ANIMAL CONTROL CITY ANIMAL ORDINANCE

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ANIMAL CONTROL CITY ANIMAL ORDINANCE Definitions At Large A dog shall be at large when not confined to the premises of the owner or under restraint when away form the premises of the owner.

structure or when under restraint sufficient to prevent the dog from escaping or leaving the premises, Dogs When used herein, shall include animals of all ages both male and female, which are members

1 ANIMAL CONTROL CITY ANIMAL ORDINANCE Definitions At Large A dog shall be at large when not confined to the premises of the owner or under restraint when away form the premises of the owner. Confinement or confined A dog shall be confined or under confinement to the premises of the owner when restricted within an adequate fence or enclosure or within a house, garage, or other building or structure or when under restraint sufficient to prevent the dog from escaping or leaving the premises, Dogs When used herein, shall include animals of all ages both male and female, which are members of the canine family physically and geographically subject to this article. Humane treatment Care of an animal to include, but not limited to, adequate heat, ventilation and sanitary shelter, and wholesome food and water, consistent with the normal requirements and feeding habits of the animal s size and breed. Owner Any person having a right of property or in custody of a dog or who keeps or harbors a dog or knowingly permits a dog to remain on or about any premises occupied by that person over which that person has substantial control. Person Any individual, corporation, partnership, association, organization, or institution commonly recognized by law as a unit. Quarantine A condition of total confinement within a structure, cage of pen which prevents any potential contact with any other animal and with any human being except as is necessary for those responsible for the quarantined dog s custodial or medical care. Restraint A dog under restraint if it is controlled by a leash, tether, or chain or within the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle being driven or parked on a street or confined on the property of it s owner. City Animal Ordinance PAGE 1 OF 5

2 Veterinary hospital or clinic A hospital or clinic operated by a licensed veterinarian. (Ord. No 21-89, ) State Law reference Authority of city to prevent dogs from running at large, Ark Stats., Section 5-18 Running at Large. The owner of any dog found to be at large shall be guilty of allowing the dog to run at large. (Ord. No , ). Section Importation or abandonment of dogs. (a) It is unlawful for any person to bring into the city any stray or unwanted dog and release within the city limits to run at large upon the streets, sidewalks, alleys, or other public or private property. (b) It is unlawful for any person to bring into the city any stray or unwanted dog and misrepresent the origins of the animal or of themselves for the purpose of obtaining services of the city s animal control facilities or personnel. (c) It is unlawful for any resident of the city to abandon, cast out, leave or discard any dog which they own or possess because such dog has become unwanted, ill or aged or misrepresent their intent and purpose in order to obtain the services of the city animal control facilities and personnel or avoid financial responsibility associated with the humane treatment of an animal. Section Barking or howling. It shall be unlawful for any person, firm, corporation, to keep on his premises or under his control and within the city any dog which, by loud frequent barking or howling, shall unreasonably disturb the peace and quiet for any person who may reside within reasonable proximity of the place where such dog is located. (Ord. No , ). Section Condition of pen and premises. (a) It shall be unlawful for an person, firm, or corporation, keeping or harboring a dog to fail to keep the premises, where such dog is kept, free from offensive odors to the extent that such odors are disturbing to any person residing within reasonable proximity of the premises. (b) It shall be unlawful to allow the premises where dogs are kept to become unclean and a threat to the public health by failing to diligently and systematically remove all animal waste from the premises. (c) Such pen and premises shall be so constructed and equipped as to provide humane treatment of the dogs confined therein. (Ord. No , ). City Animal Ordinance PAGE 2 OF 5

3 Section Number of dogs. (a) It shall be unlawful for more than four (4) dogs over six (6) months of age to be confined, kept, or harbored upon the premises of any person within the corporate limits of the city; except that this provision shall not apply to proprietors of dog hospitals and clinics and veterinarians or licend kennels when such dogs are kept on the premises in the course of their normal business. (b) Keeping on the premises of the owner of more than four (4) dogs shall be prima facie evidence of violation of this section, and the burden of proof shall be on the owner to show the ages of such dogs. (Ord. No , ). Section License Fee Exemptions. Adoptees of dogs from the Animal Control Shelter shall be exempt from paying the license fee for the remainder of the license year in which the dog is adopted. If the dog was adopted from the Animal Control Shelter on or after October 1st of the license year, the exemption shall extend through the next license year. Section Acceptable Vaccinations. Only those vaccinations for rabies administered by a licensed veterinarian or a person authorized by a local licensed veterinarian will be recognized as valid rabies vaccinations under these ordinances. Section Affixing Tag to Collar. It shall be the duty of the owner of any dog licensed and registered under this division to cause the license tag to be securely attached around the dog s neck or to a suitable harness to be kept on the dog at all times during the license period. Section Replacement of Lost Tag: Fee. In the event a license tag issued pursuant to this division is lost, a replacement may be secured form the City Clerk upon payment of a fee of one dollar ($1.00). Section 5.86 Registration. At the time of licensing any dog within the corporate limits of the City of Camden, the owner of the dog shall provide the issuing agent of the license the name, sex, breed, description of the dog and the name and address of the owner to be recorded in a City Dog Registration Log. The animal is then considered to be registered with the City for that license year. Section 5.87 Licensing Agencies. City dog license tags and registrations may be obtained from the City Clerk s office or from any veterinary hospital or clinic within the city limits of Camden. City Animal Ordinance PAGE 3 OF 5

