Chapter 6.05
DOGS AND CATS
Sections:
6.05.020 Licenses and tags generally.
6.05.030 Vaccination required.
6.05.040 Dogs at large prohibited.
6.05.050 Confinement of animals in a motor vehicle.
6.05.070 Dogs and cats in city parks prohibited.
6.05.010 Definitions.
In this chapter unless the context otherwise requires:
“At large” means off the premises of the owner, not under the control of the owner, or other persons acting for the owner.
“Cat” means a member of the feline family.
“Chemical immobilization” means any humane use of a tranquilizer to immobilize any animal for capture, relocation or treatment.
“Collar” means a band, chain, harness or suitable device worn around the neck and/or shoulders of a dog or cat to which a license tag must be affixed.
“Dog” means a member of the Canis familiaris family.
“Owner” means any person owning, keeping, possessing, harboring or maintaining a dog or cat.
“Pound, animal shelter, or animal control center” means any establishment authorized by the town for the confinement, maintenance, safekeeping and control of animals that come into the custody of the town.
“Vaccination” means an anti-rabies vaccination using a type of vaccine approved by the state veterinarian.
“Vicious animal” means any animal of the order Carnivora that has a propensity to attack, to cause injury to or to otherwise endanger the safety of human beings or domestic animals without provocation, or that has been so declared after a hearing before a justice of the peace or a city magistrate.
“Wild animal” means any animals which are nondomesticated or the offspring of any nondomesticated animal crossbred to a domestic animal. These are considered to be wild animals and will be managed as wild animals in the event of a bite.
“Wildlife management” means the Department of Game and Fish or an agent will act to humanely capture, relocate, monitor or destroy wildlife for the interest of public and animal safety. (Ord. 18-23 § 2, 2018; Ord. 07-02, 2007; Ord. 01-011 § 1, 2001; prior code § 7-1-1)
6.05.020 Licenses and tags generally.
A. All dogs and cats kept, harbored or maintained in the town must be licensed and registered if over four months of age. Dog and cat licenses shall be issued by the police department upon payment of license fees as prescribed in Section 6.20.010. All licenses shall expire on December 31st of each year. The owner shall state, at the time application is made for such license, his/her name and address, telephone number, the name, breed, color, sex and, if applicable, proof of spay or neuter, for each dog and cat owned or kept by him/her. Penalties for violations of this subsection shall be as provided in Section 6.20.040(A).
B. If the license is not obtained by the owner prior to April 1st of any year, or within 60 days of the date of the first possession of any dog or cat, or upon its becoming four months old, or within 60 days from the arrival of the dog or cat in the town, the license payment shall be deemed delinquent and a penalty as provided in the fee schedule set forth in Section 6.20.010 shall be paid.
C. A guide dog belonging to a blind person or to any bona fide nonprofit organization which is in the business of breeding, raising or training dogs that are used for guiding the blind shall not be required to be licensed. Also, any handicapped person who owns a dog which is specifically trained and used to guide or assist that person shall not be required to pay a dog license fee.
D. Each dog or cat licensed under the terms of this chapter shall receive, at the time of licensing, a tag on which shall be inscribed the name of the town, the number of the license and the year in which it expires. The tag shall be attached to a collar, harness or other device, which shall be worn by the dog or cat at all times except as otherwise provided in this chapter. Penalties for violations of this subsection shall be as provided in Section 6.20.040(A).
E. Any person who knowingly fails within 15 days after written notification from the police department to obtain a license for a dog or cat required to be licensed, or counterfeits an official tag, or removes such tag from any dog or cat for the purpose of intentional and malicious mischief or places a tag upon a dog or cat unless the tag was issued for that particular dog or cat is guilty of a misdemeanor as provided in Section 6.20.040(B).
F. Whenever the ownership of a dog or cat has been changed, the new owner shall secure a transfer of license to such owner. A transfer fee shall be paid as prescribed in Section 6.20.010.
G. Dogs, while being used for hunting, or dogs or cats while being exhibited at shows or dogs while engaged in races approved by the Arizona Racing Commission and such dogs or cats while being transported to and from such events need not have the license tag affixed to the animal; provided, that the animals are properly vaccinated and licensed.
