(a) All dogs, cats, and ferrets over three months of age within the county shall be vaccinated against rabies by a licensed veterinarian, who will issue to the owner a durable metal tag and a certificate of vaccination.

(b) A dog, cat, or ferret less than three months of age shall not be required to be vaccinated as is otherwise required by subsection (a) of this section, but such dog, cat, or ferret must be confined to its owner's premises until it has been vaccinated

(c) It shall be the duty of all persons owning or having charge of any dog, cat, or ferret brought into the county from outside the county to have the animal vaccinated and to obtain a vaccination certificate and metal tag within 14 days from the date of entry; however, when the owner or person having charge of such a dog, cat, or ferret produces evidence satisfactory to the county's animal services officer that the animal has been vaccinated by a person duly licensed to practice veterinary medicine, the animal shall not be required to be vaccinated again until the most recent vaccination expires.

(d) All animals required to be vaccinated under this section shall be vaccinated only by a licensed veterinarian using rabies vaccine approved by the applicable state agencies. An owner or person having charge of such animal may request a three-year vaccination be administered. In the judgment of the veterinarian, the animal may be vaccinated with a one-year or three-year vaccine. The rabies vaccination certificate issued by the veterinarian must state the expiration of the vaccination period. The rabies certificate issued will reflect the expiration year certified by the veterinarian but in no case shall this be more than three years from the date of vaccination.

(e) Animal services may adopt such other rabies control regulations as it deems necessary for the protection of the public health and safety.

(b) Control of dogs when off owner's premises. When a dog is off the premises of the owner, the dog must be controlled by means of a leash. The leash shall not be more than six feet in length and the dog shall be under the immediate control of a competent person, who must be at least 14 years of age, of sufficient size and strength to maintain control of the dog.

(c) Preventing animals from becoming a danger or from trespassing. An owner of an animal, whether vaccinated or not vaccinated, shall prevent such dog or cat from becoming a danger to persons or property at any location or trespassing upon another person's property.

(d) Preventing animals from running at large. An owner of an animal, whether vaccinated or not vaccinated, shall prevent such dog from running at large upon the streets, sidewalks, alleys, parks, or public places in the county or on the property of another.

(h) Fowl, livestock, etc., prohibited from running at large. It shall be unlawful for any owner of any fowl, livestock, or any other type of animal within the county to permit such animal to run at large or be a menace or nuisance to such person's neighbors or the public in general.

 

(a) Confinement of dogs generally. An owner of a dog shall confine such dog:

3. On a running cable line or trolley system and only one animal may be attached to each running cable or trolley system; no animal may be attached to a running cable line or trolley system for more than four hours in a 24-hour period. No animal may be attached to a running cable line or trolley system between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. Dogs on running cables must have access to adequate shelter, food, and water as required in this chapter;

4. It shall be unlawful for the owner or person in control of a dog to restrain any dog by means of a tether, chain, cable, rope, leash, or cord which is attached to a fixed object or staked to the ground.

No person shall keep or maintain a dog or any other animal that barks, howls, or otherwise makes or causes noise in an excessive, continuous, or untimely fashion. Excessive shall mean noise that is discernable and can be heard inside a neighboring residential dwelling by persons of ordinary sensibilities. The court shall consider untimely fashion in individual cases and in general, consider hours that persons are at rest.

An owner or keeper walking, exercising or otherwise having an animal outside the confines of their own property, whether public or private, shall carry a means to pick up and dispose of excreta deposited by the animal by way of, but not limited to, a scoop and a bag. The excreta shall be placed in a proper receptacle for disposal. No animal excreta shall be placed on public or private property that will cause a public or private nuisance.

(a) Upon finding that an animal is an aggressive animal by the magistrate court, the animal's owner, keeper, responsible person, or custodian shall be required within 30 days to:

(1) In addition to the requirements set forth in Article IV, owners, possessors, guardians, or custodians who maintain their aggressive animal out-of-doors shall fence a portion of their property. Within this perimeter or area fence, the aggressive animal must be humanely confined inside a pen or kennel of adequate size. The pen or kennel may not share common fencing with the area or perimeter fence. The kennel or pen must have secure sides and a secure top attached to all sides. The sides must either be buried two feet into the ground or sunken into a concrete pad. The gate to the kennel shall be inward-opening and shall be kept locked, except when tending to the animal's needs, such as providing food and water or cleaning the kennel.

