Animal Control Ordinance

ORDINANCE NO. 177             AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND CHAPTER 1 OF TITLE 10 OF THE LAKESITE MUNICIPAL CODE BY ENHANCING THE ENFORCEMENT PROVISIONS FOR CATS AND PROVIDING A PROVISION FOR SPAYING AND NEUTERING OF IMPOUNDED DOGS AND CATS.            

Be it ordained by the City of Lakesite as follows:            

Section 1.  Chapter 1 of Title 10 is amended in its entirety to read as follows:  

CHAPTER 1 DOGS AND CATS SECTION:

10-101.Rabies vaccination and registration required.

10-102.Dogs and cats to wear tags.

10-103.Running at large prohibited.

10-104.Vicious dogs to be securely restrained.

10-105.Noisy dogs prohibited.

10-106.Confinement of dogs and cats suspected of being rabid.

10-107.Seizure and disposition of dogs and cats.

10-108.Confinement of female dogs or female cats in season.

10-109.Excessive number of dogs and cats are prohibited.

10-110.  Violation and penalty. 

10-101. Rabies vaccination and registration required.  It shall be unlawful for any person to own, keep, or harbor any dog or cat without having the same duly vaccinated against rabies and registered in accordance with the provisions of the "Tennessee Anti-Rabies Law" (Tennessee Code Annotated, §§ 68-8-101 through 68-8-114) or other applicable law. 

10-102. Dogs and cats to wear tags.It shall be unlawful for any person to own, keep, or harbor any dog or cat which does not wear a tag evidencing the vaccination and registration required by the preceding section.

10-103. Running at large prohibited.  It shall be unlawful for any person knowingly to permit any dog or cat owned by him or under his control to run at large within the corporate limits. 

10-104. Vicious dogs to be securely restrained.It shall be unlawful for any person to own or keep any dog known to be vicious or dangerous unless such dog is so confined and/or otherwise securely restrained as to reasonably provide for the protection of other animals and persons. 

10-105. Noisy dogs prohibited.No person shall own, keep, or harbor any dog which, by loud and frequent barking, whining, or howling, annoys, or disturbs the peace and quiet of any neighborhood.

10-106. Confinement of dogs and cats suspected of being rabid.  If any dog or cat has bitten any person or is suspected of having bitten any person or is for any reason suspected of being infected with rabies, the Humane Educational Society, Inc. or chief of police may cause such dog or cat to be confined or isolated for such time as he reasonably deems necessary to determine if such dog or cat is rabid.

10-107. Seizure and disposition of dogs and cats.Any dog or cat found running at large may be seized by the Humane Educational Society, Inc. or any police officer and placed in a pound provided or designated by the board of commissioners.  If said dog or cat is wearing a tag the owner shall be notified in person, by telephone, or by a postcard addressed to his last-known mailing address to appear within five (5) days and redeem his dog or cat by paying a reasonable pound fee, to be fixed by the pound keeper, or the dog or cat will be humanely destroyed or sold.  If said dog or cat is not wearing a tag it shall be humanely destroyed or sold unless legally claimed by the owner within five (5) days.  No dog or cat shall be released in any event from the pound unless or until such dog or cat has been vaccinated and had a tag placed on its collar.              Furthermore, no dog or cat, if impounded, for the second time within a twelve month period, regardless of whether or not it is wearing a tag, shall  be released until such dog or cat is spayed or neutered.  The owner or keeper of such animal shall be responsible for the expense of such spay/neuter.  Spaying/neutering will not be required upon a showing of proof of spay/neuter from a licensed veterinarian or if the owner or keeper provides a written statement from a licensed veterinarian stating that the spay/neuter procedure would be harmful to the animal. When, because of its viciousness or apparent infection with rabies, a dog or cat found running at large cannot be safely impounded it may be summarily destroyed by the Humane Educational Society, Inc. or any policeman. 

10-108. Confinement of female dogs or female cats in season.  Owners are required to confine such dogs or cats for a period of twenty-four (24) days while in season. 

10-109.Excessive number of dogs and cats are prohibited.  It shall be unlawful for any person or persons to own, keep, or harbor more than a total of four (4) dogs or four (4) cats at any individual property location.  The limitation shall be four (4) dogs or four (4) cats, or any combination of dogs or cats not to exceed four (4) in number.

10-110.  Violation and penalty.  Any violation of this chapter shall constitute a civil offense and shall, upon conviction, be punishable under the general penalty provision of this code.  Each day a violation shall be allowed to continue shall constitute a separate offense.            

Section 2.  This ordnance shall take effect following its final passage, the public welfare requiring it.