H. The police department can apprehend and impound any dog or cat found without a current valid license tag. (Ord. 18-23 § 2, 2018; Ord. 01-011 § 2, 2001; prior code § 7-1-2)
6.05.030 Vaccination required.
A. Before a license is issued for any dog or cat, the owner must present a vaccination certificate signed by a veterinarian stating the owner’s name and address and giving the dog’s or cat’s description, date of the vaccination and type, manufacturer and serial number of the vaccine and date revaccination is due. A duplicate of each rabies vaccination certificate issued shall be transmitted to the town on or before the tenth day of the month following the month during which the dog or cat was vaccinated. No dog or cat shall be licensed unless it is vaccinated in accordance with the provisions of this chapter and the regulations promulgated hereunder.
B. A dog or cat vaccinated in any other place prior to entry into the town may be licensed in the town; provided, that at the time of licensing, the owner of such dog or cat presents a vaccination certificate, signed by a veterinarian licensed to practice in that place or a veterinarian employed by a governmental agency in that place, stating the owner’s name and address and giving the dog’s or cat’s description, date of vaccination and type, manufacturer and serial number of the vaccine used. The vaccination must be in conformity with the provisions of this chapter and the regulations promulgated hereunder.
C. The police department shall make provisions for low-cost vaccination clinics as deemed necessary. The vaccination shall be performed by a veterinarian.
D. If a dog or cat is impounded and found to be unvaccinated, the police department is hereby authorized to cause such dog or cat to be vaccinated at a cost to be borne by the owner. The vaccination shall be performed by a veterinarian, who shall issue a certificate of vaccination.
E. All vaccination requirements will conform automatically with the changes contained in the Compendium of Animal Rabies Control Vaccine prepared by the National Association of Public Health Veterinarians, Inc. (Ord. 18-23 § 2, 2018; prior code § 7-1-3)
6.05.040 Dogs at large prohibited.
A. It is unlawful for the owner of a dog to allow such animal to be at large in the town limits. Cats are considered to be a free roaming animal unless they become a nuisance and then may be captured. Penalties for violations of this subsection shall be as provided in Section 6.20.040(A).
B. A dog shall not be deemed at large:
1. If said dog is restrained by a leash, chain, rope or cord of not more than 10 feet in length and of sufficient strength to control the action of said dog.
2. While said dog is actively engaged in obedience training, accompanied by and under the control of his/her owner or trainer; provided, that the person training said dog has, in his/her possession, a leash, chain, rope or cord of not more than 10 feet in length and of sufficient strength to control said dog, and, further, that said dog is actually enrolled in or has graduated from an obedience training school.
3. While said dog is being used for hunting purposes.
4. While said dog is being exhibited at any approved animal show.
5. While said dog is engaged in races approved by the Arizona Racing Commission.
6. While on the owner’s property when physically confined to the property.
C. No person in charge of any dog shall permit such dog in a public park or upon any public school property unless the dog is physically restrained by a leash, chain, rope or cord, enclosed in a car, cage or similar enclosure, or being exhibited or trained at a recognized and approved event, public school or park sponsored event. Penalties for violations of this subsection shall be as provided in Section 6.20.040(A). (Ord. 18-23 § 2, 2018; Ord. 01-011 § 3, 2001; prior code § 7-1-4)
6.05.050 Confinement of animals in a motor vehicle.
A. In this section only, unless the context otherwise requires:
“Animal” means all species of mammals, except humans, and all species of birds.
B. No person having charge or custody of an animal, as owner, caretaker, or otherwise, shall place or confine such animal or allow such animal to be placed or confined or to remain in a motor vehicle under such conditions or for such period of time as may endanger the health or well-being of such animal to cause suffering, disability or death. Penalties for violations of this subsection are criminal and shall be penalized as provided in Section 6.20.040(B).
C. No person having dominion or control over a motor vehicle, as owner or otherwise, shall place or confine an animal or allow an animal to be placed or confined or to remain in a motor vehicle under such conditions or for such periods of time as may endanger the health or well-being of such animal due to lack of food or drink, or such other circumstances as may reasonably be expected to cause suffering, disability or death. Penalties for violations of this subsection are criminal and shall be penalized as provided in Section 6.20.040(B).
