Chapter 6.05
DOGS

Sections:

6.05.010  License required.

6.05.020  Fee.

6.05.030  Application.

6.05.040  Tag.

6.05.050  Tag nontransferable.

6.05.060  Leash required.

6.05.070  Nuisance.

6.05.080  Keeping dog – When unlawful.

6.05.090  Poundmaster.

6.05.100  Impounding dogs – When.

6.05.110  Redemption of impounded dog.

6.05.120  Quarantine.

6.05.130  Cruel treatment.

6.05.140  Interference.

6.05.150  Inapplicability.

6.05.160  Disposition of fees.

6.05.170  Poundmaster defined.

6.05.180  Violation – Penalty.

6.05.010 License required.

It shall be unlawful for any person to own or keep a dog within the corporate limits of the town of Cathlamet without procuring a current license therefor as provided in this chapter. (Ord. 261 § 1, 1972)

6.05.020 Fee.

Annual license fee, issued on a calendar year basis, shall be $3.00 for each dog for each year; provided, that for dogs newly licensed after July lst of any year the fee shall be $1.50. All licenses shall expire on the thirty-first day of December of the year of issuance. (Ord. 261 § 2, 1972)

6.05.030 Application.

Application for dog license shall be made on forms provided for such purpose, and shall contain the name and address of the owner, the name, breed, color and sex of each dog owned or kept by him. (Ord. 261 § 3, 1972)

6.05.040 Tag.

Upon payment of the license fee, the clerk shall issue a receipt and a metallic tag for each dog licensed. The tag shall have stamped on it the year for which issued and a number corresponding to the number shown on the receipt. Each owner will be required to provide each dog with a collar to which the license tag must be affixed, and shall be responsible for seeing that the collar and tag are constantly worn. In case of loss, a duplicate tag will be issued upon payment of a $0.50 fee for such duplicate. (Ord. 261 § 4, 1972)

6.05.050 Tag nontransferable.

It shall be unlawful for any person to use any license tag for any dog other than the one for which it was issued. Such tags shall not be transferable and if there is a change in the ownership of a licensed dog, the new owner shall promptly notify the clerk thereof, and proper notation of such change in ownership shall be made on the application for which the current tag was issued. (Ord. 261 § 5, 1972)

6.05.060 Leash required.

It shall be unlawful for any person to cause, permit, or allow any dog owned, controlled or kept by him in the town of Cathlamet, to roam, run or stray away from the premises of the owner or licensee of such dog except when such dog is under restraint by means of a leash or is otherwise in the immediate vicinity of the owner or some other person 18 years of age or older, who is responsible for such dog and only when such dog responds promptly at all times to the commands of the owner or such other person when such dog is not under leash restraint. (Ord. 261 § 6, 1972)

6.05.070 Nuisance.

The following dogs shall be and are hereby declared to be a nuisance:

(1) Any dog which habitually runs after or barks at persons travelling the streets or other public thoroughfares or which runs after or chases fowls;

(2) Any dog which by frequent or habitual howling, yelping or barking shall annoy or disturb a neighborhood or the quiet and repose of several persons;

(3) Any dog at large, when not under leash restraint or command as provided in CMC 6.05.060;

(4) Any vicious dog, a "vicious" dog being defined in this chapter as one which habitually attacks or kills other dogs, cats, or domestic animals, or which has bitten or scratched any person in such a manner as to break the skin of such person and leave a visible mark or marks of such injury. (Ord. 261 § 7, 1972)

6.05.080 Keeping dog – When unlawful.

It shall be unlawful for any person to keep or harbor a dog found to be a nuisance whether such dog is licensed or not. (Ord. 261 § 8, 1972)

6.05.090 Poundmaster.

(1) When authorized by the town council the mayor shall appoint a poundmaster, whose duty it shall be to make diligent inquiry from house to house within the corporate limits and in any other lawful manner, as to the number of dogs owned and whether such dogs are licensed.

(2) Upon finding any dogs unlicensed, after the first day of March of any year, the poundmaster shall forthwith give notice in writing to the owner or keeper of such unlicensed dog or dogs that a license must be secured immediately at the regular license fee, plus $3.00 for each such unlicensed dog as a penalty for the owner’s or keeper’s neglect in failing to secure said license, or that said dog or dogs must be disposed of by the owner or keeper thereof in accordance with the terms and conditions of said notice.

