All animals shall be kept and treated under sanitary humane conditions.
It is not considered animal cruelty to house an animal outdoors. However, all animals must be provided adequate food, a constant supply of clean, fresh water and adequate shelter from the weather at all times.
Animals that are tethered outdoors are required to have no less than 10 feet of chain with swivels on both ends and are to be tethered in such a manner that the animal cannot become entangled. A chain or tether cannot exceed 10% of the animals body weight. A chain cannot be used as a primary collar. For the purpose of chaining or tethering a collar must be made of nylon or leather.
It is unlawful to allow a collar, rope or chain to become embedded in or cause injury to an animal's neck. It is important to monitor a growing animal's collar for the necessity of adjustment. It is also unlawful to use a chock or pinch collar to be used as a primary collar when the animal is left unsupervised.
In addition to failing to comply with the above stipulations, other acts which are enforceable as animal cruelty violations include, but are not limited to:
• Intentionally allowing animals to engage in a fight.
• Allowing animals to live in crowded or unsanitary conditions.
• Failure or refusal to obtain medical treatment for an animal.
• Shooting a dog, either on or off the owner's property unless the dog is in the act of attacking a human being or livestock.
• Leaving an animal in a closed vehicle or other enclosure when temperatures may be harmful to the animal.
• Carrying or causing to be carried in or upon the open area of a truck or other motor vehicle any animal that is not secured in and animal carrier or by a harness or other device, such that the animal cannot fall from, jump from, or be thrown from the vehicle.
• Failure or refusal to report injured or killed domestic animals
Remember that we chose to domesticate what would otherwise be a wild animal. In doing so, we take the responsibility as the sole provider for all of the needs of the animal. Therefore, we must provide a comfortable and healthy living environment for our pets and treat them with kindness and respect.
In order for us to investigate an allegation of animal cruelty, we must have the following information:
• Name, address, and telephone number of the complainant. This information is kept confidential, but is required to establish a cause to investigate.
• Exact address of the location of the animal(s). We must have a street name and number, including apartment or lot number.
• A specific incident or observation made by the complainant; in other words, the person calling must have seen an act of cruelty occur.
We can only remove a dog in order to prevent further suffering if the dog's life is in imminent danger. In most cases, the owner is given an opportunity to improve the dog's condition and provide proper care first. Only in extreme cases do we impound an animal and charge the owner with cruelty to animals.
It is very important that citizens do not attempt to "solve" the problem by providing food, water, shelter, or other care that could potentially destroy the physical evidence of neglect and cruelty. It is also critical that citizens do not take matters into their own hands and remove the dog. To do so may subject the citizen to criminal charges of theft by taking, obstruction of Animal Control, criminal trespass, criminal destruction of property, and other crimes. |
