[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Board of the Charter Township
of Cascade as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where
applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Animal control — See Ch. 282.
[Adopted 7-14-1999 by Ord. No. 4-1999]
A.
It is deemed by the Township that the ownership of an animal is a
privilege which carries with it responsibilities to the Township and
its residents with regard to the care and custody of said animal.
In interpretation and application, the provisions of this article
shall be construed to impose a primary responsibility for compliance
with the provisions of this article on the owner of said animal.
As used in this article, the following terms have the following
meanings, unless the context clearly requires otherwise:
An agent of the Director of the Kent County Department of
Animal Control, or successor agency.[1]
When applied to the proprietorship of an animal, means every
person having a right of property in the animal and every person who
keeps or harbors the animal or has it in his care, and every person
who permits the animal to remain on or about any premises occupied
by him. For purposes of this article, any person keeping or harboring
any animal for seven consecutive days shall be deemed the owner thereof
within the meaning of this article.
No person owning or having charge, care, custody, or control
of any dog shall cause, permit, or allow the dog to run or be at large
within the Township whether it be upon any highway, street, lane,
alley, court, park, or other public place, or upon any private property
or premises other than those of the person owning or having charge,
care, custody, or control of such dog, unless such dog is restrained
by a substantial chain or retractable leash not exceeding 20 feet
in length and is in the charge, care, custody, or control of a person
with the ability to restrain it.
A person having custody of any dog shall not permit, either
willfully or through failure to exercise due care or control, such
dog to commit a nuisance within the Township by defecating upon any
public property or upon any private property or premises other than
those of the person having charge, care, custody, or control of such
dog, without the consent of the owner or person in lawful occupation
of such property. Notwithstanding the above, it shall not be a violation
of this article if the owner of the dog immediately cleans up the
area where the dog has defecated.
