Ordinance 97-05 ANIMAL CONTROL

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ORDINANCE NO. 97-05

AN ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR THE REGULATION AND LICENSING OF DOGS WITHIN THE CORPORATE LIMITS OF THE CITY OF GASSVILLE, ARKANSAS, PROVIDING FOR LICENSE FEES, PROHIBITING THE RUNNING AT LARGE OF DOGS AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY

Whereas, it is determined by the City Council of the City of Gassville, Arkansas, that the unregulated presence and/or running at large of dogs within the City of Gassville is a danger to the public health, welfare and safety of the citizens of the City of Gassville, and

Whereas, it is in the best interests of the citizens and the dogs within the City that the presence of dogs be regulated by ordinance

IT IS THEREFORE ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GASSVILLE, ARKANSAS, AS FOLLOWS:

SECTION 1. License fee and tag.

1. The quartering, keeping, and maintaining of any dog within the corporate limits of the City of Gassville, Arkansas, shall be a privilege exercisable only by the purchase of a license for such purpose from the City of Gassville.
2. Dogs must be a minimum of six (6) months of age before a license shall be required.

License fees.
1. The licensing fee for a neutered dog shall be $.50 (Fifty cents) per month or portion thereof. The owner must provide proof of neutering, and proof of rabies vaccination by a Certified Veterinarian within the past year.
2. The licensing fee for an unneutered dog shall be $1.00 (One dollar) per month or any portion thereof. The owner must provide proof of rabies vaccination by a Certified Veterinarian within the past year.

Tag requirements.
1. The license and appropriate metal tag showing license number and the year issued shall be issued by the City Water Clerk, or agent designated for that purpose, upon payment of the fee set out above and proof of neutering ( if applicable ) and proof of a rabies vaccination by a Certified Veterinarian within the past year. ·
2. The identifying metal tag shall be attached to the collar of the dog for which it was obtained at all times.
3. There will be a $2.00 replacement charge for each lost tag.

SECTION 2. Running at large
The running at large of dogs is a nuisance and a health hazard, and it is therefore unlawful for the owner of any dog to allow or permit any dog to run at large within the corporate limits of the City of Gassville, Arkansas, and it is the responsibility of every dog owner to keep their dog, or dogs confined or restrained.

SECTION 3. Vicious animals.
No one may keep a vicious dog in the City of Gassville.

SECTION 4. Fines.
It shall be a misdemeanor for the owner of any dog to all.ow or permit his or her dog to run at large within the corporate limits of the City of Gassville, Arkansas, and any person violating this ordinance shall be issued for the first offense., an oral warning, for the second offense a citation shall be issued for a sum of$25.00, and for the third offense a citation shall be issued for a sum of$50.00. Court costs will be added to these fines.

SECTION 5. lmpoundment.
Unlicensed dogs and/ or dogs found running at large within the corporate limits of the City of Gassville shall be impounded in the City Pound for a period of three (3) working days during which period the owner may reclaim the dog by paying the City Pound and/ or the

City of Gassville any fines and/or fees due. Fees and/or fines due the City of Gassville are to be paid to·the City Water Clerk, or any agent designated for that purpose. Fees due to the City Pound must be paid to the City Pound. The owner of any unlicensed dog must obtain a license for said dog as provided by Section 1 of this ordinance before the said dog will be released from the City Pound. If the owner of the impounded dog is known, the City Pound must give notice-by registered .mail of the impoundment of such dog to owner. All dogs unclaimed within three (3) working days, from the time of impoundment, or the time that notice is given, whichever is later, may be sold by the City Pound to any person that will pay the fees owed, or if no buyer is found, the dog shall be destroyed.

SECTION 6. Enforcement.
The provisions of this ordinance shall be enforced by either the Gassville Police Department or the Gassville Animal Control Officer.

SECTION 7. Definitions.
For the purpose of this ordinance, the following definitions shall apply:

A. Premises: Any parcel of real property in possession or occupancy of a person, persons, family, partnership, association, corporation or other such entity.

B. Running at large: The dog's presence anywhere except on its owner's premises, in it.s owner's motor vehicle, or properly leashed, and accompanied by and under the control of its owner. ·

C. City Pound: The designated place for the impoundment of dogs will be the facility that the City of Gassville has a current agreement with.

D. Vicious dogs. Any dog that attacks, bites, or injures human beings or domestic animals without adequate provocation. However, the fact that a dog has bitten or attempted to bite someone when that person was teasing the dog shall not constitute a vicious dog.

SECTION 8. Public facilities.
It shall be unlawful for any business establishment or other facility open to the public to allow dogs entry into any structure in which people transact business therein. If the structure is not open to the public, then dogs are allowed inside the structure. However, this ordinance does not apply to a boarding kennel, veterinarian's office, pet shop, animal hospital or pet grooming facility.

SECTION 9. Exemption.
This ordinance shall not apply to dogs which are owned or kept as "seeing-eye" dogs. "Seeing-eye" dogs shall be allowed entrance into any building, facility, park, etc., within the City of Gassville, Arkansas, into which their owners seek to go. Dogs in the service of any law enforcement agency·are also exempt from this ordinance.

"SECTION 10. Repealer clause.
This ordinance repeals any ordinance or parts of ordinances in conflict herewith.

SECTION 11. Emergency.
The health and safety of the citizens of Gassville, Arkansas and their dogs is of the utmost importance and it is therefore declared that an emergency exists and this ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after its passage.

Passed: April 15, 1997

Danny Smith
Mayor

Wanda Watson
Rec/Treas.