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HomeMy WebLinkAbout098 - 01/04/1973 - REGULATING THE KEEPING OF DOGS IN THE CITY PROHIBITING ALLOWING DOGS TO RUN AT LARGE AND PROVIDING F r J ORDINANCE NO 98 1972 BEING AN ORDINANCE REGULATING TH-& KEEPING OF DOGS IN TI-)E CITY Ili PROHIBITING ALLOWING DOGS TO RUN AT LARGE AND PROVIDING FOR i RABIES VACCINATION, LICENSING AND SEIZING OF DOGS BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS Section 1 Definitions 1, ' For the purpose of this ordinance the following words and phrases shall have the following meanings unless the context indicates otherwise a Dog The word 'dog shall mean any animal of the canine species regardless of sex b Dog neutered The term neutered dog shall mean any dog (w'lether male or female) which is incapable of reproduction because of surgery watch has been performed on the reproductive organs of suc'i dog c Dog Stray The term stray dog shall mean any licensed or un licensed dog found off the premises of its owner and not restrained by leash d Dwelling bnit Tie term dwelling unit shall mean one or more rooms and a single kitchen designed for or occupied as a unit by one family for living and cooking purposes e Kerulel The word kennel shall mean any establishment wherein or whereon the business of boarding training selling or breeding dogs for sale is carried on not however including a pet shop If the occupants of any dwelling unit harbor more than 4 dogs over the age of 6 months such occupants shall be deemed to be operating a kennel f Leasa The word leash shall mean a thong cord rope, chain or similar device which holds a dog in restraint and which is not more than 5 feet in length g Owner The word owner as applied to a dog shall mean every person in possession of or harboring any dog or who shall suffer any dog to remain about his premises for a period of 10 days h Pound The word pound shall mean an establishment for the confinement of dogs seized under the provisions of this ordinance or otherwise 1 Rabies The word rabies shall mean a communicable disease of both wild a-id domestic animals transmittable to humans as defined by the Colorado Department of Health and a specific infectious disease of cortain animals especially dogs and wolves contracted by min oy direct inoculation as by bite of infected animal and due to a filtrable virus as defi-ied in Dorland s Medical Dictionary J Rabies Vaccination The term rabies vaccination shall mean the inocculation of a dog with a live rabies vaccine by a licensed veterinarian k Run at Large The term run at large as applied to a dog snall mean to be outside of a fence (or other enclosure) which restrains the dog to particular premises and not under the control, by leash of the owner (or other authorized person capable of re straining the dog) Section 2 License Required The owner of any dog over 6 months of age within the City shall secure a license for such dog from the Director of Finance on or before January 1 of each year or within thirty (30) days after suc,i dog reaches six (6) months of age or witmn 30 days afte Luc dl b �s b ) ght into the City Each license shall expire on the 31st day of December in the year for which issued Section 3 License Fee The fees for dog licenses stall be as follows a License acquired on or before March 1 of each year or within thirty (30) days after moving to the City or acquiring dog 1 First and second dogs registered by the same family (a) Neutered dog $1 50 each (b) All other dogs, $3 00 each 2 Additional dogs registered by same family (a) Neutered dog $3 00 each (b) All other dogs, $5 00 each b License acquired after time set forth in above 1 First and second dogs registered by the same family (a) Neutered dog, $3 00 each (b) All other dogs, $5 00 each 2 Additional dogs registered by same family (a) Neutered dogs $4 50 each (b) All other dogs $7 00 each c Seeing eye dogs properly trained to assist blind persons and used for such purposes shall be licensed without fee Section 4 Registration At the time of application for a license the applicant shall fur nish the following information upon forms to be furnished by the Director of Finance The owner s name telephone number and address the name, breed color age and sex of the dog the number of the dog's rabies tag the date the rabies vaccination was given, how long the dog has been kept in the City, and whether the dog was previously registered and licensed in the City Section 5 License Tag Upon compliance with the requirements of this ordinance for licens ing and registration of a dog the Director of Finance shall issue a numbered metalic dog license tag for each dog so licensed and registered The owner of every dog in the City shall provide each such dog witn a collar or harness to which the tag shall be securely affixed All dogs within the City shall at all times wear such collar or harness with the current license tag for such dog securely affixed thereto If any dog is found to be off the premises of its owner without ins license tag affixed as provided herein the owner shall be presumed to have violated the provisions of this ordinance Section 6 Records to be lept duplicate tags transfer The Director of Finance shall keep a record of each dog registered and licensed in the City and the tag number for such dog If any dog tag is lost or destroyed a duplicate tag may be obtained from the Director of Finance upon payment of a fee therefor of $ 50 In the event ownership or possession of a dog is changed the dog shall be relicensed and registered in the new owner s name but the fee for the same shall be $ 75 for the first and second dog of the new owner if the original license tag is surrendered to the Director of Finance For any additional dogs owned by the same owner the regular license fee shall apply Dog license tags shall not be transferrable from one dog to another The ownership shown by the