set out, or deploy any animal trap aboveground, which makes use of a spring gun, spring jaws, clamping devices, cutting or stabbing mechanism or any other devices that will damage or severely injure any animal when caught or trapped by the device or trap; except that nothing herein contained shall prohibit the use of animal traps that are so designed to trap and hold animals without injuring the animals.

(Code 1990)

It shall be unlawful for the owner of any animal to keep or maintain such animal in the city so as to constitute a nuisance. For the purpose of this section, “nuisance” is defined as any animal which:

(a)   Molests or interferes with persons in the public right-of-way;

(b)   Attacks or injures persons, or other domestic animals;

(c)   Damages public or private property other than that of its owner or harborer by its activities or with its excrement;

(d)   Scatters refuse that is bagged or otherwise contained;

(e)   Causes any condition which threatens or endangers the health or well- being of persons or other animals. If a summons is issued charging violation of this provision, a subpoena shall also be issued to the complainant to testify to the nuisance under oath.

(Code 1990)

(a)   It is unlawful for any person to keep or harbor any animal which by loud, frequent and habitual barking, howling, yelping, mewing, roaring or screeching, without clear provocation, discomforts the peace and quiet of the neighborhood or materially disturbs or annoys persons in the neighborhood who are of ordinary sensibilities.

(b)   Whenever any person shall complain to the police department that an animal which habitually barks, howls, yelps or cries is being kept by any person in the city, the police department shall investigate. If, in the discretion of the officer, the complaint is warranted the officer shall notify the owner of the animal by written warning that a complaint has been received and that the person shall take whatever steps are necessary to alleviate the noise. This provision shall serve as a warning to the person keeping or harboring the animal.

(c)   If the warning given to the person alleged to be keeping the animal causing the noise complained of is ineffective, then a verified complaint may be presented to the police department or the police officer may submit a complaint alleging that an animal who habitually barks, howls, yelps or cries is being kept by any person within the city. The police department shall inform the owner of such dog, cat or animal that a complaint has been received and shall cite the owner of the dog, cat or animal for violation of this section.

(d)   Any person convicted of a violation of this section shall be punished as follows:

First conviction                                                           $15.00 Minimum fine plus court costs

Second conviction within a 1-year period                      $30.00 minimum fine plus court costs

Third conviction within a 1-year period                        $45.00 minimum fine plus court costs

Subsequent convictions within the year                         $60.00 minimum fine plus court costs

(e)   It is the duty of any person harboring or keeping such loud or noisy animal or animals to abate the condition, and if he or she fails to do so, the city may abate it by taking up, impounding and/ or disposing of the animal at the expense of the owner.

(Code 1968, 2-310; Code 1990; Ord. 1444)

(a)   It shall be unlawful for any person to keep or maintain any animal in any yard, structure or area that is not clean, dry and sanitary, free from debris and offensive odors that annoy any neighbor, and devoid of rodents and vermin.

(b)   Excrement shall be removed at least once each week from any animal shelter, pen or yard area where animals are kept, or more often if necessary to prevent or control odors, fly breeding, or rodent infestation. If excrement is stored on the premises by any animal owner, it shall be stored in adequate containers with fly-tight lids, and all such stored or accumulated wastes shall be disposed of at least once each week.

(c)   All animal shelters, pens and yards shall be so located that adequate drainage is obtained, normal drying occurs, and standing water is not present.

(d)   All animal shelters and board fences confining animals shall be maintained in good repair, and all animal shelters and board fences confining animals subject to residential and commercial classification shall be protected from deterioration by painting or comparable treatment.

(e)   Barbed wire fences and electrically charged fences shall not be permitted for animal confines except on properties for which an agricultural classification permit is held or where the barbed wire fence or electrically charged fence is protected by an exterior fence.

(f)   All premises on which animals are kept shall be subject to inspection by the animal control officer, duly authorized law enforcement officer, or public health official. If the officer or official determines from such inspection that the premises are not being maintained in a clean and sanitary manner, he or she shall notify the owner of the animals in writing to correct the sanitation deficiencies within 24 hours after notice is served on the owner. Any animal kept under any condition which could endanger the public or animal health or create a health nuisance may be impounded. Animals shall be released after fees are paid and cause for impoundment has been corrected.

