§ 2.106. Animal Nuisance  


Latest version.
  • (a)

    Noise. A person commits an offense if he knowingly harbors an animal that unreasonably barks, howls, crows or makes other unreasonable noise near a private residence that disturbs the peace and quiet of any person of ordinary sensibility.

    (1)

    A person who is disturbed by an animal that unreasonably barks, howls, crows or makes other unreasonable noise near a private residence may file a complaint with the animal control division. A complaint must include the name and address of the complainant, the exact address of the disturbance, the type of animal causing the disturbance and the times that the animal is causing the disturbance.

    (2)

    The animal control officer shall hand deliver or mail the owner or harborer of the animal a notice that a disturbance complaint has been received. If a notice has been mailed to the owner of the animal causing the disturbance, a copy of the letter will also be mailed to the complainant.

    (3)

    If an owner or harborer continues to allow his animal to cause a disturbance after ten (10) days, the complainant may file a complaint in writing with the municipal court.

    (b)

    Animals defecating/urinating in public places. It shall be unlawful for the owner to permit, either willfully or through failure to exercise care and control, any such dog or animal to urinate or defecate upon the sidewalk or parkway or any public street, or upon the floor of any common hall in any entranceway, stairway or upon any wall of any public place or building and any private property not his own, and it shall be the responsibility of the owner to remove any animal waste deposited by his animal.

    (c)

    Animal waste. It shall be unlawful and considered a public nuisance for any person to allow any house, building, business, lot, pen, enclosure, yard or similar place used for the keeping of animals to become unsanitary, offensive by reason of odor, or disagreeable to persons of ordinary sensibilities residing in the vicinity thereof or to the public at large. Any condition injurious to public health caused by improper waste disposal will be considered a violation of this chapter.

    (d)

    Cats. Cats running at large to such a degree that it causes an unreasonable disturbance to a person of ordinary sensibilities are prohibited.

    (e)

    Wild; wild-hybrid; prohibited animals. It shall be unlawful to own, possess, keep or harbor any wild, wild-hybrid, or prohibited animal within the city. This section shall not be construed to apply to zoological parks, performing animal exhibitions, or circuses.

    (f)

    Slaughtering of animals. It shall be unlawful for any person to slaughter, skin or defeather an animal within the city whereby it is in the view of the public, unless as part of a bona fide, licensed business. It shall further be unlawful for any person to butcher or display the carcass of an animal on residential property within the city whereby it is in the view of the public, except an animal carcass actually cooking over a barbecue pit, or a dead animal being prepared by a taxidermist for the purpose of display.

    (g)

    Dead animals. It shall be unlawful for any person to permit the carcass of any dead animal to be, or remain, upon any property under his control for more than twenty-four (24) hours after the death of the animal.

(Ord. No. 2005-09, Sec. 1, adopted 9-20-05)