Published February 4, 2015 |
Animal
Control Ordinance Discussion |
Points of
Clarification
1.
The City
and County have entered into an agreement to consolidate
their Animal Control and Code Enforcement service functions
under City leadership.
This is an administrative action, and makes them part
of our Joint Service Activities; just like the Library,
Department of Leisure Services, Airport, Airport
Construction, Grand Theater, Grand Conference Center, and
Humane Society Animal Shelter.
Each Joint Service has a separate budget that is
jointly approved every year by the City and County.
2.
The City
and County have separate Ordinances; including Animal
Control, Nuisance, Buildings, etc.
There has been no consolidation of Ordinances.
In order to achieve greater efficiency, lower costs
and reduce confusion, the consolidation of service functions
focuses on common standards contained in both the City and
County Ordinances.
Where the standards are different, they are handled
as the respective Ordinances require.
3.
“At
Large” means that an animal is off of the owner’s property
and not under restraint.
The exceptions are:
a.
Domestic
cats
b.
A dog
while actually working livestock
c.
A dog
locating or retrieving wild game in season for a licensed
hunter
d.
A dog
assisting law enforcement officers
e.
A dog
being trained for any of the specifically enumerated
pursuits in b, c or d above
f.
An animal
that is within the confines of the real property that the
owner had permission to use
g.
An animal
that is within a motor vehicle (excluding an unleashed
animal in an open bed of a truck)
4.
A County
dog tag permits dogs to run “at large” in unincorporated
areas (Sec. 10-78 and 10-79).
Tags must be permanently affixed to the dog’s collar.
If a dog is not running “at large” in unincorporated
area, there is no requirement in the County Ordinance to
either obtain a tag or for the dog to wear a collar.
Examples:
a.
Owner
keeps dogs on his property – No requirement for a tag or
collar
b.
Owner
uses his dogs for hunting – No requirement for tag or
collar.
However, if dog gets lost, the dog is considered running “at
large”
c.
Owner is
teaching his dog to retrieve on a friend’s property – No
requirement for a tag or collar.
But, if dog gets lost, the dog is considered running
“at large”
d.
Owner
leaves dog in his pickup cab or car, with windows slightly
cracked for ventilation, while shopping in town – No
requirement to tag or collar.
e.
Owner
leaves his dog unleashed in back of pickup while shopping in
town – Dog is considered running “at large” and a tag and
collar are required.
f.
Dog
wanders off his owner’s property to go visit other dogs –
Dog is considered running “at large” and a tag and collar
are required.
5.
The
County Ordinance requires license fees to vary in order to
curtail irresponsibility by pet owners.
Therefore separate
fees are charged for spayed and neutered animals and for
unsprayed and unneutered animals.
Fees are set by the Commission by ordinance.
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