(Code 1990)

Animal shelters owned or operated as a stockyard or commercial holding pen shall be adequately maintained and cleaned as often as is necessary, as determined by the health officer, to control fly breeding or to control other conditions adversely affecting the public health including the following:

(a)   Collected fecal material and other solid organic waste shall be disposed of at a sanitary landfill, fertilizer processing plant, or by proper dispersal on land used for agricultural purposes.

(b)   Grain or protein feed shall be stored in tightly covered rodent- proof metal containers or rodent-proof bins.

(c)   Premises subject to the terms of this section shall be maintained free of rodent harborage and in accordance with sections 8-501:508 of this code.

(d)   Wherever reasonable, use shall be made of anti-coagulant rodenticides for the control of rodents and organo-phosphorus insecticides for the control of flies or any other effective chemical means for the control of rodents and flies.

(e)   Wherever reasonable, use shall be made of soil sterilants and herbicides or other effective means for the control of weeds and grass around structures and buildings.

(f)   Enclosures including fences where animals such as horses, cows, sheep and goats are maintained shall be constructed in a manner, using dimension lumber materials, or other effective means to prevent such animals from breaking out or causing hazard to persons or property.

(g)   The solid wastes accumulated from the cleaning of animal shelters and holding pens maintained by persons subject to a residential classification permit as herein provided shall be stored in metal containers, with tight- fitting metal lids, and all such stored or accumulated wastes shall be disposed of at least once each week.

(h)   Holding lots, pens and floors of sheds and buildings where animals are held and which are maintained by persons subject to a commercial, industrial or agricultural classification permit according to the terms of this chapter shall be surfaced with concrete or asphaltic materials and that the drainage system of such surfaced areas shall include proper retaining walls and traps to control the waste from draining into watercourses and such drainage system shall be subject to the approval of the health officer. The health officer shall waive this standard for domestic animal holding operations where such animal holding is longer than 24 hours for any domestic animal involved or where dirt lots are more appropriate to the proper care of cattle, horses or sheep.

(i)    Solid wastes accumulated from the cleaning of animal shelters and holding pens maintained by persons subject to a commercial, industrial or agricultural permit according to the terms of this chapter shall be stored on concrete slabs or other facilities, such as dirt lots on which is stockpiled manure with an exposed perimeter as approved by the health officer; provided that all solid waste shall be properly disposed of at least once each week or as may be approved by the health officer.

(Code 1990)

All dead animals shall be disposed of by the owner or keepers within 24 hours of the animal’s death, by burial, incineration in a facility approved by the animal control officer, by rendering or by other lawful means approved by the animal control officer. No dead animal shall be dumped on any public or private property.

(Code 1990)

(a)   Prohibited: It shall be unlawful for any person to keep, possess or harbor a vicious animal within the city. Impoundment of animals whose owners have been cited for violation of this section shall be at the discretion of the animal control officer. If the animal presents a clear and present danger to the public health or safety, it shall be the duty of the animal control officer or his or her agent to impound such animal.

(b)   Defined: For purposes of this chapter a vicious animal shall include:

(1)   Any animal with a known propensity, tendency or disposition to attack unprovoked, to cause injury or to otherwise endanger the safety of human beings or domestic animals; or

(2)   Any animal which attacks a human being or domestic animal without provocation;

(3)   Any animal owned or harbored primarily or in part for the purpose of fighting or any animal trained for fighting;

(4)   Any animal which is urged by its owner or harborer to attack, or whose owner or harborer threatens to provoke such animal to attack, any law enforcement officer while such officer is engaged in the performance of official duty.

