Chapter 6.30
COMPANION ANIMAL HOARDING

Sections:

6.30.010    Companion animal hoarding.

6.30.020    Surrender or forfeiture of animals.

6.30.010 Companion animal hoarding.

(1) A person is guilty of companion animal hoarding when he or she owns, possesses, or has charge, care, custody or control of companion animals, and fails to or is unable to provide what he or she is required to provide under Chapter 6.28 NCC, Cruelty to Animals, and Chapter 6.22 NCC, Kennels; or

(2) Keeps the companion animals in an overcrowded living environment likely to endanger their health or safety; or

(3) Fails to maintain his or her living environment in a sanitary condition such as to pose a serious risk to the health or safety of the companion animals and/or people living in that environment. Failure to provide a sufficiently sanitary living environment may be evidenced by conditions such as excessive feces, urine, dirt, garbage or lack of basic services that make a home habitable such as heat, hot water, ventilation or electricity; or

(4) Displays an inability to recognize or understand the nature of, or has a reckless disregard for the conditions under which the companion animals and/or people are living and the deleterious impact they have on the companion animal’s and/or people’s health, safety and well-being. [Ord. 14-159, 2014.]

6.30.020 Surrender or forfeiture of animals.

When a person is convicted of companion animal hoarding the court in addition to fines and penalties may order the following:

(1) That the defendant surrender or forfeit ownership of the animals whose treatment was the basis of conviction or plea to the district’s animal shelter;

(2) That the defendant reimburse the district’s animal shelter for the reasonable costs incurred to care for, feed, provide necessary veterinary care for and house any animal that is surrendered or forfeited pursuant to this section;

(3) That the defendant be prohibited from owning companion animals for a period of time deemed reasonable by the court. [Ord. 14-159, 2014.]