Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout1975 Ordinance No. 044"· . • . . , .. ' . I TROD UCED AS A BILL BY COUNCILMAN CLAYTON BY AUTHORITY ORDINANCE NO. 44 , SERIES OF 1975 AN ORDINAN CE REPEALING AND REENACTING SECTIONS 1 THROUGH 14, ARTICLE I, CHAPTER 11, TITLE XI, OF THE 1969 E.M.C. RELATING TO DOGS. NOW , THEREFORE, BE OT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ENGLEWOOD, COLORADO, AS FOLLOWS: Section 1. That Sections 1 through 14, Article 1, Chapter 11, Title XI of the 1969 E.M.C. entitled "Dogs" hereby is repealed and reenacted to read as follows: Section 11-11-1 11-11-2 11-11-3 11-11-4 11-11-5 11-11-6 11-11-7 11-11-8 11-11-9 11-11-10 11-11-11 11-11-12 11-11-13 11-11-14 11-11-15 CHAPTER 11 ANIMALS AND FOWL Article I -Dogs Subject Definitions Dogs Running at Large; Prohibited Removal of Excrement; Damage to Shrubbery, Plants, etc. Dogs at Large; Impoundment; Notice; Disposition Tag; Collar Maintenance of More Than Three Dogs on Premises; License Requirements Hobby Breeder's License Application; Fees License Issuance; Renewal Hobby Breeder Operation Right of Entry; Inspections Denial, Revocation or Suspension of License Vaccination Required Rabies Suspects and Biting Dogs Rabies Suspects; Disposition Records; Reports -1 - .. . -· ' . .. • • • .. 11-11 -16 11-1 1 -17 11-11 -18 11-11 -19 Vicious Dogs; Guard or Attack Dogs Barking Dog; Harboring Prohibited Poisoning Dogs Police Dogs 11-11-1 DEFINITIONS For the purpose of this Chapter, certain terms and words are herewith defined as follows: (a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) (g ) (h) (i) Ad~oinin~ owners, residents: The owners an resi ents of lands that are supported by a common boundary line. Animal shelter: Any premises designated by the City for the pirpose of boarding and caring for any animal impounded under the provisions of this ordinance or any other ordinance or law of the State of Colorado. Animal warden: The person or persons em- powered by the City to enforce the provi- sions of this ordinance. Attack dog: Any dog or canine trained to attack persons entering an area, except for the trainer of such dog or canine. !!Q_g_: Any animal of canine species regard- IeSs of sex. Dog male: Any dog of masculine gender, eit~er castrated or not castrated. Dog owner: Any person in possession of or harboring any dog. Dog, f emale: Any dog of the female gender upon which no alternative surgery of the genital organs has been performed. Dog, spayed female: Any female dog on which an ovariotomy or ovariohysterectomy has been performed by a licensed veterinarian and ac- companied by a certificate asserting such operation has been performed . -2 - . _., .~ • • • (j) (k) (1) (m) Dog, stra~: Any unlicensed or licensed dog foun unattached or loose anywhere within the City Limits. Finance Director: Director of Finance, ex officio City Clerk-Treasurer. Guard dog: Any dog or canine trained to attack a person at the command or instruc- tion of a trainer. Hobby breeder: Any person who, outside of his regular course of employment, is breed- ing dogs or striving to improve dogs through controlled propagation, thus achieving care- fully desired qualities and traits. (n) Rabies: A communicable disease of both wild and domestic animals transmittable to humans, as defined by the Public Health Department; and a "Specific infectious disease of certain animals, especially dogs and wolves, contracted by man by direct inoculation as by bite of in- fected animal and due to a filtrable virus", as defined in Dorland's Medical Dictionary. (o) Vicious dog: A dog that without provocation bites or attacks humans or other animals, or in a vicious or terrorizing manner approaches any person in an apparent attitude of attack. 11-11-2 DOGS RUNNING AT LARGE; PROHIBITED It shall be unlawful for any owner or person having the care, custody, and control of any dog to allow such dog to run at large in the City unless such dog is under the reasonable control of such owner or person. (a) For the purpose of this Section, a dog shall be deemed to be 'running at large' when off or away from the premises of the owner, pos- sessor or keeper thereof and not under the control of such owner, possessor or keeper who shall be competent to control such dog and who may be required to demonstrate to a -3 - ... . . ·.:· • • • member of the Englewood Police Department or any animal warden of the City of Engle- wood his or her ability to control such dog whenever such dog is not kept on or controlled by a leash, cord or chain not to exceed ten feet. (b) Notwithstanding any of the prov1s1ons of this Section, a dog shall be deemed not under rea- sonable control when any of the following con- ditions occur: (c) (d) 1. The dog inflicts damage or injury by biting, jumping upon, pollution of vegeta- tion, or by any other means whatsoever, to the person or property of anyone other than the owner, except in the defense of the owner, his family or property, or