(2) It shall be unlawful for the owner, possessor, guardian, or custodian of an aggressive animal to allow the animal to be outside of its proper enclosure as provided for in Article IV unless the animal is on a leash. The leash shall be no longer than six feet in length.

(3) The premises where an aggressive animal is kept shall be posted with clearly visible signs purchased from animal services, warning that there is a dog on the premises that presents a danger to other animals. The signs shall be conspicuously displayed as follows:

(i) Residential ingress/egress. These signs shall be displayed at each ingress/egress where the dog is being kept.

(ii) Perimeter fence signs. These signs shall be displayed on all sides of the perimeter fence where the dog is being kept, as well as a sign on each ingress and egress point (gate).

(4) Register the animal with the animal services office. The annual fee for registration shall be $500.00. The animal shall be registered annually. At any time of registration, an animal services officer shall require evidence from the owner and make an investigation as may be necessary to verify that the aggressive animal is continuing to be confined in a proper kennel and that the owners, possessors, guardians, or custodians are continuing to comply with the provisions of the section.

(5) Animal services officers shall have the right to inspect randomly and without notice an aggressive dog which is required to be confined pursuant to this chapter.

(6) The owner of an aggressive dog shall have a microchip containing an identification number capable of being scanned and injected under the skin between the shoulder blades of the dog.

(7) Failure to renew a certificate of registration within ten days of the renewal date or initial classification date shall constitute a violation of this article.

It shall be unlawful for any person, either by commission or omission:

(1) To confine an animal in a vehicle in an inhumane manner such that the animal becomes overheated or lacks adequate ventilation or is otherwise harmed.

(2) For any owner to fail to provide any animal under his control with adequate proper food, adequate fresh water, or veterinary care. For the purpose of this subsection, owner shall mean any person, legal entity, corporation, partnership, firm, or trust owning, possessing, or having custody and control of the premises where the animal is located. For the purpose of this subsection, adequate food shall mean food of a sufficient quantity of non-contaminated and nutritionally healthy sustenance that is appropriate to the species, breed, size, age and health of the animal, or at the direction of a licensed veterinarian; which is sufficient to prevent starvation, malnutrition, or risk to the animal's health. Garbage, spoiled, rancid, or contaminated food is not adequate food. Adequate water means clean, fresh, potable water sufficient to prevent dehydration and properly sustain health presented in a clean dish, free from contamination. Examples of inadequate water include, but are not limited to, snow, ice and rancid or contaminated water.

(3) To fail to provide any animal under his care with access to adequate shelter to protect it from all types of weather, 24 hours daily. For the purpose of this subsection adequate shelter means a protective covering for a domestic animal that provides adequate space and protection to maintain the animal in a state of good health, and that prevents pain, suffering, or significant risk to the animal's health. Adequate shelter shall consist of a completely enclosed structure with four sides, a constructed floor, and a roof with a door opening. It must be maintained clean, dry and compatible with current weather conditions, in addition to age, size, species and condition of the animal. The structure must be of sufficient size to allow the animal to stand, turn around, lie down, and go in and out of the structure comfortably. To be adequate, some type of bedding that is quick drying, such as hay or pine straw, must be provided to maintain comfortable temperatures within the structure during times when the ambient, outside temperature is below freezing. The shelter shall be raised at least two inches off the ground to prevent seepage or rotting. Examples of inadequate shelter include, but are not limited to, pet carriers, lean-tos, metal or plastic drums, boxes, abandoned vehicles, porches, decks, or material that does not provide sufficient protection from the elements.

(4) To abandon any animal.

(5) To allow an animal under his control to be kept in unsanitary conditions.

(6) To keep or confine an animal under his control in other than a humane manner.

(7) To allow any animal to be transported in any moving vehicle without the vehicle being enclosed or the animal confined so that it may not jump or fall out or be injured in any manner.

(8) To unjustifiably cause death or physical pain or suffering to any animal.

(a) Pets are prohibited from the below areas at parks and recreation facilities:

1. Athletic fields;
2. Near any athletic fields which are not enclosed by a barrier that restricts access;
3. Bleachers, benches or similar designated viewing areas;
4. Playgrounds; and
5. Indoor facilities.

(b) All pets must be on a leash and under direct control of the pet owner at all times. The leash may not exceed six feet.

(c) No tethering.

(d) Pet access may be restricted for specific events or activities.

(e) All pet waste must be removed and disposed of in the proper location.

(f) Any pet showing aggressive behavior as determined by the parks and recreation director shall be removed immediately from the facility.