registration records of the Director of Finance shall be prima facie evidence of the ownership of any dog in the City Section 7 Kennel It shall be unlawful for any person to own operate or maintain a kennel in the City unless such person shall have a current kennel license issued by the City Clerk Each kennel license shall expire on December 31 of tie year for which issued Kennel licenses shall be issued upon application of the Director of Finance to persons operating kennels in compliance with the City Zoning Ordinance upon payment of the following fees 2 a For any license applied for on or before March 1 of each year or prior to the applicant s operation of a kennel $25 00 + b For any license applied for after the time set forth in a above $35 00 Kennel licenses shall allow the operator to keep up to fifteen (15) dogs at any one time in any one (1) year Additional dogs may be maintained in a kennel provided a report thereof is made concerning the same to the Director of Finance and an additional fee paid of $ 75 for each additional male or spayed female dog and $1 50 for each additional female dog The director of Finance shall issue kennel tags to each licensed kennel which shall be affixed to each dog owned by the kennel in the same manner as dog license tags for non kennel dogs Dogs owned by a licensed kennel shall not be subject to the requirements of individual dog registration and licensing Section 8 Rabies Vaccination All dogs within the City over the age of six (6) months shall be vaccinated by a licensed veterinarian with live rabies vaccine No such vaccination more than one (1) year old shall be valid It shall be a violation of this ordinance for the owner of any dog over the age of six (6) months to allow such dog in the City unless the dog has been so vaccinated The director of Finance shall not license or register any dog unless the applicant exhibits a current certificate of vaccination for such dog duly issued by a licensed veterinarian If any dog is found in the City without a current rabies vaccination tag affixed to its collar or harness the owner of such dog shall be presumed to have violated the provisions of this ordinance Section 9 Treatment of Dogs Suspected of Rabies a If any dog is suspected of having rabies or if any dog has bitten some person and such dog has not had a current vaccination such dog shall be confined by lease chain or cage on the owner s premises or at the City Dog Pound and placed under the observation of a licensed veterinarian all at the expense of the owner of the dog for a period of at least ten (10) days If any dog has been bitten by a dog suspected of having rabies it shall likewise be so confined and placed under such observation at the expense of the owner of such dog for a period of six (6) months The owner of any dog so exposed to rabies shall report such fact to the City Dog Warden or Police Department The Dog Warden shall have the power in his discretion to have the dog suspected of rabies or of being exposed to rabies removed from the owners premises to a veterinary hospital and there placed under observation for a period of up to six (6) months at the expense of the owner provided that the owner may elect in lieu thereof to have such dog destroyed Failure to obey a lawful order of the Dog Warden made pursuant hereto or failure to comply with any provision of this section shall be a violation of this ordinance b It shall be unlawful for the owner of any dog knowing or suspecting that said dog has rabies or has been bitten by a dog suspected of rabies or for the owner of any dog without a current vaccination who has bitten any person to allow such dog to be taken off his premises or beyond the limits of the City without the written permission of the City Dog Warden Every owner of a dog or other person upon ascertaining that a dog has rabies shall immediately notify the City Dog Warden or Police Department Upon receiving such notice the Dog Warden or Police Department shall forthwith either remove such dog to the Ci , Dog nouid or q veterinary hospital or summarily destroy it Section 10 Dogs not to run at large It shall be unlawful for the owner of any dog to permit such dog to run at large within the City If any dog is found running at large with- in the City the owner shall be pf-sumed to have violated this ordinance 3 Section 11 Disturbance of peace and quiet prohibited i b owner of a dog in the City shall permit such dog to disturb the peace and quiet of any family individual or neighborhood by barking or howling and if any dog does so disturb Vie peace and quiet its owner shall be deemed guilty of a violation of tnis ordinance provided that no such owner shall be charged in Municipal Court with a violation of this sec tion unless ne has received a warning from the City of a previous complaint aL least once within the precca welve (12) months Section 12 Impoundment It shall be the duty of the Dog Warden and any police officer of the City to apprehend any dog running at large in the City or otherwise in violation of this ordinance and Lo impound such dog in the City Pound or other suitable place A complete registry shall be maintained by the Dog Warden showing the breed color and ;ex of each dog so impounded In addition the registry shall show the number of the license tag and the owner s name and address if such dog is found wearing a City dog license tag Licensed dogs shall be separated from unlicensed dogs in the pound Any other person in the City shall have the power to impound any dog found at large on his or her property or on property subject to his or her control provided such person shall forthwith notify the Dog Warden or Police Depirtment of such impoundment Section 13 Notice of Impoundment Within 24 hours after inpounclinent of any dog with a City License tag the Dog Warden shall contact the owner of such dog and notify such owner of the