any dog under the control and command of a police officer in the course of his duty. 2. In the case of any unspayed female dog while said dog is in estrus (in heat or in season) and not securely confined in the owner's yard, pen, or other enclosure. Penalty. Any owner or person found guilty of violating any provision of this Section, shall upon the first conviction be subject to the payment of a fine of fifteen ($15.00) dollars and upon the second conviction shall be fined twenty-five ($25.00) dollars, and upon the third or subsequent conviction be fined not more than three hundred ($300.00) dollars or not more than ninety (90) days in jail. Any owner or person charged with a violation of any of the provisions of Section 11-11-2 hereof may present such summons to the Clerk of the Traffic Violations Bureau of the City of Englewood, and pay such fine without appear- ance in court and upon payment of the fine shall be deemed to have pleaded guilty to the offense charged. Nothing herein contained shall be -4 - . , • • • construed to prohibit any person charged with a violation of Section 11-11-2 from demanding a court hearing on the alleged violation. The provisions of this Subsection shall not be ap- plicable upon the filing of a complaint and summons for the third or subsequent violation of this Section. 11-11-3 REMOVAL OF EXCREMENT; DAMAGE TO SHRUBBERY, PLANTS, ETC. (a) It shall be unlawful for any person who possesses, harbors, or is in charge of any dog not to imme- diately remove excrement deposited by said dog upon a common thoroughfare, street, sidewalk, play area, park, or upon any other public prop- erty, or upon any private property when permis- sion of the owner or tenant of said property has not been obtained, and such is hereby deemed to be a public nuisance and prohibited. Dog excre- ment shall not be placed in storm sewers but shall be disposed of in a sanitary manner . (b) It shall be unlawful for any owner, possessor, or person who keeps any dog to permit such dog, whether or not running at large, to destroy, damage, or injure any shrubbery, plants, flowers, grass, lawn, fence, or anything whatsoever upon any public premise or upon any private premise owned or occupied by a person other than the owner, possessor, or keeper of such dog, and the same is hereby declared to be a public nui- sance and prohibited. 11-11-4 DOGS AT LARGE; IMPOUNDMENT; NOTICE; DISPOSI- TION (a) Any dog or dogs found running at large shall be taken by the Animal Warden and impounded in the shelter designated as the City Animal Shelter, and there confined in a humane manner for a period of not less than six (6) days and may thereafter be disposed of in a humane manner if not claimed by their owners. Dogs not claimed by their owners before the expiration of six (6) days may be disposed of at the discretion of the Animal Warden, except as hereinafter provided . -s - •; . . .. .. . • • • ... (b) The Animal Warden may transfer title of any dog held at the Animal Shelter to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals after the legal detention period has expired and such dog has not been claimed by its owner. (c) When dogs are found running at large and their ownership is known to the Animal Warden, such dogs need not be impounded, but such officer may cite the owners of such dogs to appear in court to answer charges of the violation of this ordinance. (d) Immediately upon impounding dogs, the Animal Warden shall .make every possible, reasonable effort to notify the owners of such dogs so impounded and inform such owners of the con- ditions whereby they may regain custody of such dogs. (e) Any animal, other than a dog, found running at large within the city limits may be impounded or disposed of according to law when such ac- tion is required, either to protect the animal or to protect the residents of the city. The owner of any animal so impounded may reclaim such animal upon payment of all costs and c harges incurred by the city for impounding and maintenance of such animal. 11-11-5 TAG; COLLAR The owner of any dog shall cause to be placed upon the neck of such dog so owned, kept or harbored, a collar made of durable material, having attached thereto a metal tag showing that the dog has a current rabies vaccination, together with an identi- fying number thereon corresponding to the number on the certificate of vaccination. The collar with the tag attached thereto shall be kept on such dog at all times. 