HomeMy WebLinkAboutORDINANCE 0294-1976CITY OF REN^ I
ORDINANCE NO. 294-76
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF KENAI, ALA,~KA, REPEALING CHAPTER
ARTICLE I, DOGS - LICENSING AND REGU[,ATION8 AND ENACTING A
CHAPTER 3, ARTICLE 1, DOe CONTROL.
WHI]REAS, the present dog control ordinance, even if strictly enforced, would be
ineffective to control the dog problem as it presently exists within the City of Kenai;
and
WHEREAS, only the enactment of an ordinance which prohibits all dogs from runninR
at larg,~ can solve the dog problem; and
WHEREAS, the institution of such a provision requires numerous changes in the
present dog control ordinance,
MOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the Council of the City of Kenai, Alaska
that:
I{eetion 1. A~tiole 1 of Chapter 3 of the Code of the City of Kenai is
hereby repealed in its entirety.
Section 2. A new A~ticle 1 of Chapter $ of the Code of the City of ~ensi
is hereby enacted, such A~tiole to read in its' entirety es fellows:
CHAPTER
Article I
Animal Control
Definitions
Section 3-I. (a) As used in this article, "owner" means any person,
fl~m, or co~'poration owning, harboring, or keeping a dog.
(b) "At Large" means off the premises of the owner and not under the
eont~,ol of the owner or a member' of his immediate family, either by leash or
otherwise. (Ord. 15, 8ce. l, 10-17-61).
(e) "Animal Control Officer" shall be the designated person by the
City to perfom all duties as set forth by this ordinance,
(d) "Kennel" - Any peraon, group of porsons, or corporation breeding,
buying, keeping, selling, or boarding three or more do~s over the al{e of four
months, whether for profit o.,' not.
{
Lteense Required
Section 3-2. No dog owner shall keep any dog within the City after
the 1st day of January, 1962, unless a license therfor has been secured. Licenses
shall be issued by the Animal Control Officer for a fee of $3.90 fo.- each neutered
male or spayed female dog and $0.00 for each unspayed female dog or non-neutered
male dog. An applicant for e license for a spayed female or neutered dog shall
present a statement from a qualified veterinarian indicating that the dog has been
spayed or neutered and ~vtng the date of the operation. Licenses shall expire
on the 1st day of Jenuary next following their issuance, ford. 15, §2, 10-17-61.)
Date of Payment
Section 3-3. It shall be the duty of each owner of a dog to pay the
license fee imposed in Section 3-2 to the Animal Control Officer or authorized
personnel on or before the fi~,st day of January in each year, or upon acquiring
ownership or possession of any unlicensed dog or upon establishing residence
in the City. The Animal Control Officer shall cause a notice of the necessity of
paying such license fee to be printed in a paper of general circulation within the
City one time before the 15th day of December in each year. (Ord. 15, a3, 10-i?-61.)
Receipt of Tags
Section 3-4. Upon the payment of the license fee, the Animal Control
Officer shall execute a receipt in duplicate. He shall deliver the original receipt
to the person who pays the fee, retaining the dupllc~te. I-'e shall also procure
a stUTteient number of suitable metallic tags, end he shall deliver one appropriate
tag to the owner when the fee is paid. (Ord. 15, {~4, 10-17-61.)
Affixin[~ Tags
Section 3-5. The owner shall cause said tag to be affixed by a
per, sanest metal fastening to the collau of the dog so licensed in such a manner
that the tag may be easily seen by the officers of the City. The owner shall see
that the tag is constantly worn by such dog. (Ord. 15, ~5, I0-17-61.)
Impounding
Seation 3-6. q'_h_e official designated to catch and impound any dogs in
tho City shall be Animal Control Officer of the ~'.ity, under eontx, act or directly
hired by the same. Said official "Animal Control Officer" shall have all of the
authority end responsibilities as set forth in Chapter 3, Kenat Code, 1963.
(Ord, 15, {$, I0-I?-61; Ord. 160, § 1, 3-19-69.)
ORDINANCE NO. 294-76 - Page Two
Notice of impounding_
Section 3-7. Upon taking up and impounding any dog as provided in
Section 3-6, there shall be posted on the City Council Bulletin Board, a notice of
impounding in substantially the following form:
NOTICE OF IMPOUNDING DOG
Date 19
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: I have this day taken up and
impounded in the pound of the City of I~enai, at
street, (am) (pm), description of location
a dog answering to the following description: Sex .
Color , Breed , Approximate
age , Name of Owner , City
license number (ff any). . Notice is hereby given that
unless such dog is claimed and redeemed on or before
(am) (pm)on the day of 19 , the same will
be adopted or destroyed as provided by ordinance.
