A.
A person
is guilty of animal neglect when he/she has custody or ownership or
both of an animal and fails to provide adequate care or adequate control
which results in substantial harm to the animal.
B.
A person
is guilty of animal abandonment when he/she has knowingly abandoned
an animal in any place without making provisions for its adequate
care.
C.
Animal
neglect or animal abandonment are ordinance violations. For a first
(1st) offense of either violation, a term of imprisonment, not to
exceed fifteen (15) days or a fine, not to exceed five hundred dollars
($500.00), or both such fine and imprisonment may be imposed. For
a second (2nd) or subsequent violation of either offense, a term of
imprisonment, not to exceed ninety (90) days or a fine, not to exceed
five hundred dollars ($500.00), or both such fine and imprisonment
may be imposed. All fines and penalties for a first (1st) conviction
of animal neglect or animal abandonment may be waived by the court
provided that the person found guilty of animal neglect or abandonment
shows that adequate, permanent remedies for the neglect or abandonment
have been made. Reasonable costs incurred for the care and maintenance
of neglected or abandoned animals may not be waived.
D.
In
addition to any other penalty imposed by this Section, the court may
order a person found guilty of animal neglect or animal abandonment
to pay all reasonable costs and expenses necessary for:
1.
The care and maintenance of neglected or abandoned animals within
the person's custody or ownership;
2.
The disposal of any dead or diseased animals within the person's
custody or ownership;
3.
The reduction of resulting organic debris affecting the immediate
area of the neglect or abandonment; and
4.
The avoidance or minimization of any public health risks created
by the neglect or abandonment of the animals.
A.
A person
is guilty of animal abuse when a person:
1.
Intentionally or purposely kills an animal in any manner not allowed
by or expressly exempted from the provisions of Sections 578.005 to
578.023 and 273.030, RSMo.;
2.
Purposely or intentionally causes injury or suffering to an animal;
or
3.
Having ownership or custody of an animal knowingly fails to provide
adequate care or adequate control.
B.
For
purposes of this Section, "animal" shall be defined as a mammal, and
"pet" shall be a living creature maintained by a household member
for companionship and not for commercial purposes.
C.
Abuse
includes but is not limited to the occurrence of any of the acts,
attempts or threats herein listed to a person.
D.
Abusing
a pet means purposely or knowingly causing, attempting to cause, or
threatening physical injury to a pet with the intent to intimidate,
control, punish or cause distress to another.
[1]
Note — Under certain circumstances this offense can
be a felony under state law.
[CC 1984 §6-41; Rev. M.C. 1963 §61.28; Ord. No. 3140 §6-23; Ord. No. 5189 §1, 12-5-2011]
No owner or other person having charge of any cattle, horse,
mule, sheep, hog, pig, goat, turkey, duck or goose shall permit it
to run at large or permit it to remain within the City overnight.
[CC 1984 §6-42; Rev. M.C. 1963 Ch. 26; Ord. No. 2953 §1, 4-6-1970; Ord. No. 3140 §6-24]
A.
No
person shall permit any dog, cat or other animal, whether vaccinated
or not, to run at large or to go off the premises of its owner unless
such dog, cat or other animal is under restraint.
B.
In a prosecution charging a violation of Subsection (A), proof that a dog, cat or other animal was running loose in violation of Subsection (A) together with proof that defendant named in the complaint was, at the time described in the complaint, the person who owned such dog, cat or other animal shall constitute a prima facie presumption sufficient for conviction that the owner was the person who permitted such animal to run at large.
C.
The provisions of Subsection (A) shall not apply to bloodhounds or other dogs used for tracking in conjunction with Police activities, or to dogs of the canine corps of a Police force of any City located in St. Louis County, of the St. Louis County Police, Missouri State Highway Patrol, of any Federal law enforcement agency, or of any branch of the armed forces of the Unites States, while being used to conduct official business or while being used for official purposes.
[CC 1984 §6-43; Ord. No. 3140 §6-24.1; Ord. No. 3672(A) §1, 8-18-1980; Ord. No. 4938 §1, 6-6-2005]
A.
Removing Fecal Matter.
1.
