ARTICLE I. IN GENERAL
5-1 Animal shelter provided.
The poundkeeper or their designee shall designate animal shelters or other facilities for all domestic and exotic animals they determine to be in need pursuant to Section 5-25.
(Ord. of 6-23-97; Ord. of 3-24-25)
5-2 Appointment of poundkeeper.
(a) It shall be the duty of the mayor to appoint a poundkeeper pursuant to Section 122 of the Charter who may also be an enforcement official authorized to enforce this chapter. That person shall facilitate and oversee placement of animals at large or otherwise required to be impounded pursuant to this chapter.
(b) "Enforcement official" when used in this chapter shall mean any city official designated by the city council to issue municipal tickets. Said designee(s) shall be reported to the Vermont Judicial Bureau per the Bureau’s administrative roles.
(Ord. of 6-23-97; Ord. of 3-24-25)
Cross reference—Duties of officers of the city, § 2-4.
5-3 Animal bites.
It shall be the duty of every person bitten, or their parent or guardian, and the attending physicians to report to an enforcement official, who shall report to the city health officer, within twenty-four (24) hours, if feasible, the name, address and telephone number of the owner or keeper of the animal who bit the person and the complete circumstances, to the extent known.
(Ord. of 6-23-97; Ord. of 3-24-25)
5-4 Nuisance animals.
(a) No owner, keeper or other person having control shall permit an animal to be a nuisance animal. For the purposes of this section, nuisance animal means any animal or animals who:
(1) Attacks or harasses passersby or passing vehicles, or otherwise creates a public safety hazard;
(2) Attacks other animals, including domestic pets, avians, and wildlife, off the owner’s premises;
(3) Damages property other than that of their owner; damage may include but is not limited to damage caused by urination or spraying;
(4) Defecates off the premises of the animal’s owner, and the owner, or other individual in control of the animal, fails to remove such deposit immediately;
(5) Dogs at large as defined by Section 5-14;
(6) Trespasses on the property of another; or
(7) Barks, whines, howls, cries, or makes a noise commonly made by such animals in an excessive and continuous fashion so as to disturb the peace and quiet of any other person.
(b) Any animal determined to be a nuisance animal by an enforcement official shall be impounded if the owner, or owner’s agent, is not present and cannot be located immediately.
(Ord. of 6-23-97; Ord. of 10-23-06, eff. 11-22-06; Ord. of 3-24-25)
5-5 Exotic animals.
(a) Purpose and findings. The purpose of this section is to enhance the public safety of persons who are present on the district known as the Church Street Marketplace (the Marketplace) and in the city’s parks by regulating the presence of "exotic" animals on the Marketplace and in the city’s parks. The council finds that such pets can pose a threat to the public health, safety, and welfare if present on the Marketplace and in city parks. Such pets are unlicensed and are not typically leashed, as is required of domestic dogs.
(b) Definitions. "Exotic pet" means all animals except domestic dogs, domestic cats and the European ferret (Mustela putorious furo).
(c) General prohibition. No person shall have an exotic pet or permit their exotic pet to be on or about the Marketplace or within a city park unless expressly approved by the Marketplace director or parks department respectively or exempted under the terms of this section.
(d) Exemptions. A person may have or permit an exotic pet to be on or about the Marketplace or within a city park when done to transport the pet directly from a pet store in the vicinity of the Marketplace or city park after purchase of such pet or to return such pet to said pet store. The person must retain a receipt for the purchase of such pet and shall display the receipt upon demand from any enforcement official.
(Ord. of 10-27-03, eff. 12-3-03; Ord. of 3-24-25)
5-6 Use of non-domesticated animals for public display prohibited.
(a) Purpose. This section is intended to assist in the prevention of the mistreatment of non-domesticated animals used in any public display, to reduce risk of harm to the public from accidents and incidents involving such animals, and to reduce the public health risk associated with diseases and pathogens carried by such animals.
(b) Definitions.
(1) Non-domesticated animals are defined as Felidae (all wild cats and hybrids thereof), Ursidae (all bears), Proboscideae (all elephants), and non-human primates and Prosimians.
(2) Public display shall mean the exhibition, presentation or showing of live non-domesticated animals to the general public regardless of whether for profit, on a not for profit basis or without charge.
(c) Prohibition. The public display of live non-domesticated animals within the corporate limits of the city is prohibited.
(Ord. of 9-7-04; eff. 10-13-04; Ord. of 3-24-25)