[1]
State Law Reference — As to dogs, RSMo. §§273.010
et seq.
[CC 1974 §4-8; Ord. No. 42 §l, 5-17-1962; Ord. No. 78 §§1, 3, 7-11-1968; Ord. No. 83 §§1 — 2, 11-14-1968; Ord. No. 93 §2, 4-15-1970; Ord. No. 311 §4-8, 8-25-2004; Ord. No. 580, 10-12-2022]
For the purposes of this Article, the following words and phrases
shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them by this Section:
All animals of the canine or feline species, both male and
female.
Shall be comprised of only dogs, cats and Vietnamese pot-bellied pigs as provided for in Section 205.190.
An animal has been "exposed to rabies" when bitten by, or
fought with, or has come in close contact with a dog or other animal
shown to be infected with the rabies virus as determined by standard
laboratory testing.
Any person designated by the Board of Aldermen.
Any veterinarian duly licensed under the laws of the State.
Any person owning, keeping or harboring a dog or cat.
Except as otherwise set forth in Chapter 205, a dog is under "restraint" if it is on the property of its owner or is under the immediate and effective control of a responsible person.
A dog of either sex used to assist people who are physically,
hearing, visually impaired or assist documented not-for-profit services
for the purpose of search and rescue.
A female dog certified by a licensed veterinarian to have
been spayed.
B.Â
All
fines and penalties for a first finding of guilt under this Section
may be waived by the court if the person found guilty of animal neglect
shows that adequate, permanent remedies for the neglect have been
made. Reasonable costs incurred for the care and maintenance of neglected
animals may not be waived. This Section shall not apply to the provisions
of Section 578.007, RSMo., or Chapter 272, RSMo.
C.Â
In
addition to any other penalty imposed by this Section 578.009, RSMo.,
the court may order a person found guilty of animal neglect to pay
all reasonable costs and expenses necessary for:
1.Â
The care and maintenance of neglected animals within the person's
custody or ownership;
2.Â
The disposal of any dead or diseased animals within the person's
custody or ownership;
3.Â
The reduction of resulting organic debris affecting the immediate
area of the neglect; and
4.Â
The avoidance or minimization of any public health risks created
by the neglect of the animals.
A.Â
A person is guilty of animal trespass if a person having ownership
or custody of an animal knowingly fails to provide adequate control
for a period equal to or exceeding twelve (12) hours.
B.Â
For a first conviction of animal trespass, each offense shall be
punishable by a fine not to exceed two hundred dollars ($200.00).
The second and all subsequent convictions shall be punishable by imprisonment
or a fine not to exceed five hundred dollars ($500.00), or both such
fine and imprisonment. All fines for a first conviction of animal
trespass may be waived by the court, provided that the person found
guilty of animal trespass shows that adequate, permanent remedies
for trespass have been made. Reasonable costs incurred for the care
and maintenance of trespassing animals may not be waived. This Section
shall not apply to the provisions of Section 578.007 or Sections 272.010
to 272.370, RSMo.
A.Â
A person
commits the offense of animal abuse if he or she:
1.Â
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.Â
Purposely or intentionally causes injury or suffering to an animal;
or
3.Â
Having ownership or custody of an animal knowingly fails to provide
adequate care which results in substantial harm to the animal.
[1]
Note — Under certain circumstances this offense can
be a felony under state law.
[Ord. No. 311 §4-9.1, 8-25-2004]
There shall be a limit of two (2) adult animals per family;
except, that in the event there are young born to the above dogs and/or
cats, the number specified may be exceeded for a reasonable time,
but not in excess of three (3) months following the date of birth.
If the above dogs are service animals, there shall be a limit of four
(4) adult animals for the purpose of training.
[CC 1974 §4-10; Ord. No. 42 §6, 5-17-1962]
No owner shall permit a domesticated animal habitually to bark,
howl or in other ways be a public nuisance.
