[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Council of the Town of Plainville 12-17-1984; amended
in its entirety at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions,
Art. II). Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]
This chapter is adopted pursuant to the provisions set forth
in Title 22 and Title 53 of the Connecticut General Statutes.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
Any such officer appointed by the Director of Safety or his
or her designee and enumerated under Connecticut General Statutes
§ 22-331.
Any type of animal both domestic and wild.
Off the premises of the owner or custodian and not under
the immediate control of the owner or custodian, either by leash,
cord, chain or otherwise.
Any member of the canine species, male, female, neutered
male or spayed female.
Possessing, controlling, exercising or allowing to run at
large.
One pack or a collection of dogs which are kept under one
ownership at a single location and are bred for show, sport or sale.
Any person possessing, keeping, harboring or having custody
of a dog.
Any anti-rabies vaccination using a type of vaccination approved
by the state.
Any veterinarian licensed by the state.
Any animal that attacks, bites or has a known propensity
to attack human beings or other animals.
A.
Tags required. Each dog kept by the owner in the Town shall be licensed
and registered, if six months of age or over, on or before June 30
annually, or when the dog becomes six months of age. Dog licenses
shall be issued by the Town Clerk upon payment of a license fee as
established by the Connecticut General Statutes. The owner shall state
at the time application is made for such license and upon printed
forms provided for such purpose name and address and the name, breed,
color and sex of each dog owned and kept by the owner. The owner shall
submit to the Town Clerk a rabies certificate, signed by a veterinarian,
or copy thereof.
B.
Exceptions. The provisions of this section shall not apply to dogs
whose owners are nonresidents temporarily within the Town, conditioned
upon possession of a valid tag from any jurisdiction; nor to dogs
brought into the Town for the purpose of participation in any dog
show; nor to seeing eye dogs properly trained to assist a blind person
when such dogs are actually being used by blind persons for the purpose
of aiding them in going from place to place.
C.
Kennel licenses.
(1)
The
Town Clerk shall issue to such applicant a kennel license for a period
from the date of such application until the 30th day of the ensuing
June. The license shall specify the name and number of the kennel,
the name of the owner and the name of the keeper and shall be in lieu
of any other license required for any dog of either sex which may
be kept in such kennel during the period for which the license is
issued. Each license may be renewed from year to year by the Town
Clerk upon application of such owner or keeper. Each such owner or
keeper shall cause to be kept, upon each dog in such kennel, while
it is at large, a collar or harness of leather or other suitable material,
to which collar or harness shall be securely attached a tag or plate
upon which shall appear the number of the kennel license, the name
of the Town issuing the license and the year of license.
(2)
Upon
receipt of an application and prior to the issue of any kennel license,
an animal control officer shall inspect the proposed kennel facility
to ensure that it is in good repair and is sanitary and that adequate
facilities are available to ensure the dogs will be treated in a humane
manner.
A.
Any owner of a dog or cat three months of age or over shall have
such dog or cat vaccinated against rabies. Any animal vaccinated prior
to one year of age or receiving a primary rabies vaccine at any age
shall be considered protected for only one year and shall be given
a booster vaccination one year after initial vaccination and shall
be vaccinated at least every three years thereafter. Those animals
revaccinated after one year of age shall be given booster vaccinations
at least every three years thereafter.
B.
Proof of such vaccination shall be a certificate issued by a veterinarian
and provided to an animal control officer upon request.
No owner shall allow a dog to go out on any highway, road or
street and growl, snap, bite or otherwise annoy any person or domesticated
animal lawfully using such highway or chase or interfere with any
motor vehicle so using such highway, road or street.
No owner shall own or harbor a dog which is or dogs that are
a nuisance by reason of vicious disposition or excessive barking or
other disturbance or, by such barking or other disturbance, is or
are a source of annoyance to any sick person residing in the immediate
vicinity.
A.
Any animal
that habitually bites or injures any human being or other animals
or which has a known propensity to attack or bite human beings or
other animals shall be known as a vicious animal.
B.
When any
dog, cat or other animal has bitten a person on the premises of the
owner or keeper of such dog, cat or other animal, any animal control
officer may quarantine such dog, cat or other animal on the premises
of the owner or keeper of such dog, cat or other animal. Any animal
control officer may make any order concerning the restraint or disposal
of any biting dog, cat or other animal as the officer deems necessary.