(c)   Complaint: Whenever a sworn complaint is filed in the municipal court against the owner of an animal alleging that such animal is vicious and in violation of this section, the municipal judge shall hold a hearing to determine whether or not the animal is vicious within the meaning of this section and thereby in violation of this section. The owner of the animal shall be notified in writing of the time and place of the hearing at least one week prior to the hearing. In making a determination, the municipal judge shall consider the following:

(1)   The seriousness of the attack or bite;

(2)   Past history of attacks or bites;

(3)   Likelihood of attacks or bites in the future;

(4)   The condition and circumstances under which the animal is kept or confined;

(5)   Other factors which may reasonably relate to the determination of whether or not the animal is vicious. The municipal judge shall order the impoundment, the muzzling in accordance with subsection (d) and/or the confinement of the animal accused of being in violation of this section in a manner and location that will insure that it is no threat to persons or other animals pending the outcome of the hearing. If such impoundment, muzzling or otherwise safe confinement is not possible or if prior court orders to restrain such animal have gone unheeded, the municipal judge may order the animal immediately destroyed.

(d)   Vicious Dogs to be Muzzled: It shall be the duty of every owner, keeper or harborer of any dog in the city, which dog is vicious or has been known to bite, chase, or run after any person or animal in the streets, alleys, or any public place in the city, to keep the same muzzled with a good and sufficient wire or leather muzzle, securely fastened so as to wholly prevent such dog from biting any animal or person until such time as a determination has been made by the court as to whether the dog is vicious or not. Any person owning, keeping or harboring any dog within the city limits contrary to this section shall be guilty of a violation of this code.

(e)   Immediate Destruction: Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to prevent the animal control officer or any law enforcement officer from taking whatever action is reasonably necessary to protect himself or herself or members of the public from injury or danger, including immediate destruction of any vicious animal without notice to the owner.

(f)   Release of: If a complaint has been filed in the municipal court against the owner of an impounded animal for a charge under this section, the animal shall not be released except on the order of the municipal judge, who may also direct the owner to pay all impounding fees in addition to any penalties for violation of this chapter. The municipal judge may, upon making a finding that an animal is vicious or that it represents a clear and present danger to the citizens or to other animals in the community, order the animal to be destroyed in a humane manner by the animal shelter. Surrender of an animal by the owner thereof to the animal control officer does not relieve or render the owner immune from the decision of the court, nor to the fees and fines which may result from a violation of this section.

(Code 1968, 2-106.1; Code 1990)

It shall be unlawful for any person to willfully allow any animal, cat or fowl under his or her control to be or to run at large within the city. Any animal or fowl found at large shall be impounded as provided in section 2-117 or 2-207 (dogs).

(Code 1968, 2-104,201; Code 1990)

(a)   The animal control officer or law enforcement officer shall impound any animal or fowl found at large in the city or constituting a nuisance or otherwise in violation of this chapter in a suitable pound or enclosure provided or contracted for by the city. The impounding officer shall make diligent inquiry as to the owner of the animal and shall notify the owner thereof of such impoundment as soon as reasonably possible.

(b)   The city shall be entitled to receive from such owner an impoundment fee, as shall be set by resolution.

(c)   In case the identity of the owner of the impounded animal or fowl cannot be ascertained, the animal control officer or police officer shall, upon taking any such animal into custody and impounding the same, make a record thereof, with a description of the animal and the date and place taken into custody and the place of impounding, and shall thereupon post a public notice stating that the animal, describing the same with the date and place of taking, has been taken up, and that unless the charges of impounding the same, together with any license fees due and unpaid, are paid within five business days from the date of the notice, that the animal will be disposed of as provided in this code.

(d)   The animal control officer shall each month submit a report to the governing body showing the number of animals impounded and disposed of, and the fees collected pursuant to this article and shall pay those fees to the city clerk for credit to the general operating fund.

(Code 1990; Ord. 1134, Sec. 1; Code 2005)

At any time before the sale or destruction of any animal impounded under the provisions of this article, except for animals impounded under sections 2-115 (vicious) and 2-119 (rabid), the owner thereof may redeem the animal by paying the animal control officer or any person in charge, the impounding fee and all costs incurred as a result of such impoundment.