[CC 1974 §4-11; Ord. No. 42 §4, 5-17-1962; Ord. No. 580, 10-12-2022]
A.Â
A domesticated
animal owner shall always keep his/her dog under restraint.
B.Â
Regardless
of whether the actions of a domesticated animal owner are voluntary
or involuntary, by commission or omission, while a dog is on any City
street, a domesticated animal owner shall keep his or her dog under
restraint by keeping such animal on a leash of no greater than ten
(10) feet in length and securely held or controlled by the owner to
prevent the animal from escaping the leash.
[CC 1974 §4-12; Ord. No. 42 §7, 5-17-1962]
The owner of any female dog in heat shall confine her within
a building in such manner that such dog will not be accessible to
other dogs, except for planned breeding, and will not attract male
dogs.
[CC 1974 §4-13; Ord. No. 42 §9, 5-17-1962; Ord. No. 388 §§1 — 2, 7-14-2010]
A.Â
Any
Police Officer or Humane Officer is authorized to enter any premises
where a dog or cat is kept or harbored to inspect conditions under
which the dog or cat is kept and to require the owner to exhibit a
license for the dog or cat.
B.Â
No
person shall hinder, molest or interfere with any Police Officer or
Humane Officer in the performance of his/her duties.
[CC 1974 §4-14; Ord. No. 42 §3, 5-17-1962; Ord. No. 388 §§1 — 2, 7-14-2010]
No person shall own, keep or harbor any dog or cat within the
City unless such dog or cat is licensed as provided in this Division.
[CC 1974 §4-15; Ord. No. 62 §2, 3-11-1965; Ord. No. 388 §§1 — 2, 7-14-2010]
A.Â
Registration.
1.Â
The owner or keeper of any dog or cat of the age of three (3) months
or older shall register such dog or cat with the City Collector on
or before January thirty-first (31st) of each year.
2.Â
The name and address of the owner or keeper of a dog or cat so registered
and an accurate description of the dog or cat shall be entered in
a book kept for such purposes by the City Collector.
3.Â
A certificate of registration and a metal or plastic tag or check
bearing identical numbers shall be issued to the owner or keeper to
be attached to a collar or other device and worn by such dog or cat.
B.Â
Immunization. Before any dog or cat shall be registered or before a certificate or tag shall be issued as provided in Subsection (A) of this Section, the owner or keeper of the dog or cat shall present to the City Collector a certificate of immunization issued and signed by a licensed and registered veterinarian stating that the dog or cat has been immunized against rabies for the current year or that such dog or cat has been permanently immunized against rabies.
[CC 1974 §4-16; Ord. No. 62 §2, 3-11-1965; Ord. No. 139 §3, 11-15-1980; Ord. No. 388 §§1 — 2, 7-14-2010]
The annual license fee for each male dog or cat and each spayed
female dog or cat shall be five dollars ($5.00) and for all other
female dogs or cats it shall be seven dollars ($7.00). Any owner or
keeper of any dog or cat who shall fail or refuse to pay such fee
when payment is demanded shall forthwith surrender such dog or cat
to the City Marshal for the purpose of being destroyed.
[CC 1974 §4-17; Ord. No. 62 §4, 3-11-1965; Ord. No. 388 §§1 — 2, 7-14-2010]
A.Â
The
City Collector shall keep a list of the persons paying the fee required
by the previous Section noting the date and amount of payment.
B.Â
The
fee shall be due and payable on January thirty-first (31st) of each
year; provided that if any person shall become the owner or keeper
of any dog or cat after January thirty-first (31st) in any year, such
person shall pay the same fee thereon for the remainder of the period
ending January thirty-first (31st) following as if such dog or cat
had been in the City on the preceding January and such dog or cat
shall be fully subjected to the provisions of this Chapter.
C.Â
The
fee shall be paid by the City Collector into the City Treasury to
the credit of the General Fund of the City.
D.Â
It
shall be unlawful for any person to attach or suffer to be attached
to any dog or cat on which the fee has not been paid for the current
year the metal or plastic tag described in this Division or any imitation
thereof.