D. Nothing in this section shall be deemed to prohibit the transportation of horses, cattle, sheep, poultry or other agricultural livestock in trailers or other vehicles designed and constructed for such purpose.
E. A member of the police department who finds an animal in a motor vehicle in violation of this section may break and enter the motor vehicle if necessary to remove the animal. Neither the officer nor the police department shall be held responsible for damages. The officer removing the animal shall take the animal to an animal shelter or other place of safe keeping and shall, in the event the person having custody cannot be otherwise contacted, leave in a prominent place in the motor vehicle a written notice bearing his name and office and the address where the animal may be reclaimed by the owner thereof. The animal will be surrendered to the owner if the owner claims the animal within five working days from the time the animal was removed from the motor vehicle and pays all charges that have accrued for the maintenance of the animal. (Ord. 18-23 § 2, 2018; Ord. 01-011 § 4, 2001; prior code § 7-1-5)
6.05.060 Cruelty to animals.
A. A person is guilty of cruelty to animals if, except as otherwise authorized by law, such person recklessly:
1. Subjects any animals under human custody or control to cruel mistreatment; or
2. Kills, maims or wounds any animal under the custody or control of another without either legal privilege or consent of the owner.
B. No person shall abandon an animal, or drop or leave an animal on a street, road or highway, in a public place or on private property with the intent to abandon it. An animal is also abandoned when the owner, possessor or custodian fails to claim it from a boarding facility or veterinarian within five days of the date a registered letter is received by such person from the boarding facility or veterinarian requesting that the owner, possessor or custodian reclaim the animal.
C. Any person who conducts a shooting event at which any person uses a firearm to shoot, kill or wound a live bird or animal that is tied, staked out, caged, held or restrained in any manner and used as a target to be fired at in such event is guilty of a class one misdemeanor.
D. Any person owning or having care, control or custody of any animal shall ensure:
1. That the animal receives daily, food that is free from contamination and is of sufficient quantity and nutritive value to maintain the animal in good health; and
2. That potable water is accessible to the animal at all times, either free flowing or in a clean receptacle; and
3. That all animals have convenient access to natural or artificial shelter throughout the year. Any such artificial shelter shall be structurally sound and maintained in good repair to protect the animal from injury and from the elements and of sufficient size to permit the animal to enter, stand, turn around and lie down in a natural manner. Any shelter which does not protect the animal from temperature extremes or precipitation, or which does not provide adequate ventilation or drainage, is in violation of this chapter. Any shelter, all bedding and any space accessible to the animal shall be maintained in a manner which minimizes the risk of the animal contracting disease, being injured or becoming infested with parasites; and
4. That the animal receives care and medical treatment for debilitating injuries, parasites and diseases, sufficient to maintain the animal in good health and minimize suffering; and
5. That the animal is given adequate exercise space either:
a. Within an enclosure that shall be constructed of material, and in a manner to minimize the risk of injury to the animal, and shall encompass sufficient usable space to keep the animal in good condition; or
b. On a tie-out, consisting of a chain, leash, wire cable or similar restraint attached to a swivel or pulley. Tie-outs shall be so located as to keep the animal exclusively on the secured premises. Tie-outs shall be so located that they cannot become entangled with other objects. Collars used to attach an animal to a tie-out shall not be of a choke type. No tie-out shall employ a restraint which is less than 10 feet in length.
E. Violations of this section are criminal and shall be penalized as provided in Section 6.20.040(B). (Ord. 18-23 § 2, 2018; prior code § 7-1-6)
6.05.070 Dogs and cats in city parks prohibited.
A. Dogs and cats are prohibited from Keeline Park, Hunt Park and Leffingwell Park. Penalties for violations of this subsection shall be as provided in Section 6.20.040(A).
B. Dogs and cats are not prohibited from other city parks but shall abide by the requirements established in Chapter 6.25.
C. Dogs and cats being exhibited in any approved animal show are exempt from this section. Pursuant to this section, exhibitors shall abide by the requirements established in Chapter 6.25.
D. Certified guide dogs that assist blind and/or handicapped people are exempt from this section. (Ord. 18-23 § 2, 2018; Ord. 01-011 § 5, 2001; prior code § 7-1-7)