§ 5-42. Nuisance animals.

(a)

It shall be a violation of this article for the owner or keeper of any domestic animal to permit an animal to constitute a nuisance by permitting or allowing such animal to engage in any of the following specifically prohibited behaviors:

(1)

Habitual or repeated bothersome noises;

(2)

Chasing vehicles, livestock, domestic animals, humans or running at large;

(3)

Acting in an aggressive manner;

(4)

Damaging or destroying public or private property;

(5)

Causing a serious annoyance so as to interfere with the reasonable use and enjoyment of property;

(6)

Being an unwelcome guest on private or public property;

(7)

Emitting offensive odors, either from the animal or upon property due to the animal.

(b)

Failure by an owner or keeper to observe any of the following mandatory duties shall constitute a violation of this article:

(1)

The owner or keeper of every domestic animal shall be held responsible for every behavior of such domestic animal under the provisions of this article;

(2)

The owner or keeper of every animal shall be responsible for the removal of any excreta deposited by an animal on public ways, recreation areas, or private property;

(3)

The owner or keeper of an animal shall maintain that animal and the property upon which it is located so as to prevent offensive odors which disturb the comfort, peace or repose of any person who resides in the vicinity.

(c)

Any nuisance complaint may be investigated by animal services. However, before a citation may be issued, the animal services officer must have personal knowledge of the nuisance or at least two (2) affidavits from different parties residing in close proximity to the alleged nuisance must be received. One (1) affidavit may be sufficient to warrant investigation and issue a citation where there is only one (1) party in close proximity to the alleged nuisance.

(Ord. No. 91-8, § 18, 4-2-91; Ord. No. 95-32, § 15, 9-26-95; Ord. No. 2005-07 , § 16, 7-12-05)