(Code 1990)

(a)   Any law enforcement officer or local health officer may take up, upon private or public property, any animal which has bitten or scratched a person or other animal and impound the animal in the city pound, securely penned and separated from other animals, or in a veterinary hospital or animal care facility for a period of not more than 30 days during which time the local health officer shall determine whether or not such animal is suffering from a disease and, if not, the local health officer shall authorize the release of the animal upon payment by the owner of the boarding fee therefore. The health officer may authorize the keeping of any such animal on the owner’s premises if the owner produces a rabies vaccination certificate showing that the animal has valid rabies vaccination protection. Impoundment costs shall be borne by the owner. If in the opinion of the local health officer symptoms develop justifying a microscopic examination, then the animal shall be killed and examination made by the state board of health.

(b)   In lieu of the provisions of subsection (a), the owner of any such animal may, at his or her own expense, take such animal to any duly qualified and licensed veterinarian for observation. Such veterinarian shall report his or her findings in writing to the local health officer. If in the opinion of such veterinarian a microscopic examination is justified, the veterinarian will make proper arrangements for examination.

(c)   Any animal desired for observation by the local health officer under this section shall be delivered to the animal control officer or any law enforcement officer upon demand and shall not be withheld, hidden or harbored. Any person violating this provision shall be guilty of a violation of this code. Upon refusal of any person to so deliver such animal, the municipal judge shall cause a warrant to be issued for the arrest of such person, which warrant shall also provide for the surrender of the animal and shall be lawful authority for the apprehending and forcible taking of such animal.

(Code 1990)

Any law enforcement officer or local health officer may take up, upon private or public property, any animal which has bitten or scratched a person or other animal and impound the animal in a veterinary hospital or animal care facility for a period of not more than 30 days during which time the local health officer shall determine whether or not such animal is suffering from a disease and, if not, the local health officer shall authorize the release of the animal upon payment by the owner of the boarding fee therefore. The health officer may authorize the keeping of any such animal on the owner’s premises if the owner produces a rabies vaccination certificate showing that the animal has valid rabies vaccination protection. Impoundment costs shall be borne by the owner.

(Code 1990)

Whenever a dog, cat or other animal is bitten by a rabid animal or an animal later proved to have been rabid, it shall be the duty of the owner of the animal that is bitten, to report that fact to the local health officer and/or the police department. It shall also be the duty of the owner of the bitten animal to either destroy or have his or her bitten animal destroyed unless:

(a)   The animal which was bitten had been vaccinated against rabies at least three weeks before being bitten and has a current vaccination; and

(b)   If the bitten animal has a current vaccination, it shall be confined for 90 days; and

(c)   The bitten animal shall be released from confinement only upon written order from the local health officer, who declares the animal to be free of rabies; and

(d)   If the animal is found to have contracted rabies during confinement, it shall be properly disposed of.

(Code 1990)

Any person who as the operator of a motor vehicle strikes any animal shall stop at once and shall immediately report such injury or death to the owner of such animal, or in the event that the owner cannot be ascertained, and located, the operator shall at once report the accident to the animal control officer or any law enforcement officer.

(Code 1990)

The mayor is hereby authorized whenever in his or her opinion the danger to the public safety from rabid animals is made imminent to issue a proclamation ordering all persons owning any animal in the city to confine the animal in a good and sufficient enclosure from which the animal cannot escape, or fasten such animal by means of a chain on the premises where the owner may reside, for such time as may be specified in such proclamation. Any animal not confined during such time may be disposed of wherever found by any police officer, or the animal control officer of the city. The owner of such animal shall be prosecuted for such violation thereof.

(Code 1968, 2-317; Code 1990)

(a)   No person or household shall own or harbor more than five (5) dogs of six (6) months of age, or older, or more than one (1) litter of pups, or more than five (5) cats of six (6) months of age, or older, or more than one (1) litter of cats, or more than a total of five (5) dogs and cats, more than six (6) months of age in any combination.

(b)   This section shall not apply to, and will not be construed to apply to, a licensed veterinarian operating an animal hospital.

(Code 2005)