The following words, when used in this Chapter, shall have the meanings set out herein:
DOGS
All animals of the canine species, both male and female.
OWNER OR KEEPER
Any person having a right of property in a dog, or who keeps or harbors a dog, or who has it in his/her care or acts as its custodian, or who knowingly permits a dog to remain on or about any premises owned or occupied by him/her.
RUNNING AT LARGE
Allowing a dog to be off the private premises of the owner or keeper, or his/her agent or servant, and not on a leash or confined to the arms, motor vehicle, trailer or other conveyance of the owner or keeper, his/her agent or servant.
SERIOUS PHYSICAL INJURY
Physical injury that creates a substantial risk of death or that causes serious disfigurement or protracted loss or impairment of the function of any part of the body.
TRESPASSER
A person upon the premises of the owner or keeper of the dog in question without license or privilege to be upon said premises.
UNRESTRAINED DOG
Any dog running at large or a dog on the premises of its owner or keeper but not confined to said premises by a leash, fence, structure or other means that would prevent the dog from leaving such premises.
VICIOUS DOG
Any of the following dogs:
1. 
Any dog, whether or not running at large and whether or not unrestrained, that without provocation has bitten any person not a trespasser causing serious physical injury to that person.
2. 
Any unrestrained dog, whether or not running at large, that without provocation has attempted to bite any person not a trespasser which would cause serious physical injury to that person.
3. 
Any unrestrained dog, whether or not running at large, that without provocation has placed any person not a trespasser in apprehension of immediate serious physical injury.
4. 
Any dog that has killed another dog or other domestic animal without provocation.
5. 
Pit bull dogs.
The owner or keeper of any dog in the City of Seymour is hereby required to have such animals vaccinated against rabies by a licensed veterinarian and to procure a certificate of such vaccination from the veterinarian and to present such certificate to the City Clerk on or before July first (1st) of each year; and the City Clerk shall register such certificate, which registration shall remain in force until the June thirtieth (30th) next following said registration. It shall be unlawful for the owner or keeper of any dog to permit such animal to remain in the City of Seymour unless such certificate has been procured.
[Code 1999 §205.025; CC 1979 §610.121; Ord. No. 204 §3, 6-7-1965; Ord. No. 209 §6, 2-7-1966]
A. 
The Chief of Police or other persons designated by the City, or under contract with the City of Seymour, Missouri, to provide animal control, shall have the power to catch, confine, and impound dogs and other animals as follows:
1. 
All female dogs not securely confined in an enclosed place while in heat.
2. 
All dogs or other animals affected with rabies and all dogs and other animals suspected by him/her or such employee to be exposed to or affected with rabies, including dogs or other animals known to have been bitten by a rabid animal, whether such dog or other animal is running at large or on a leash.
3. 
All vicious dogs not confined as provided for in Section 205.040.
4. 
All dogs found running at large within the City limits of the City of Seymour, Missouri, shall be impounded as hereinafter provided.
[Code 1999 §205.028; CC 1979 §610.122; Ord. No. 209 §8, 2-7-1966]
It is unlawful for any person to conceal any animal or interfere with the Chief of Police or persons designated by him/her in the performance of his/her legal duties as provided in this Chapter. The Chief of Police or persons designated by him/her shall have the right of entry to any unenclosed lots or lands for the purpose of collecting any stray. The Chief of Police or his/her duly appointed representative shall have the right of entry to any property or premises within the City of Seymour, Missouri, during the period that a quarantine order has been issued by the Board of Aldermen, for the purpose of examining or obtaining any dog suspected of having rabies or having been exposed to rabies.
It shall be unlawful for the owner or keeper of any dog to permit the same to run at large within the City of Seymour at any time. Any dog found without having the vaccination certificate registered with the City Clerk as set out in Section 205.015, and any dog found running at large, shall be impounded.
The parent or guardian of a minor child is responsible for the adequate care of any animal owned by, in the control of, or harbored by that minor child.
A. 
It shall be unlawful to own, keep or harbor a vicious dog in the City of Seymour except in accordance with the following provisions:
1. 
Leash and muzzle. No person shall permit a vicious dog to go outside its kennel or pen unless such dog is securely leashed with a leash no longer than four (4) feet in length. No person shall permit a vicious dog to be kept on a chain, rope or other type of leash outside its kennel or pen unless a person is in physical control of the leash. Such dogs may not be leashed to inanimate objects such as trees, posts or buildings. In addition, all vicious dogs on a leash outside its kennel or pen must be muzzled by a muzzling device sufficient to prevent such dog from biting persons or other animals.