4 VICIOUS DOG ORDINANCE Section 5-63, /vicious dogs. A vicious dog shall be: (a) Any dog with a known propensity, tendency, or disposition to attack unprovoked to cause injury, or to otherwise threaten the safety of human beings or domestic animals. (b) Pit Bull Dogs. For the purpose of this section, Pit Bull Dogs means any pit terrier of the Stratfordshire Bull Terrior, American Stratfordshire, or American Pit Bull breed of dog or any mixed breed of dog, which contains an element of its breeding the above named breeds so as to be identified as partially of the breed of Stratfordshire Bull Terrior, American Stratfordshire Terrier, or American Pit Bull Terrior. Also any other breed commonly known as Pit Bull, Pit Bull Dogs, or Pit Bull Terrier, or a combination of any other of these breeds. Section Requirements for keeping a vicious dog. The owner of any dog ruled to be vicious shall be required to meet the following conditions in order to keep the dog inside the corporate limits of the City of Camden: (a) The dog shall at all times wear a substantial collar or halter and shall have attached to the collar or halter a metal disk or tag bearing the owner s name, address, and telephone number. (b) The owner shall notify the Camden Police Department Animal Control Officer as soon as possible, but no more that eight (8) hours afterward, if a vicious dog is loose, unconfined or at large. (c) While on the owners property, a vicious dog must be securely confined indoors or in a securely enclosed and locked pen or structure, suitable to prevent the entry of young children and designed to prevent the animal from escaping. Such a pen must have minimum dimensions of five (5) feet by ten (10) feet and must have secure sides and a secure top. If it has no bottom secured to the sides, the sides must be imbedded into the ground no less than two (2) feet. The enclosure must also provide protection from the elements for the dog. (d) The owner shall conspicuously display a sign(s) on his or her premises warning that there is a vicious dog on the property. This sign(s) shall be visible from the public highway and thoroughfare. (e) A vicious dog may be off the owner s premises only if it is muzzled and restrained by a substantial chain or leash not exceeding four(4) feet in length and attached to the collar or halter and under the direct control of a responsible adult. The muzzle must be made in a manner that will not cause injury to the dog or interfere with its vision or respiration, but must prevent it from biting any person or animal. Such dogs may not be leashed to inanimate objects such as trees, posts, buildings, etc. City Animal Ordinance PAGE 4 OF 5

5 Section Declaring a dog as vicious: procedure: The classification of a dog as vicious under the criteria set forth in Section 5-63 (a) of this article shall be the function of the municipal court. The court may rule a particular dog as vicious following an examination of the information and evidence offered by the Animal Control Officer, the dog s owner and any witnesses or victims at a regularly scheduled date on the court s calendar. Section Investigation of vicious dogs. Investigation of vicious dogs. Investigation of problem dog complaints shall be carried out by the Animal Control Officer and enforcement action taken according to the following criteria: (a) Reserved. (b) If any person complains, an investigation will be conducted by the Animal Control Officer and if, based upon his observations and evidence, he determines that the complaint is valid, may issue a citation to the owner of the dog. (c) If the victim or complainant is the Animal Control Officer or Police Officer, the animal may immediately be impounded and a citation issued to the owner of the dog. (d) The victim or complainant may file an affidavit with the municipal court clerk to have the owner of said dog summoned to municipal court. City Animal Ordinance PAGE 5 OF 5

TITLE 10 ANIMAL CONTROL 1 CHAPTER 1 IN GENERAL

10-1 TITLE 10 ANIMAL CONTROL 1 CHAPTER 1. IN GENERAL. 2. DOGS AND CATS. CHAPTER 1 IN GENERAL SECTION 10-101. Running at large prohibited. 10-102. Keeping near a residence or business restricted. 10-103.