Notice of any such order shall be given to the person bitten by such
dog, cat or other animal within 24 hours. The owner of such animal
shall pay all fees associated with the quarantine, including the costs
of rabies testing. On the 14th day of such quarantine the dog, cat
or other animal shall be examined by the animal control officer and/or
a veterinarian to determine whether such quarantine shall be continued
or removed. Whenever any quarantine is ordered under the provisions
of this subsection, notice thereof shall be given to the person bitten
or attacked by such dog, cat or other animal within 24 hours.
A.
No owner of any dog shall allow such dog to roam at large in or upon
any street, park, school grounds or other public places or upon private
premises other than the owner's property unless such dog is attached
to a secure leash held continuously in the hand of a responsible person
capable of controlling it or is securely leashed upon such unfenced
premises in such a manner that the chain or cord or other attachment
by which it is held does not permit it to go beyond the boundaries
of such lot or premises or unless the dog is securely confined within
a motor vehicle which is adequately ventilated.
B.
This section shall not apply to any dog while performing in a show
or exhibition, or any guide dog for the blind, or dogs used during
open hunting or training season.
A.
It shall be unlawful for any person owning, keeping, walking or in
any control of any dog to allow or permit such animal to defecate
upon any private property owned by another, condominium common elements,
street, sidewalk, gutter or other public areas unless such person
shall remove all feces so deposited by such animal before leaving
the immediate premises.
B.
The provisions of this section shall not apply to any person who
is blind, walking or in control of a dog, and accompanied by a guide
dog or to any person who is physically unable to remove said feces.
A.
Any owner
or keeper of a kennel who breeds more than two litters of dogs annually
shall apply to the Town Clerk for a kennel license. Any owner or keeper
of a kennel who breeds not more than two litters of dogs annually
may apply to the Town Clerk for a kennel license. For the purposes
of this section, "annually" shall refer to the kennel license year
which begins July 1.
B.
Any animal
control officer may at any time inspect any kennel including all facilities
of any kennel in which dogs are bred or housed or cause it to be inspected
by a Connecticut-licensed veterinarian appointed by the Commissioner
of Agriculture. If, in the judgment of the animal control officer,
such kennel is not being maintained in good repair and in a sanitary
and humane manner or if the animal control officer finds that communicable
or infectious disease or other unsatisfactory conditions exist in
the kennel, he or she may issue such orders as he or she deems necessary
for the correction of such conditions and may quarantine the premises
and animals. If the owner or keeper of such kennel fails to comply
with such orders, the animal control officer shall revoke or suspend
the kennel license of such owner or keeper.
Licensing and kennel fees are set forth in Chapter 215, Fees.
Violation of any section of this chapter shall be punishable
by a fine of $60.
B.
Any dog, cat or other animal captured or impounded under the provisions of this chapter shall be redeemed by the owner or keeper thereof, or the agent of such owner or keeper, upon proper identification and, if the animal in question is a dog, upon presentation to the animal control officer of a license and tag for such dog, and upon the payment by such owner or keeper or his/her agent of the redemption fee provided in Chapter 215, Fees. When the owner or keeper of any such impounded dog, cat or other animal fails to redeem such dog, cat or other animal within 24 hours after receiving notification to do so or, where the owner was unknown, within 24 hours after notification was effected by means of publication in a newspaper, such owner or keeper shall pay, in addition to such redemption fee and the cost of advertising, the amount determined by the Town to be the full cost of detention and care of such impounded dog, cat or other animal.
C.
The owner
or keeper of any dog, cat or other animal impounded for the purpose
of quarantine shall pay for the full cost of detention, rabies testing
and care of such quarantined animal. In addition, any owner or keeper
of any such impounded dog, cat or other animal who fails to redeem
such dog, cat or other animal within 120 hours after receiving notification
to do so shall have committed an infraction and shall be subject to
all applicable fees and $1 per day not to exceed $95.
A.
For the purpose of enforcing the provisions of this chapter, tickets
may be issued by any person authorized to issue tickets, summons or
infractions under the authority of the Connecticut General Statutes
or the Charter of the Town of Plainville.
B.
The adoption of this chapter shall not preclude the enforcement,
by properly authorized officials, of like provisions of the Connecticut
General Statutes.
C.
All penalties received for violation of this chapter shall be paid
to the Town of Plainville and remitted to the Plainville Police Department
within 15 days of the ticket date. If any fine is not paid within
15 days a penalty in the amount equal to the fine shall immediately
become due and payable in addition to the original fine and a warrant
may be issued for the arrest of the violator.
