[Amended 5-28-1996 by Ord. No. 19-1996]
It shall be lawful for the Mayor and Board of
Aldermen when, in his and their opinion, the public safety requires
the same to issue a proclamation authorizing the indiscriminate destruction
of all dogs and cats, male and female, found running at large in the
corporate limits of Dover, except such as shall be properly muzzled
with a wire muzzle about the nose, securely fastened, after one days'
public notice by printed or written hand bills, provided that nothing
in said proclamation shall apply to a dog or dogs or cat(s) of a nonresident
passing through the town accompanied by the owner or owners of such
dog or dogs or cat(s).
[Amended 5-28-1996 by Ord. No. 19-1996]
The Mayor and Board of Aldermen may, from time
to time, establish a public pound for dogs and cats, male and female,
in and for the Town of Dover and appoint a keeper for the same; and
all dogs and cats, male and female, found running at large within
the corporate limits, except such as shall be properly muzzled with
a wire muzzle about the nose, securely fastened, may be taken by any
person or persons to the pound established as aforesaid; and the keeper
of said pound shall pay to the person bringing any such dog or cat
to the pound the sum of $0.50 for each dog so impounded; and any owner
or person claiming such dog or cat shall pay to the keeper of the
pound the sum of $2 for every dog or cat claimed by him, so impounded.
If no person shall claim any dog or cat so impounded and pay the amount
before mentioned to the keeper of the pound, within the space of 48
hours from the time of impounding the same, then it shall be the duty
of the keeper of said pound to kill such dog or cat immediately thereafter
and bury or remove the same beyond the limits of the corporation;
and for every dog or cat so killed and buried the keeper of said pound
shall receive the sum of $1, to be paid weekly, upon a statement of
the number of dogs or cats killed and buried as aforesaid, verified
by the oath or affirmation of said keeper.
There shall be appointed by the Mayor and Board
of Aldermen of the Town of Dover one or more proper person or persons
as keeper or keepers of the public pound in the Town of Dover. All
poundkeepers hereafter appointed shall hold office during the pleasure
of the Mayor and Board of Aldermen and, before entering upon the duties
of their office, shall take and subscribe an oath or affirmation for
the faithful performance of duties of said office. Each poundkeeper
shall furnish and maintain without expense or charge to the Town of
Dover a proper and sufficiently enclosed yard, to be approved by the
Mayor and Board of Aldermen, and such yard so furnished may at any
time be designated by resolution of the Mayor and Board of Aldermen
and by such publication thereof as the Mayor and Board of Aldermen
may deem proper.
It shall be the duty of every such poundkeeper,
on the 31st day of December of each year, to make out and present
to the Mayor and Board of Aldermen a full and detailed report showing
the number of animals received into and discharged from the public
pound during the year, the date of such receipt and discharge and
whether redeemed or sold; if sold, the amount received on such sale,
the name of the purchaser and the amount of said poundkeeper's fees
and charges thereon and the balance, if any, to whom paid and the
balance remaining in his hands.
It shall be unlawful for any person to break
open or in any manner directly or indirectly to aid or assist in breaking
open any public pound or to take or let any animal or animals out
of any public pound.
It shall be unlawful for any person to hinder
or obstruct any person or persons who are engaged in driving or conveying
to any public pound any animal or animals liable to be impounded under
the provisions of any ordinance of the Town of Dover or any law of
this state.
[Amended 5-28-1996 by Ord. No. 19-1996; 4-9-2002 by Ord. No. 11-2002]
Any person, firm or corporation who or which
shall violate any of the provisions of this article shall be subject
to one or more of the following: a fine not exceeding $1,250, a term
of imprisonment not exceeding 90 days or a period of community service
not exceeding 90 days.