(3) Upon the failure of the owner or keeper of said dog or dogs to comply with the terms of said notice, the poundmaster shall forthwith file complaint in the municipal court against the owner or keeper of said unlicensed dog or dogs for violation of the provisions of this chapter. (Ord. 261 § 9, 1972)

6.05.100 Impounding dogs – When.

(1) Any unlicensed dog, and any dog declared to be a nuisance shall be seized and impounded by the poundmaster or some other person or agency duly authorized by the mayor and council.

(2) If the name of the owner of the impounded dog can be ascertained through the license tag, if any, or otherwise, the poundmaster shall notify the owner by certified mail, return receipt requested, that such dog will be offered for sale at the end of 72 hours from the time such dog was impounded unless the dog is redeemed prior to such time in the manner herein provided. No such notice shall be required if the dog has no license tag.

(3) Any impounded dog shall be kept in custody not less than 72 hours, and if the owner of any dog so impounded shall not redeem such dog by paying the charges as herein provided, then it shall be the duty of the poundmaster, or other authorized person or agency, to offer such dog for sale in consideration of the payment for such redemption charges.

(4) If any dog so sold is not to be kept within the corporate limits of the town of Cathlamet, the purchaser of such dog shall not be required to pay the license fee therefor as herein required.

(5) In case of failure to obtain a purchaser, it shall be the duty of the poundmaster to immediately destroy or otherwise dispose of the dog by humane methods. (Ord. 261 § 10, 1972)

6.05.110 Redemption of impounded dog.

(1) The owner of any dog impounded may redeem the same within 72 hours by paying the poundmaster, or the clerk, the following redemption charges:

(a) The license fee herein provided, unless such dog then has a valid license issued by the town; and

(b) An impounding fee of $2.00 per dog shall be charged for each day of impoundment; and

(c) A service charge of $10.00.

(2) The owner or purchaser of any vicious dog, as herein defined, shall not be permitted to keep such dog within the corporate limits. If any such vicious dog is again impounded the poundmaster shall forthwith destroy such dog by humane method. (Ord. 261 § 11, 1972)

6.05.120 Quarantine.

Any dog which bites a person shall be quarantined for 10 days if ordered by the director of the Cowlitz – Wahkiakum Health Department. During quarantine the dog shall be securely confined and kept from contact with any other animal. At the discretion of the director, the quarantine may be on the premises of the owner. If the director requires other confinement, such as an animal shelter or veterinary hospital, it shall be at the expense of the owner. Upon diagnosis of rabies in a dog in quarantine, it shall be humanely killed and its head sent to a laboratory for pathological examination and confirmation of diagnosis. (Ord. 261 § 12, 1972)

6.05.130 Cruel treatment.

It shall be unlawful for any person within the town of Cathlamet to keep, treat, or maintain any dog in a cruel, inhumane or unsanitary manner. (Ord. 261 § 13, 1972)

6.05.140 Interference.

It shall be unlawful for any person to attempt to prevent or hinder the poundmaster or any other officer from carrying out the provisions of this chapter. (Ord. 261 § 14, 1972)

6.05.150 Inapplicability.

The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to nonresidents not keeping their dog in town longer than 30 days during all of which time it shall be kept under restraint; to "seeing-eye" dogs properly trained to assist blind persons when such dogs are actually used by such blind persons for the purpose of going from place to place; nor to dogs kept in commercial kennels and not permitted to run at large; nor to dogs brought into the town for the purpose of participating in dog shows and not permitted to run at large. (Ord. 261 § 15, 1972)

6.05.160 Disposition of fees.

All license fees, impounding fees, and any other monies collected under this chapter by any person authorized to do so shall be turned over to the town treasurer. (Ord. 261 § 16, 1972)

6.05.170 Poundmaster defined.

As used in this chapter the term "poundmaster" shall be deemed to mean and include any person or agency employed by the town for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this chapter. (Ord. 261 § 17, 1972)

6.05.180 Violation – Penalty.

Any owner or keeper of any dog violating any of the provisions of this chapter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be punished by a fine of not to exceed $100.00, or by imprisonment for not exceeding 10 days, or by both such fine and imprisonment. Such punishment may be in addition to any charges or fees otherwise provided in this chapter. (Ord. 261 § 18, 1972)