§ 14-5. Duty of all animal owners to be responsible owners.

(a)

It shall be the duty of every owner of an animal to take all necessary steps and precautions to protect other people, property, and other animals from injury or damage resulting from such animal's behavior, including, but not limited to, chasing, biting, or otherwise jeopardizing the safety or welfare of the public, regardless of whether such behavior is motivated by mischievousness, playfulness or ferocity.

(b)

If the owner of an animal is a minor, the parent or guardian of such minor shall be responsible to ensure full compliance with the requirements of this chapter.

(c)

It shall be the duty of every owner of an animal to immediately remove excrement deposited by the animal on any street or right-of-way. The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to any animal aiding the handicapped (e.g., guide dog) or to an animal used for law enforcement related activities.

(d)

Domesticated or caged non-farm animals may not make any vocalizations for more than ten minutes without interruption or more than 30 minutes if the vocalization is intermittent. These time limits do not apply if the vocalizations are given as a warning to the presence of an intruder. Officers enforcing this subsection are not required to measure the vocalizations with the use of a sound level meter. Upon notification of a complaint concerning such vocalizations, the owner of such animal shall be given a written warning indicating that such animal is creating a disturbance, so long as the complainant provides the police chief with the address of the owner. If the disturbance is not resolved within two days or a subsequent complaint is made for such animal by a different individual, who resides at a different location from the first complainant, a court summons shall be issued in accordance with the requirements of this chapter.

(Ord. No. 694 , pt. I, 12-15-15)