Animal Control Officer
Redemption
Section 3-8. Any dog may be redeemed from the pound by the owner within
the time stated in the notice by the payment to the Animal Control Officer of the
!!cerise fcc for the current year with an impounding fee of $25.00 and $3.00 for
each day the dog is confined in the pound as the cost of feeding. (Ord. 15, §$,
10-17-61; Ord. 133, § 1, 3-20-68; Ord. 160, § 2, 3-19-69.)
Release
Section 3-9. Upon the presentation of a correct license tag and a receipt
fox. a dog Hcense for the current year and for the fees provided in Section 3--8,
the poundmaster shall release to any owner the dog claimed by him. (Ord. 15,
§9, 10-17-61.)
DupHcate Tags
Section 3-10. In case any dog tag is lost, s duplicate may be issued by the
Animal Control Officer upon presentation of a receipt showing the payment of the
license fee for th.a current year. A charge of twenty-five cents shall be made for
each such duplicate tag. (Ord. 15, §10, 10-17-61.)
ORDINANCE NO. 294-76 - Pal~e Three
Establishment of Pound
Section 3-I2. The City Council is hereby authorized to designate a dog
pound, or may contract for services, for the purpose of placing this article in effect.
The City Manager may designate a poundmaster. (Ord. 15, 612. 10-17-61; Ord. 133,
§3, 3-20-68; Ord. 160, §3, 3-19-69.)
Confinement of Certain Do,Is.
Section 3-13. (a) It shall be unlawful to allow any dog to run at large,
whether or not licensed, within the corporate limits of the City of Kanai.
Co) Dogs not wearing a collar and tag found running at large, anywhere within
the City limits, shall be taken up by authorized personnel or ,~nimal Control Officer
and impounded in the shelter designated by the Director of Public Works as the area
animal shaltet', and there confined in a humane manner for a period of not less than
72 hours, unless claimed by the owner, and may thereafter be disposed of in a humane
manner if not claimed by their own owners, or held for adoption. Dogs wearing a
co]Jar and tagged found running at large within the City limits shall be impounded
fox' not less than 120 hours, and if not claimed by the owner or given up for adoption
shall then be disposed of in a humane manner. Immediately upon impounding any
animal, the Animal Control Officer shall make reasonable effort to inform the owner
of the conditions under which he may regain custody of such animal if said animal's
owner is known to ~atd officer. No impounded dog shall be released from the animal
shelter unless all impoundment fees shall have been paid to Animal Control Officer.
No dog shall be released from the area animal shelter unless evidence of a valid
license is provided.
Restrictions on Certain Dogs
Section 3-14. It is hereby dee!o~ed to be a nuisance and it shall be unlawful
to keep, maintain or permit on any lot or parcel of land, any animals or household
pets which by any sound or cry shall disturb the peace and comfort of any neighbor-
hood ox' interfer with any persons' reasonable and comfortable enjoyment of life.
No dog owner shall permit his dog to damage ~.-ly lawn, garden, or other property,
other than his own. (Ord. 15, §14, 10-17-61)
Interference with Officers
Section 3-15. It shall be unlawful for any unauthorized person to break
open the pound or to attempt to do so, or to take or let out any dog therfrom, ox, to
take or attempt to take from any officer any dog taken up by him in compliance with
this article or in any manner to interfere with or hh~der such officer in the discharge
of his duties under this article. (Ord. 15, ~15, 10-17-61.)
The Animal Control Officer or authorized personnel is hereby empowered to enter
upon any private property where a dog or other animal is kept, which dog is alleged
to have bitten any person to inspect, seize and impound such dog under the provisions
herein stated.
ORDINANCE NO. 294-?6 - Page Four
Offenses Involving Tags
Section 3-16. It shall be unlawful to eounterfeit or attempt to counterfeit
the tags provided for in Section 3-4 of this article or to take from any dog a tag
legally placed upon it by its owner with the intent to place it upon another ;Icg.
(Ord. 15, §I$, 10-17-61.)
Tags Not Transferable
Section 3-17. Dog tags shall not be transferable, and no refunds shall be
made on any license fee because of leaving the City or death of the dog before the
expiration of the license period. (Ord. 15, §17, 10-17-61.)
l~abies -- Confinement of Suspected Dogs, etc.
Section 3-18. (a) Whenever any person owning, possessing, or harboring
any dog within the City limits shall learn that such dog has bitten any hum. an being,
such person shall immediately impound ss~d dog, in a place of confinement to be
designated by the City. 8aid place of confinement must prevent escape and include
facilities placing the dog in total isolation from any human being or other animal.