It shall be unlawful for the owner or handler of any animal to fail
to remove fecal matter deposited by his animal on public property
or public easement or private property of another, before the owner
leaves the immediate area where the fecal matter was deposited.
2.
It shall be unlawful for an owner to allow the accumulation of animal
feces or manure in any open area, run, cage or yard wherein animals
are kept and to fail to remove or dispose of feces or manure at least
once every twenty-four (24) hours.
B.
Possession Of Removal Equipment. It shall be unlawful for
the owner or handler of any animal to fail to have in their possession
the equipment necessary to remove their animal's fecal matter when
accompanied by said animal on public property or public easement or
private property of another.
C.
Violation And Penalties. Any person found guilty of violating Subsections (A) and (B) of this Section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be punished:
1.
By a fine of not less than twenty dollars ($20.00) nor more than
fifty dollars ($50.00) for the first (1st) offense; or
2.
For the second (2nd) and subsequent offenses occurring within one
(1) year, a fine of not less than thirty dollars ($30.00) nor more
than one hundred dollars ($100.00).
3.
The minimum fines provided for by this Section are mandatory minimums
and shall not be suspended or deferred, except in cases in which the
court determines that the defendant is indigent and unable to pay
any fine.
[CC 1984 §6-44; Rev. M.C. 1963 Ch. 26; Ord. No. 2953 §1, 4-6-1970; Ord. No. 3140 §6-25]
[CC 1984 §6-50; Rev. M.C. 1963 Ch. 26; Ord. No. 2953 §1, 4-3-1970; Ord. No. 3140 §6-26; Ord. No. 4224
§8, 8-1-1988]
Any animal which does not exhibit a valid vaccination-registration tag issued by the County and which reveals the symptoms of any disease or injury clearly not those of rabies, as determined by the Health Department or by any person designated by the City Manager, may be subjected to disposal as provided in Section 210.110 at the earliest possible time.
[CC 1984 §6-51; Rev. M.C. 1963 Ch. 26; Ord. No. 2953 §1, 4-6-1970; Ord. No. 3140 §6-27; Ord. No. 4224
§9, 8-1-1988]
No person shall refuse to deliver to the Health Commissioner
or any person designated by the City Manager a dog, cat or other animal
subject to rabies, when requested to do so under the provisions of
this Chapter.
[CC 1984 §6-53; Rev. M.C. 1963 Ch. 26; Ord. No. 2953 §1, 4-6-1970; Ord. No. 3140 §6-29]
No person shall own, keep or harbor upon his/her premises any
dog that by loud or frequent or habitual barking, yelping or howling,
or by threat of attacking or biting, causes fear or annoyance to the
neighborhood, or to persons passing upon the streets and sidewalks.
[CC 1984 §6-54; Rev. M.C. 1963 Ch. 26; Ord. No. 2953 §1, 4-6-1970; Ord. No. 3140 §6-30]
A.
The
boarding or keeping for hire within the City of dogs which are the
property of persons other than the owner of the premises upon which
they are kept is hereby prohibited.
B.
This
Section shall not prohibit the keeping of any dog by a licensed veterinarian
for a period not exceeding twelve (12) days if during such time it
is under treatment by the veterinarian.
[CC 1984 §6-60; Rev. M.C. 1963 §61.29; Ord. No. 3140 §6-31]
No person shall disturb in any way any bird or the nests or
eggs, young or brood of any birds. No person shall hunt either small
animals or birds with dogs or with guns, stones or any other missiles
or weapons.
[CC 1984 §6-61; Rev. M.C. 1963 §61.30; Ord. No. 3140 §6-32]
A.
No
person shall sell, give or award or offer for sale, gift or award
eleven (11) or less of any chickens, ducks or geese under one (1)
month of age.
B.
No
person shall sell, give or award or offer for sale, gift or award
any live rabbit less than six (6) weeks of age unless such sale, gift
or award shall include the sale, gift or award of the dam.
[CC 1984 §6-62; Ord. No. 3140 §6.32.1; Ord. No. 3574 §1, 7-23-1979; Ord. No. 5189 §1, 12-5-2011]
Except as provided in Section 210.280(B), the number of dogs and cats sheltered, harbored, kept, possessed or fed by any person or persons occupying any dwelling unit or commercial premises in the City shall not exceed three (3) in number.