11-11-6 MAINTENANCE OF MORE THAN THREE DOGS ON PREMISES; LICENSE REQUIREMENTS No household, place or premises may have more than two (2) dogs over six (6) months of age without -6 - , .. .. • • • first having procured a City Hobby Breeder's Li- cense as hereinafter provided. A City Hobby Breed- ers License shall not be required where the place or premises are currently licensed as a pet shop or boarding kennel, pursuant to Sections 12-57-101, et seq., C.R.S. 1973, as amended. All households presently owning three (3) dogs without a Hobby Breeder's License may maintain three (3) dogs cur- rently owned, but shall not maintain more than two (2) dogs upon death or loss of ownership of one (1) or more of the currently owned three (3) dogs. 11-11-7 HOBBY BREEDER'S LICENSE APPLICATION; FEES (a) An application to maintain a hobby breeder's operation shall be made upon forms supplied by the Director of Finance and shall contain a statement of the name of the applicant, the address and location of the hobby breeder's operation, together with the express consent from adjoining landowners or residents that they have no objection to the issuance of said license, and such additional information as may be required by the Director concerning the physical facilities and equipment, as in the judgment of the Director will enable him to pass upon the qualifications of the applica- tion and premises. The application shall be accompanied by a payment of a fee in the amount of fifty ($50.00) dollars. 11-11-8 LICENSE ISSUANCE; RENEWAL (a) (b) In the event that the Director approves the application and determines that the appli- cant is qualified to engage in a hobby breeder's operation, the Director shall issue a license to the applicant, which license shall be prominently displayed in the location the applicant maintains his operation. Upon issuance of the City Hobby Breeder's License, the licensee may carry on a limited breeding p r ogram, but may not maintain more than five (5) dogs over six (6) months of age, nor more than twenty (20) puppies welped and transferred in any twelve-month period. -7 - .. • • • (c) The Hobby Breeder's License under the pro- visions of this ordinance shall expire on the 31st day of December each year. Each license shall be renewed during the month of December each year. Such applications for renewal shall be made to the Director, in writing, on forms prescribed by the Di- rector, shall contain such information as will enable him to determine if the appli- cant is qualified to continue to hold a license and shall be accompanied by a re- newal fee of twenty-five ($25.00) dollars. 11-11-9 HOBBY BREEDER OPERATION O~erator's Duties. Every person licensed under t is ordinance to operate as a hobby breeder shall: (a) Maintain the premises and facilities in a sanitary condition . (b) Provide adequate ventilation for the facilities used for animals. (c) Provide adequate nutrition for and humane care and treatment of all dogs under his care and control. 11-11-10 RIGHT OF ENTRY; INSPECTIONS It shall be lawful for the Animal Warden or any em- ployee of the City who may be charged with the duty of making inspections of premises licensed under this ordinance or any employee of the county or district health department to enter upon the premises licensed under this ordinance and to inspect the same and in- spect any records required to be kept by this ordi- nance or regulations made pursuant thereto. 11-11-11 DENIAL, REVOCATION OR SUSPENSION OF LICENSE The Director may withhold, deny, revoke or temporarily suspend for a period not to exceed one (1) year any license issued or applied for in accordance with the provisions of this ordinance upon finding that licensee has been guilty of the following: -8 - ... • • • (a) The licensee has been convicted of two (2) violations of Section 11-11-2 within a twelve-month period. (b) The material misstated in the application for a license or an application of renewal thereof. (c) The violation of any public health law of the state, and failure to comply with any state act or health requirement relative to the humane treatment of dogs. (d) Failure to maintain sanitary conditions and the proper disposal of animal waste as may be required by the Colorado State Department of Health pursuant to Article 57, Title 12, C.R.S. 1973, as amended. 11-11-12 VACCINATION REQUIRED Each dog over six (6) months old shall be vaccinated against rabies, such vaccination to be repeated an- nually thereafter. Dogs shall be vaccinated by any veterinarian licensed to practice veterinary medicine . A certificate of vaccination in duplicate shall be completed by the veterinarian, one copy to be issued to the dog owner and one to be retained in the vet- erinarian's files. (a) Any dog in the custody of any police officer, animal warden, or in the City Pound, shall be released to the owner of said dog for a period of time not to exceed five (5) days in order to obtain the vaccination of the dog. (b ) It shall be lawful for any police officer or animal warden to go on any premises in the City for the purpose of determining whether or not any dog or animal being harbored, maintained or kept on said premises is in violation of any of the provisions of this Section . -9 - .. . .. . . • •• • 11-11-13 RABIES SUSPECTS AND BITING DOGS Any dog or other animal which is suspected of having rabies, or which has bitten a person or other animal may be impounded either in the Pound or under the su- pervision of a licensed veterinarian, for observation. All fees for such impounding and observation shall be charged to the owner of such animal (a) Any dog or other animal impounded under the pro- visions of this Section shall be placed in a suitable facility and quarantined for a period of not less than ten (10) days at the expense of the owner. (b) Any such animal impounded under the provisions of this Section shall be destroyed upon deter- mination that such animal is infected with rabies. 