2. 
Confinement. All vicious dogs shall be securely confined indoors or in a securely enclosed and locked pen or kennel, except when leashed and muzzled as above provided. Such pen, kennel or structure must have secure sides and a secure top attached to the sides. All structures used to confine vicious dogs must be locked with a key or combination lock when such dogs are within the structure. Said structure must have a secure bottom or floor attached to the sides of the pen or the sides of the pen must be imbedded in the ground no less than two (2) feet. Also, such structures must be adequately lighted and ventilated and kept in a clean and sanitary condition.
3. 
Confinement indoors. No vicious dog may be kept on a porch, patio or any part of a house or structure that would allow the dog to exit such building on its own volition. In addition, no such animal may be kept in a house or structure when the windows are open or when screen windows or screen doors are the only obstacle preventing the dog from exiting the structure.
4. 
Signs. All owners, keepers or harborers of vicious dogs within the City shall display in a prominent place on their premises a sign easily readable by the public using the words "Beware of Dog". In addition, a similar sign is required to be posted on the kennel or pen of such dog.
[Code 1999 §205.060]
Any officer performing duties under this Chapter shall be compensated from the City Treasury as provided from time to time by the Board of Aldermen. Such officer shall account to the City for all sums collected from owners or keepers under this Chapter and pay same into the City Treasury. Costs of feeding and keeping dogs impounded shall be paid from the City Treasury.
Every officer impounding a dog under this Chapter shall, within twenty-four (24) hours after such impounding, enter upon a registry open to the public and in plain public view at the City Hall of the City a description of such dog, including breed, color and approximate size, and the date apprehended, and if the owner or keeper is known, the name and address of such owner or keeper; or the owner or keeper shall be given actual notice of the impoundment of such dog before disposition of such dog.
The owner or keeper of any dog impounded under this Chapter shall pay to the Chief of Police, Police Officer, or other official especially designated to receive the same a sum sufficient to reimburse the City for its costs in impounding such dog and keeping it impounded.
It shall be the duty of any officer impounding any dog under this Chapter to keep the same impounded for a period of seven (7) days, unless such dog shall be reclaimed by his/her owner or keeper under Section 205.070 of this Chapter. If, after the expiration of seven (7) days from the date of such impoundment, such dog shall not have been reclaimed, the same shall be disposed of or destroyed in a humane manner.
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.
[1]
Note — Under certain circumstances this offense can be a felony under state law.
A. 
A person commits the offense of knowingly releasing an animal if that person, acting without the consent of the owner or custodian of an animal, intentionally releases any animal that is lawfully confined for the purpose of companionship or protection of persons or property or for recreation, exhibition or educational purposes.
B. 
As used in this Section, "animal" means every living creature, domesticated or wild, but not including Homo sapiens.
C. 
The provisions of this Section shall not apply to a public servant acting in the course of such servant's official duties.
[Ord. No. 763, 10-25-2018]
Any person in physical possession and control of any animal shall remove excreta or other solid waste deposited by the animal in any public or private area not designated to receive such wastes, including, but not limited to, streets, sidewalks, parking lots, public parks or recreation areas and private property. The provisions of this Section shall not apply to a guide dog accompanying any blind person and horses.
Whenever rabies becomes prevalent in the City, the Mayor shall, according to the necessity of the case, issue a quarantine order, requiring every owner or person in charge of any dog or dogs within the limits of the City, to either kill or impound his/her dog or dogs, or to have such dog or dogs immunized. Said order shall be published once in the paper officially publishing the business of the City; and in the absence of such paper, shall be posted as in case of sales of personal property. The Mayor is authorized by proclamation to terminate any such quarantine whenever, in his/her judgment, the necessity for it no longer exists.
No person may keep any lion, tiger, leopard, ocelot, jaguar, cheetah, margay, mountain lion, Canada lynx, bobcat, jaguarundi, hyena, wolf, bear, non-human primate, coyote, any deadly, dangerous or poisonous reptile, or any deadly or dangerous reptile over eight (8) feet long, in any place other than a properly maintained zoological park, circus, scientific or educational institution, research laboratory, veterinary hospital, or animal refuge.