A report of the actions taken shall immediately be reported to the Animal Control
Officer who shall notify all responsible officials. Whenever responsbile officials
of the City shall learn that any human being has been bitten by any dog within the
City, the identity of the dog shall be ascertained and the person owning, possessing,
or harboring it shall immediately deliver said dog for impounding as required herein.
Any dog so impounded shall be kept continuously confined for a period of 14 days from
the day the do8 bit thc human being, and the owner, possessor, or person harboring
the said dog shall be responsible for such charges as may be required for impounding,
including but not limited to a fee for isolation of the said dog, food for the dog, and
special charges required for rabies prevention.
Co) Upon leaz. ning that a dog has bitten a human being, the Animal Control Officer
shall immediately notify the Department of Health and Welfare and inform the said
state agency of the place where the said dog i~ impounded. The City shall contract
with persons knowl~.dgeabl~ with care and handling of well and sick dogs for inspection
of the said dog for the 14 days of confinement to determine whether such dog is
infected with rabies. For this purpose, persons so designated by the City shall have
access to the premises where the dog is kept at all reasonable hours, and may take
possession of the dog and confine it in the designated dog pound of the City or other
suitable place at the expense of the owner. The owner or person in possession
of harboring such dog under observation shall immediately notify the Department
of Health and Welfare of the State of Alaska of any evidence of sickness or disease
in the dog during its per!od of conf~,~ement and shall promptly deliver its carcass
to the appropriate agency in the event of the animal's death during the said period.
During the period of confinement, the owner, person in possession, or person
harboring such dog shall be liable for all expenses of confining such dog in isolation.
ORDINANCE NO. 294-76 - Page Five
(c) Whenever the prevalence of hydrophobia renders such action necessary to
protect the public health and safety, the mayor shall issue s proclamation ordering
every person owning or keeping a dog to confine him su~t~i¥ on his premises unless
he is muzzled so that he cannot bite. ~To person shall violate such proclamation,
and any unmuzzled dog running at large during the time fixed by the proclamation
shall be killed by the police without notice to the owner. (Ord. 15, §18, 10~17-61;
Ord o 37, § 1, 12-5-62.)
Confinement of Other Animals 8usI)ected of ~bies
Section 3-19. In the ~vent any animal other than a dog, shall require
confinement for purpose of observation for hydrophobia, or rabies, then such
animal shall be treated in the manner specified for handling rabid dogs. (Ord. 37,
12, 12-5-62.)
City to Pay Expenses of Confining Such Dogs, when
Section 3-20. In the event an owner, person in possession or person
harboring a dog or other animal cannot be held responsible for expenses required
for confinement for observation of a rabies-infected animal, then the City shall be
authorized to assume the expenses imposed by this article. (Ord. 37, §3, 12-5-62.)
Kennels
Section 3-21. Bio person, firm, or corporation shall maintain in this City
a kennel where dogs are kept fox. sale without securing a license therefor from the
City Clerk. The license fee shall be $25.00 per year. This fee shall be in addition
to the license fee prescribed in preceding sections for each dog kept in such kennel.
(Ord. 15, IlO, 10-17-61.)
Vaccination
Section 3-22. No license shall be granted fox' a dog which has not been
vaccinated against rabies as provided in this section during the 90~day period
preceding the making of an application for such license except that when a dog
is fie'st licensed for an entire year hereafter, the license may be issued ff the do~
has been vaccinated within a period of .-ix months preceding the application for a
license. Vaccination shall be performed only by s doctor qualified to practice
votex, inary medicine in the state in which the dog is vaccinated. A veterinarian
who vaccinates a dog to be licensed in the City shall complete in duplicate a
certificate of vaccination. One copy shall be issued to the dog owner for affixing
to the license application, and one copy shall be retained in the veterinarian's
files. Upon issuance of a proclamation, by resolution of the City Council, no
further applications will be accepted pursuant to Section 3-2 of this article until
the applicant has first complied with the provisions of this section. (Ord. 15,
120, 10-I?-61.)
ORDINANCE BIO. 294-76 - Page Six
Penalty
Section 3-23. Any person, firm, or corporation violating any provision
of this article shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof shall
be punished by a fine of not more than $100.00 or imprisonment in Jail for not more
than 30 days. (Ord. 15, §21, 10-17-61.)
PASSED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE, CITY OF KENAI , ALASI~ THIS 7th
OF July · ~?.~.
DAY
ATTEST:
8udC. Peter, City Clerk
CITY OF KENAI, ALASKA
FIRST READING:
SI~COND READING:
EFI:ECTIVE DATE:
June 16, 1976
July ?, 1970
August 7. 1976