11-11-14 RABIES SUSPECTS; DISPOSITION Dogs known to have been bitten or exposed to a rabid animal shall be: (a) Immediately destroyed upon determination by a licensed veterinarian that the animal is rabid; or (b) Released upon proof of immunization and "booster" injections, given by a licensed veterinarian. 11-11-15 RECORDS; REPORTS The Police Department shall maintain a record of all animals impounded, together with all fees collected. A monthly report shall be made to the Manager and all fees transmitted to the Treasurer daily. 11-11-16 VICIOUS DOGS; GUARD OR ATTACK DOGS (a) It shall be unlawful for any person to keep or harbor a fierce or vicious dog. For the pur- poses of this Chapter a fierce or vicious dog -10 - • • . , . . .. ·. - • • is hereby defined and declared to be a dog that bites or attacks human beings or in a vicious and terrorizing manner attacks, or approaches in apparent attitude of attack upon a person upon the streets, sidewalks or any public ground or place or any pri- vate property other than the premises of the owner, possessor or keeper of such dog, or a dog that runs after and bites or barks at horses, bicycles or any vehicle being ridden or driven upon the streets, side- walks or any public ground or place within the City. (b ) Dogs maintained as guard dogs or placed in an enclosed area for the protection of per- sons or property shall not be included under this section, so long as they remain in this enclosed area, and are completely confined in a kennel, yard or other enclosed space when not being used as a guard dog . (c ) All persons owning or controlling an attack or guard dog on premises within the municipal- ity shall notify the Police Department in writ- ing of the name of the owners or persons in control of such premises and the street ad- dress thereof. Such notification shall be furnished within seventy-two (72) hours from the time said dog is brought to said premises. (d ) Upon receipt of such notification, the Police Department shall furnish such information to the Fire Department of the City. (e ) The owner, or other persons in control if not the owner, of all premises upon which attack and guard dogs are maintained shall post signs on, over or next to all exterior doors stating that such dogs are on the premises. At least one (1) such sign shall be posted at each driveway or entranceway to said premises. • -11 - , . ' - • • • • -.. •• (f) If attack or guard dogs on said premises are owned or maintained thereon by any guard or security service, the signs aforesaid shall also contain the phone number of such service. No attack or guard dogs may be maintained in the municipality by such service unless the telephone for which such number is posted is manned by responsible personnel twenty-four (24) hours daily. (g) Said signs shall contain lettering clearly visible from either the curbline, or a dis- tance of fifty (50) feet, whichever is lesser. 11-11-17 BARKING DOG; HARBORING PROHIBITED No person shall keep or harbor a dog which by loud or frequent or habitual barking, yelping, or howl- ing shall cause a serious annoyance to the neighbor- hood, or to people passing to and from upon the streets or sidewalks . 11-11-18 POISONING DOGS It shall be unlawful for any person to poison any dog or to distribute poison in any manner whatsoever with intent or for the purpose of poisoning any dog. 11-11-19 POLICE DOGS It shall be unlawful for any person to wilfully or maliciously torture, torment, beat, kick, mutilate, injure, disable or kill any dog used by the Police Department in the performance of the functions and duties of such department, or to unwarrantably in- terfere with or meddle with any such dog while be- ing used by said Department or any officer or mem- ber thereof in the performance of any of the func- tions or duties of said Department or of such of- ficer or member. -12 - .... . , . . .. -. • I ntroduced, read in full and passed on First Reading on the 20th day of October, 1975. Published as a Bill for an Ordinance on the 22nd day of Oc tober, 1975. Read by title and passed on Final Reading on the 17th day of November, 1975. Published by title as Ordinance No. 44 , Series of 1975 on the 19th day of November, 1975. ATTEST: I , William D. James, do hereby certify that the above and foregoi ng is a true, accurate and complete copy of the Ordinance passed on Final Reading and published by title as Ordinance o. 44 , Series of 1975. -13 -