ARTICLE II. DOGS1
5-13 Definitions.
The following definitions shall apply to this article:
"At-large" shall mean not under the control of the owner, or another individual either by leash, cord, chain or other similar means of physical restraint.
"Dog" shall include both male and female of the canine species. Dog shall also mean any animal which is considered to be a wolf-hybrid as defined in 20 V.S.A. § 3541(6).
"Enforcement official" when used herein shall mean any animal control officer, police officer, poundkeeper, urban park ranger or other individual specifically designated by the city council to enforce the provisions of this chapter.
"Owner" shall include any person or persons, firm, association or corporation owning, keeping or harboring a dog.
"Vicious dog" shall mean a dog which attacks or bites a person or other domestic pet while the dog is off the premises of the owner or keeper, and the person or pet attacked or bitten requires medical attention. Vicious dog complaints shall be investigated pursuant to section 5-27(b).
(Ord. of 6-23-97; Ord. of 4-17-00; Ord. of 4-17-23(1))
5-14 At-large prohibited.
(a) Prohibition. Except as exempted below, no person shall permit a dog owned by him or her or under his or her control to be at-large as defined in section 5-13 or to trespass upon the property of another, public or private.
(b) Public Safety. Should an at-large dog be deemed to pose an imminent public safety risk, said animal may be killed by the Police Department or their designee. Such an act shall occur where other reasonable means to control the animal have been unsuccessful or deemed not practicable under the circumstances.
(c) Exemptions. A dog may be at-large if it is:
(1) On the premises of the dog’s owner;
(2) On the premises of the person under whose control the dog is under;
(3) On the premises of another person as long as that person has given permission for the dog to be at-large;
(4) In a designated off-leash dog area managed and regulated by the board of parks and recreation commissioners.
(Ord. of 6-23-97; Ord. of 4-17-00; Ord. of 9-10-12(1))
5-15 License and rabies vaccination required.
(a) Licensing. Every owner or keeper of a dog more than six (6) months old shall be required to annually register and license the animal in the manner prescribed by the city with the city clerk’s office. The license shall expire on the first day of April next after its issuance. Upon issuance of such license and payment of the license fee as required in section 5-16 of this chapter, each dog owner shall receive a dog license tag.
(b) Rabies vaccination. Proof of a current rabies vaccination, as required by state law, shall be required for the licensing of any animal.
(c) Fixture of tag. The dog license tag issued to any person as provided herein shall be securely attached to a collar or harness on such licensed dog and worn at all times.
(Ord. of 6-23-97; Ord. of 8-14-00; Ord. of 6-4-07, eff. 7-4-07)
State law reference—Control of rabies 20 V.S.A. § 3801 et seq.; immunization required, 20 V.S.A. § 4003.
5-16 License fees.
(a) In addition to the license fee and any penalty fee required by state law, the municipal fee for each license required by this article shall be twenty dollars ($20.00) for each neutered/spayed dog and forty dollars ($40.00) for each non-neutered/non-spayed dog.
(b) The owner or keeper of a neutered/spayed dog that serves as the person’s service animal under the Americans with Disabilities Act may request waiver of the municipal license fee (but not the state fee) by providing to the city clerk’s office adequate responses to the following questions in writing:
• Is the dog a service animal required because of a disability?
• What work or task has the dog been trained to perform?
(Ord. of 6-23-97; Ord. of 6-25-01; Ord. of 6-4-07, eff. 7-4-07; Ord. of 2-16-21)
State law reference—Similar provisions, 20 V.S.A. § 3581.
5-17 Removal of dog waste required.
The owner, keeper or person in control of any dog shall be responsible for the removal of any defecation deposited by such dog on any public or private property.
(Ord. of 6-23-97)
5-18—5-23 Reserved.
Cross reference—Dogs prohibited in cemetery, § 9-14.
State law reference—Dog generally, 20 V.S.A. § 3541 et seq.; authority of municipality to regulate keeping dogs, 24 V.S.A. § 2291(10).