Chapter 8.04
GENERAL REGULATIONS
8.04.010 Tying and grazing on streets and private property.
8.04.020 Impoundment—Notice to owner—Sale at public auction.
8.04.040 Unlawful to take impounded animals.
8.04.060 Burial of dead animals or fowl.
8.04.070 Failure to bury—Cost.
8.04.100 Horses upon sidewalk.
8.04.110 Leaving horses unhitched.
8.04.120 Placement or removal of birds and animals from city property.
8.04.140 Posting prohibitions of dogs.
8.04.010 Tying and grazing on streets and private property.
It is unlawful for any ox, bull, cow, horse, colt, jack, mule, calf, sheep, goat, hog or other animal to run at large or to be pastured or herded or staked or tied for the purpose of grazing in any of the open streets, open alleys, squares or other grounds belonging to or under the control of the city within the city; and it is unlawful for any of such animals or stock of any kind to be tied, staked, pastured or to run at large upon any private property within the city unless by consent of the owner or occupant of such property. (Ord. 1446, 2023; prior code § 4.7).
8.04.020 Impoundment—Notice to owner—Sale at public auction.
It shall be the duty of the animal control officer, the chief of police or any police officer to take up, impound and safely keep any of the animals enumerated in Section 8.04.010 found running at large, staked, tied or being herded or pastured in any street, alley, square or other public ground or place, or upon any private lot or ground contrary to the provisions of Section 8.04.010. When any animal is so impounded, the animal control officer shall immediately notify the owner thereof, if known, by written notice of such owner; if unknown, by advertisement in a newspaper published in this city for five days. The notices shall contain a full description of the animals and shall set forth that unless reclaimed, they will be sold at public auction to the highest bidder at a time and place to be specified in the notice, which time shall be not less than seven nor more than ten days from the time of the first publication of the notice. If the animals are not reclaimed before the expiration of the time specified in the notice, the animal control officer shall proceed to sell the same at the time and place and in the manner specified in the notice. (Ord. 1446, 2023; Ord. 860 § 1 (part), 1976: prior code § 4.8).
8.04.040 Unlawful to take impounded animals.
If any person shall take any animal from the possession of the animal control officer, chief of police or any person authorized to impound animals while conveying or being about to convey or drive such animal to the city animal shelter, or shall make any animal shelter breach, or in any way, directly or indirectly, convey or deliver any animal out of the city animal shelter without lawful authority, he shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor. (Ord. 1446, 2023; Ord. 860 § 1 (part), 1976: prior code § 4.4).
8.04.060 Burial of dead animals or fowl.
It is unlawful for any person to bury any animal within the limits of the city. This prohibition shall not apply to the burial of cats, dogs, fowl or other small household pets upon the owner’s premises. (Ord. 1446, 2023; Ord. 860 § 1 (part), 1976: prior code § 4.10).
8.04.070 Failure to bury—Cost.
If any person fails or neglects to bury any animal as provided for in Section 8.04.060, then in such case it shall be the duty of the animal control officer to proceed forthwith to have the same buried or cremated, and it is lawful for the animal control officer to charge to and recover from the owner or possessor of the dead animal the cost of burying or cremating the animal; and any such person who neglects or refuses to bury or cremate or cause to be buried or cremated any dead animal upon his premises, or in any public place of which he is the owner or possessor, or to pay the animal control officer the costs incurred in burying or cremating such animal shall be deemed guilty of an infraction, and in case the animal control officer, after diligent search, cannot find the owner or possessor of the dead animal, the animal control officer shall cause the animal to be buried or cremated, and the cost thereof defrayed by the city. (Ord. 1446, 2023; Ord. 1446, 2023l; Ord. 860 § 1 (part), 1976: prior code 4.11).
8.04.095 Horses prohibited.
It is unlawful for any person, group, firm or corporation to ride, lead, have or permit a horse or horses to be in or on any public park, public square or public school grounds within the city except with the written permission of the governing body of the city or, with respect to school grounds, the governing board of the school district. (Ord. 1446, 2023; Ord. 860 § 3 (part), 1976).
8.04.100 Horses upon sidewalk.
Any person who shall ride, drive, lead, place or tie any horse or other animal on any sidewalk of this city, except when proceeding directly across such sidewalk, is guilty of an infraction. (Ord. 1446, 2023; Ord. 860 § 1 (part), 1976: prior code § 4.14).
8.04.110 Leaving horses unhitched.
No person shall leave standing in any of the streets, alleys or highways of the city any horse or work animal unless attended by some person of suitable age and discretion or hitched in a good and substantial manner. (Ord. 1446, 2023; Ord. 860 § 1 (part), 1976: prior code § 4.15).
8.04.120 Placement or removal of birds and animals from city property.
Without the prior written consent of the director of public works, it is unlawful for any person, group or organization (a) to release, place, or abandon, or cause to be released, placed, or abandoned, any animal, fish, amphibian, waterfowl or bird in, or on, property of the city and (b) to take from, harm, or molest or attempt to take from, harm, or molest any animal or bird which is on the property of the city. (Ord. 1446, 2023; Ord. 1078 § 2, 1989).
8.04.130 Control of dogs.
(a) It shall be the responsibility for any person who owns or has the charge, care, control or custody of any dog to clean up fecal matter deposited on the private property of another from such pet before leaving such right-of-way and properly dispose of same.
(b) It shall be the responsibility for any person who owns or has the charge, care, control or custody of any dog while upon any city property or public right-of-way to clean up fecal matter from their pet before leaving the city property or public right-of-way and to properly dispose of same.
(c) It is unlawful for the owner or person having custody of any dog to allow its feces to accumulate or remain on the ground or other surface on his or her private property to the extent that the accumulation creates a nuisance. A nuisance, for the purposes of this subsection, includes, but is not limited to, feces accumulation that interferes with the use or enjoyment of any neighboring property as a result of odors or the attraction or breeding of vermin or vectors. (Ord. 1446, 2023; Ord. 1422 (part), 2020; Ord. 1309 § 8 (part), 2007; Ord. 1281 § 1, 2003).
8.04.140 Posting prohibitions of dogs.
The city manager, the city services director, or a designee of said persons shall have the authority to prohibit dogs on any city property or public right-of-way where the presence of dogs may pose a public hazard, such as at a public gathering or children’s event. Areas where dogs are prohibited shall be designated by posting a sign immediately adjacent to the property on which dogs are prohibited. (Ord. 1446, 2023; Ord. 1309 § 8 (part), 2007; Ord. 1281 § 2, 2003).