impoundment of tie dog A log shall be kept by the Dog Warden snowing all such calls If any owner cannot be notified in this nanner noLice of impoundment shall be mailed by the Dog Warden by regular mail postage pre paid addressed to the owner of the dog as shown on the dog registration records of the Director of Finance A log shall likewise be maintained by the Dog 1%arden of all such notices mailed Section 14 Release of Impounded Dogs Impounded dogs shall be released to their owners upon payment of impoundment fees as follows a For the first time anv dog i impounded within a cons cutive 12 month period a fee of $10 00 plus$1 00 for each day the dog was impounded b For each subsequent t>>re any dog is impounded within a consecu tive 12 month period a fee of $20 00 plus $1 00 for each day the dog was impounded In addition if said is not licensed the owner thereof must duly license the dog and present evidence thereof to the person in charge of the pound If said dog does not have a current rabies tag then in addition the owner shall present a current rabies iaccination certificate for such dog duly issued by a licensed veterinarian or in lieu thereof the owner may place a cash deposit of $50 00 with the City to be refunded to the owner upon presenting within five (5) working days thereafter proof of vaccination No dog held for observa tion on account of suspicion of rabies shall be released until the observation period is over Section 15 Disposal of unclaimed of disc ,cd dol- It shall be the dirty of the Dog Warden or person in charge or the Dog Pound to keep any impounded dog for a iericd of at least 96 hours after notice of inpoundment is given to the owner of the do, as provided in this ordinance provided however that in casts where notice was given by mail the holding period shall be increased by 43 hours and in cases where no notice can be given `o the owner because the dog does not wear identifying tags the holding period snall be 96 hours from time of impoundment If any dog is not reclaimed within such time the owner s rights in said dog shall be terminated and the dog may be redeamed „y any person upon paying the same lees and charges whirl would have been requited from the owner to reclaim suen dog or the City may turn such dog over to the Larimer County Humane Society or may destroy or otherwise dispose of the dog Any dog wh ch appears to be suffering from rabies or other infectious disease shall not be released but u-y be fortnwith destroyed In disposing of unclaimed dogs it shall be lawful for the City to surrender them to any hospital or reputable institution of learnirg for use in research, provided the City Manager authorizes the same No person shall be entitled to I, compensation on account of the disposal of a dog in accordance with the pro I visions of this ordinance Section 16 Trapping by City authorized It shall be lawful for the City to place traps for the purpose of capturing stray dogs or other animals running at large on any property in li the City at the written request of the owner of such property I Section 17 Poisoning of Dogs prohibited It shall be unlawful for any person to poison any dog or dogs or to distribute poison in any manner whatsoever with the intent or for the purpose of poisoning any dog or dogs within the City Section 18 Dogs temporarily in the City The provisions of this ordinance regarding licensing of dogs shall not apply to any dog brought into the City by a non resident for no longer than thirty (30) days Except for the foregoing exception this ordinance shall apply to all dogs within the City regardless of the place of residence of the owner of such dog Section 19 Interference with Dog Warden or Police Officer It shall be unlawful for any person to interfere with molest injure or prevent the Dog Warden or any Police Officer in the discharge of their duties pursuant to this ordinance Section 20 Entering premises to enforce ordinance The Dog Warden and any Police Officer is hereby authorized to enter upon any premises in the City for the purpose of impounding dogs which he is authorized nereunder to impound or for any other purpose authorized under this ordinance Section 21 Violations Any person who violates this ordinance shall be subject, upon conviction to suc'i penalty as is authorized to be imposed for a violation of the City s Ordinances Eacn day that a violation continues shall con statute a separate offense The charge of a fee for impounding any dog shall be in addition to any punts-vment lawfully unposed oy the Municipal Court Section 22 Severability It is the intention of the City Council that this Ordinance and every provision sentence clause and section hereof shall be severable, and the invalidity of any such portion shall not affect the validity of any other portion of this Ordinance Section 23 Effective Date and Repealer This ordinance shall not become effective unless and until Peoples' Ordinance Nwnber 1 1961 is duly repealed by the voters of Vie City in accordance with the Charter of the City If the said Peoples' Ordinance Number 1 1961, is so repealed this ordinance shall thereupon immediately become effective and all ora -lace- a.11 pai s of ordinances in conflict here with and particularly Sections 3 10 througu 3 21 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Fort Collins Colorado 1958 as amended, shall thereupon be repealed Section 24 Submission at Election There is hereby submitted to the Qualified -electors voting at the special City election to be held on February 20 1973, the question of repealing Peoples' Ordinance Number 1, 1961 5 Introduced, considered favorably on first reading and ordered published this 14th day of December, 1972, and to be presented for final passage on the 4th day of January, 1973 1 mayor ATTEST City 3erk Passed and adopted on final reading as of this Ath day of January, A D 1973 C� AT TEST yor CiClerk 6