Chapter 6.10
INJURY TO ANIMALS
Sections:
6.10.030 Accidents involving injury to animals.
6.10.040 Costs and expenses for injured animal.
6.10.010 Cruelty to animals.
A. Prohibited Acts. It is unlawful to any person to:
1. Maim, mutilate, torture, kill or abandon an animal;
2. Injure, torment, poison, provoke or otherwise abuse an animal;
3. Maintain an animal in an inhumane manner, including failure to provide adequate food, water, housing and care;
4. Keep an animal on vacant property or in an unoccupied structure, unless the animal is cared for in a humane manner;
5. Have an animal within, on or attached to a motor vehicle under conditions that may endanger the health, safety or welfare of the animal, including but not limited to insufficient control or extreme temperature.
a. The chief of police or his/her authorized designee and any officer or his/her designee is authorized to remove an animal from a motor vehicle at any location when they reasonably believe there is a violation of this section. Any animal so removed shall be delivered to the police department animal impound facility after the removing officer leaves written notice of the removal and delivery, including the officer’s name and call number, in a conspicuous, secure location on or within the vehicle.
b. No person, authorized and acting pursuant to the authority granted in subsection (A)(5)(a) of this section shall be held criminally or civilly liable for action taken under this subsection.
(Ord. 17-01, Added, 02/16/2017)
6.10.020 Animal fighting.
A. It is unlawful for any person to:
1. Cause or allow an animal to fight another animal or a human being, unless the animal is:
a. Acting in defense of: itself, its owner or custodian; or the property of its owner or custodian against trespass or other crime, in or on the premises of the owner or custodian, and the injury or damage sustained by the victim was incurred at that time; or
b. Acting in defense of an owner, custodian or third person from an attack or assault perpetrated against them, within the immediate vicinity of the animal; or
c. Acting in defense of physical abuse, assault or attack to itself or its offspring, by another animal or a person or persons; or
d. Responding to pain or injury; or
e. Trained and used by an authorized law enforcement unit to act in a manner directly associated with the proper execution of its duties;
2. Own, possess, keep or train any animal with the intent that the animal shall be engaged in an exhibition of fighting with another animal or human being;
3. Manufacture, buy, sell, barter, exchange or possess any of the implements commonly known as gaffs or slashers or any other sharp or pointed implement designed to be attached in place of the natural spur of a gamecock or fighting rooster or bird;
4. Train any animal for the purpose of fighting, or allow an exhibition of fighting on his or her premises, or to be a spectator at such training or exhibition of fighting.
(Ord. 17-01, Added, 02/16/2017)
6.10.030 Accidents involving injury to animals.
A. It is unlawful for the driver of a vehicle involved in an accident that injures an animal to:
1. Not stop the vehicle as close to the scene of the accident as possible; and
2. Inform the animal’s owner of the injury, if ownership is readily ascertainable; or
3. Inform the chief of police or the Skagway police department of the following: the injury; the time and location of the accident; the description of the injured animal; the identification the animal may possess, if the information can be safely and reasonably attained; and the apparent nature of the injury.
(Ord. 17-01, Added, 02/16/2017)
6.10.040 Costs and expenses for injured animal.
In addition to the civil fine imposed in accordance with Chapter 1.20, General Penalty, any person found in violation of Sections 6.10.010(A)(1), (A)(2), (A)(3), and/or 6.10.020(A)(1) shall also be responsible for the costs and expenses incurred by the owner for the transportation, housing, maintenance, care, observation, and/or medical treatment and vaccines for the animal provided by veterinarian care or otherwise.
(Ord. 17-01, Added, 02/16/2017)