ARTICLE III. REGULATION OF THE SLAUGHTER OF CHICKENS, RABBITS, GOATS, AND SHEEP

17-73 Regulation of the slaughter of chickens, rabbits, goats, and sheep.

(a)    Purpose. The purpose of this section is to establish minimum standards for the humane and sanitary slaughter of chickens, rabbits, goats, and sheep, and sanitary post-mortem meat and waste management of both commercial and noncommercial chickens, rabbits, goats, and sheep within the city. The slaughter of chickens, rabbits, goats, and sheep is intended to be permitted within the City of Burlington only when it is for the purpose of harvesting the animal for use as food or euthanizing an animal raised for food or fiber production, and only when conducted in strict compliance with all other provisions of this section.

(b)    Standards for the slaughter of chickens, rabbits, goats, and sheep. The slaughter of chickens, rabbits, goats, and sheep for commercial purposes and/or the personal consumption by the animal’s owner, the animal owner’s household, nonpaying guests or employees shall be undertaken in accordance with all applicable federal statutes and regulations, including but not limited to Chapter 48 of Title 7 of the United States Code (Humane Methods of Livestock Slaughter) and 9 CFR Part 313 (Humane Slaughter of Livestock), all applicable Vermont statutes and regulations, including but not limited to 6 V.S.A. Chapters 102, 201 and 204 and the regulations promulgated by the Agency of Agriculture, and any other laws that are applicable to the slaughter for commercial purposes of chickens, rabbits, goats, and sheep and the waste management of animal remains.

(c)    Appropriate waste disposal for both commercial and noncommercial chickens, rabbits, goats, and sheep.

(1)    Chicken, rabbit, goat, and sheep remains following slaughter are the sole responsibility of the owner and shall be disposed of in accordance with applicable Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation Waste Management Procedures, Chittenden Solid Waste District regulations, and City of Burlington sewer, waste water, stormwater and solid waste ordinances and regulations. Such waste shall be disposed of in a way which does not adversely affect groundwater or surface water quality (including stormwater runoff into private or municipal separate storm sewer systems), air quality, or the residential or urban character of the city or become a nuisance to the surrounding properties, the local neighborhood and which is safe and healthy for humans, wild and domestic animals and the environment.

(2)    Slaughtered animal remains shall be packaged in leak-proof, odor-proof, and puncture-resistance containers and/or bags and delivered by the livestock owner to the appropriate Chittenden Solid Waste District drop-off site.

(3)    Animal remains shall be disposed of immediately following slaughter.

(4)    Chickens, rabbits, goats, and sheep found to carry any highly infectious disease may require bio-secure incineration based on Vermont State Veterinarian recommendation.

(5)    All disposals of remains shall be the owner’s responsibility and shall be at the owner’s expense.

(6)    Composting and/or burial of chickens, rabbits, goats, and sheep remains within the City of Burlington is prohibited.

(d)    Nuisances—Slaughter out of sight and sound of other people and animals. Chicken, rabbit, goat, and sheep slaughter shall not be conducted in a manner that constitutes a nuisance and shall occur out of sight and sound from all neighbors, tenants, passers-by and other livestock, poultry, and pets.

(e)    Penalties.

(1)    First offense. A first offense of any provision of this chapter in any twelve (12) month period shall be punishable by a fine of no less than one hundred dollars ($100.00) and no more than one hundred fifty dollars ($150.00). The waiver fine shall be one hundred dollars ($100.00).

(2)    Second offense. A second offense of any provision of this chapter in any twelve (12) month period shall be punishable by a fine of no less than one hundred fifty dollars ($150.00) and no more than two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00). The waiver fine shall be one hundred fifty dollars ($150.00).

(3)    Third and subsequent offenses. A third or subsequent offense of any provision of this chapter in any twelve (12) month period shall be punishable by a fine of no less than two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00) and no more than five hundred dollars ($500.00). The waiver fine shall be two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00).

(4)    In addition to the above civil penalty, chicken, rabbit, goat, and sheep owners shall be liable for the damages caused as a direct result of the violation that are suffered by the city and/or any other person so damaged, including but not limited to all costs for clean-up and legal fees.

(5)    Any property owner holding property upon which regulated slaughter of chickens, rabbits, goats, and sheep is conducted may be held liable to the above civil penalty, and may be held liable for the damages caused as a direct result of the violation that are suffered by the city and/or any other person so damaged, including but not limited to all costs for clean-up and legal fees.

(Ord. of 10-13-15(2))