ORDINANCE NO. 11

AN ORDINANCE RELATING TO THE RUNNING AT LARGE OF DOGS.
PROVIDING FOR THE LICENSING, IMPOUNDING, AND DESTRUCTION OF DOGS, AND PROVIDING PENALTIES FOR VIOLATION THEREOF.
      
                          THE CITY OF ROYALTON HEREBY ORDAINS:
                    
 SECTION  1.          ANY DOG AGE SIX MONTHS AND OLDER AND KEPT WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS OF ROYALTON MUST BE LICENSED. OWNERS SHOULD ALSO KEEP THEIR PETS FROM CREATING A NUISANCE BY BARKING AND HOWLING.                                                 
                                                                       

SECTION  2.     A REQUEST FOR A DOG LICENSE SHALL BE MADE AT THE OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK. THE CLERK SHALL RECORD THE NAME AND ADDRESS OF THE OWNER OR KEEPER AND SHALL DESCRIBE THE DOG AS TO NAME, SEX, BREED, AGE, COLOR AND MARKINGS.                           

SECTION 3.           RABIES IMMUNIZATION REQUIRED.

(a)     NO LICENSE SHALL BE ISSUED FOR ANY DOG UNLESS THE APPLICANT FOR SUCH LICENSE PRESENTS PROOF THAT THE DOG HAS A CURRENT RABIES VACCINATION.       

SECTION   4.          RUNNING AT LARGE PROHIBITED.

(a)     NO DOG SHALL BE PERMITTED TO RUN AT LARGE WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS OF ROYALTON.

(b)     THIS RESTRICTION DOES NOT PROHIBIT THE APPEARANCE OF ANY DOG UPON STREETS OR PUBLIC PROPERTY WHEN THE DOG IS ON A LEASH AND IS KEPT UNDER CONTROL BY THE PERSON CHARGED WITH ITS CARE.
                    
SECTION  5.            LICENSE FEES AND EXPIRATION.            

(a)    THE ANNUAL LICENSE FEE SHALL BE SET ACCORDING TO THE FEE SCHEDULE OF THE CITY OF ROYALTON.

(b)   EVERY LICENSE SHALL EXPIRE ON THE FIRST DAY OF MAY NEXT FOLLOWING ITS ISSUANCE.   

SECTION 6.      AFFIXING TAGS.
                 
(a)    THE OWNER SHALL PERMANENTLY AFFIX THE TAG TO THE COLLAR OF THE DOG IN SUCH A MANNER THAT THE TAG MAY EASILY BE SEEN.

SECTION 7.      DEFINITIONS.     

(a)        THE WORD OR WORDS DEFINED HEREIN SHALL HAVE THE MEANING DESCRIBED THERETO IN THE SUBDIVISIONS WHICH FOLLOW.                     

(b)        "OWNER" SHALL MEAN ANY PERSON, FIRM OR CORPORATION OWNING, HARBORING OR KEEPING A DOG.

(c)        "PERSON" MEANS AND INCLUDES AN INDIVIDUAL, FIRM OR CORPORATION.

(d)        "AT LARGE" MEANS OFF THE PREMISES OF THE OWNER AND NOT UNDER CONTROL OF THE OWNER, OR OTHER COMPETENT PERSON. THE DOG MUST BE ON A LEASH NOT TO EXCEED EIGHT (8) FEET IN LENGTH.

(e)        "ANIMAL CONTROL WARDEN" MEANS THE OFFICER CHARGED WITH THE DUTY OF PICKING UP AND IMPOUNDING DOGS AS HEREIN PROVIDED.

(f)         "LITTER" IN A LITTER EACH PUPPY IS EQUAL TO ONE DOG.

SECTION 8.      IMPOUNDING.     
                             
(a)        IT SHALL BE LAWFUL FOR THE ANIMAL CONTROL WARDEN, POLICE OFFICER OR ANY OTHER PERSON, SO DESIGNATED BY THE CITY COUNCIL TO TAKE UP AND IMPOUND ANY DOG FOUND IN THE CITY WITHOUT A CURRENT EFFECTIVE TAG OR LICENSE OF THE CITY OF ROYALTON, OR FOUND RUNNING AT LARGE AT ANYTIME WITHIN THE CITY IN VIOLATION OF SAID ORDINANCE.       

(b)        NOTICE OF THE IMPOUNDING SHALL BE GIVEN TO THE OWNER PERSONALLY OR THROUGH THE UNITED STATES MAIL. IF THE OWNER IS UNKNOWN THE OFFICER SHALL AFTER 24 HOURS OF IMPOUNDING THE DOG TRANSPORT IT TO THE MORRISON COUNTY ANIMAL HUMANE SOCIETY.

(c)        ANY DOG MAY BE REDEEMED BY THE OWNER WITHIN THE TIME STATED IN THE NOTICE BY THE PAYMENT TO THE CITY CLERK OF THE LICENSE FEE FOR THE CURRENT YEAR, IF UNPAID, TOGETHER WITH ANY IMPOUNDING FEE.

(d)        HEREOF, AND IN ENFORCING THIS ORDINANCE, SUCH OFFICERS MAY ENTER UPON ANY PRIVATE PREMISES WHERE THEY HAVE REASON TO BELIEVE THERE IS AN UNLICENSED DOG.

SECTION 9.      NUMBER OF DOGS ALLOWED.

(a)        NO MORE THAN TWO DOGS OVER SIX MONTHS OF AGE CAN BE KEPT ON ANY ONE PREMISES .

SECTION 10.     FINES AND PENALTY.

(a)        ANY PERSON WHO VIOLATES ANY PROVISION OF THIS ORDINANCE IS GUILTY OF A PETTY MISDEMEANOR.

                              THIS ORDINANCE SHALL SUPERSEDE AND REPEAL ALL PRIOR AND CONSISTENT ORDINANCES. THIS ORDINANCE SHALL BE EFFECTIVE UPON PASSAGE AND PUBLICATION REQUIRED BY LAW.

DATED: 4-8-08
Mayor: Andrea Lauer
Clerk: Carol Madsen