96-028 ORDORDINANCE 96- 28
CITY OF ELK RIVER
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF ELK RIVER, MINNESOTA, AMENDING
CHAPTER V OF THE CITY CODE, PUBLIC NUISANCES AND ANIMALS, BY
REPEALING SECTION 502, DOGS AND OTHER ANIMALS, AND ENACTING
A NEW SECTION 502 IN LIEU THEREOF RELATING TO THE SAME
SUBJECT ENTITLED DOGS, CATS AND ANIMALS
The City Council of the City of Elk River does hereby ordain
as follows:
Section 1. That Section 502 of %he City of Elk
River Code of Ordinances, Dogs and Other Animals, is hereby
repealed and one new section adopted in lieu thereof, which
shall read as follows:
SECTION 502 - DOGS, CATS OR OTHER ANIMALS
502.00 - DEFINITION'S
Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the words,
combination of words, terms and phrases as used in Section 502.00
e5 seq. shall have the meanings set forth in the following
paragraphs:
ANIMAL: A dog, cat, or other animal which is harbored, fed, or
kept by any person or persons. The term shall also include the
plural and the plural thereof shall also mean the singular.
ANIMAL WARDEN: The Chief of Police or his authorized
representative, designased as such by him to perform the duties
prescribed by this ordinance.
AT LARGE: An animal, except for a cat, is at large when it is off
the property of the person owning, harboring, or keeping said
animal, and it is not under restraint. A cat is at large when it
is off the property of the person owning, harboring, or keeping
said cat~ and the cat does not have a collar on with a current
license attached.
CITATION: A notice or complaint issued by the Animal Warden or a
City police officer to the owner of any animal apprising said
owner of one or more violations of this ordinance.
KENNEL, CO~RCIAL: Any premises where more %hah three (3)
animals of over six (6) months of age are boarded, trained, or
bred for compensasion or are offered for sale, except for animal
hospital, pet shop or veterinary clinic.
KENNEL, PRIVATE: Any premises where:
1. more than three (3) dogs or %hree (3) cats over the age of
six months; or
2. more than ten (10) cats over the age of six months if
located on a premises of ten (I0) acres or more as long as the
cats have been spayed or neutered;
are harbored or kept, except for a commercial kennel.
OWNER: Any person owning, keeping, harboring, or acting as
custodian of a dog, cat, or other animal.
PERSON: Any individual, firm, partnership, or corporation.
PREMISES: Any building, structure, shelter, vehicle, or land
whereon dogs, cats, or other animals are kept or confined.
PUBLIC N~JISA/qCE ANIF~%L OR ANIb~tLS: Any animal or animals which:
1. If a dog or cat, is repeatedly found at large.
2. Damages the property of anyone other than its owner.
3. Causes fouling of the air by odor.
4. Causes unsanitary conditions of enclosures or surroundings.
5. By virtue of number of types of animals maintained, are
offensive or dangerous to the public health, safety or welfare.
6. Excessively makes disturbing noises.
7. Molests passer(s) by or passing vehicles.
8. Attacks other domestic animals.
9. Has been designated by the Animal Warden to be a public
nuisance animal or animals by virtue of being a menace to the
public health, welfare and safety.
UNDER RESTRAINT: An animal is under restraint if it is on the
premises of the person harboring or keeping the animal; if it is
at heel beside a person having custody of it or obedient to that
person's command; if it is within a private motor vehicle of a
person owning, harboring or keeping the animal; or if it is
con~rolled by a leash not exceeding six (6) feet in length.
VETERINARY HOSPITAL: A place for the treatment, hospitalization,
surgery, care, and boarding of animals or birds, which place is
owned and operated by a licensed veterinarian.
VICIOUS A/~I~tL OR ANIMALS: Any animal or animals which constitute
a physical threat to human beings or other animals by virtue of
one or more attacks of such severity as to cause property damage
or physical injury, or any animal or animals of vicious
character, habit, or disposition.
502.02 - ENFORCEMENT
The provisions of this ordinance shall be enforced by the Animal
Warden and those officers designated in this ordinance, under the
operational supervision of the Chief of Police pursuant to
policies established by the Council. The Animal. Warden may issue
citations for violations of this ordinance.
502.04 - RIGHT OF ENTRY
The Animal Warden shall have the right to enter upon any premises
at all reasonable times for the purpose of discharging the duties
imposed by this ordinance where there is a reasonable belief that
a violation of this ordinance has been coramitted.
502.06 - RECORDS
It shall be the duty of the Animal Warden to keep the following
records, subject to inspection by the Council, City
Achninistrator, or their designated agents as set forth in the
following paragraphs:
!. Accurate and detailed records of the licensing, impoundment,
and disposition of all animals coming into custody.
2. Accurate and detailed records of all reported bite cases and
investigations for a period of three (3) years.
3. Accurate records of all citations issued for violations of
this ordinance.
4. Accurate and detailed records of all money collected and
expended in the operation of the functions of his office.
502.08 - RD-N-NING AT I~%RGE PROHIBITED
No dog, cat, or other animal shall be allowed by its owner to run
at large and every owner of a dog shall cause 5he same to be:
I. Confined to the owner's property by training, fencing, or
leashing, and females in heat shall be confined in an enclosure
and so kept and confined therein during such entire period and
until such dogs shall not attract other dogs on account thereof.
2. While in any public place such as a school, playground, or
park, to be on a leash, chain, or cord of not more than six (6)
feet in length and in the custody of a person of sufficient age
to adequately control the dog at all times.
3. While in all other areas such as on a public street or in an
automobile, to be in the custody of a person of sufficient age to
adequately control the dog or cat at all times, and to have and
keep said dog under control.
502.09 - WILD OR VICIOUS ANIMALS PROHIBITED
No person shall keep or allow to be kept any place in the City
any vicious animal, as defined in Section 502.00, or any animal
which is wild by nature.
502.10 - ANIMALS BITING HUMAN BEINGS
1. Whenever an owner within the limits of the City shall learn
that his or her animal has bitten a human being, such person
shall immediately confine the said animal in a place where it
cannot escape or have access to any human being or other animal.
A report of the incident shall immediately be made by the owner
to the Elk River Police Department. The person bitten, or his or
her parent or guardian, may also notify the Elk River
Police Department.
2. Whenever the said officer of the Police Department shall
learn that a human being has been bitten by any animal, said
officer shall ascertain the identity of the animal and the person
owning, harboring, or possessing it and shall i~mediately direct
such perscn to confine such animal as deemed appropriate by the
officer.
A. Any animal so ordered confined shall be confined as so
directed for a period of at least ten (10) days, kept apart
from other animals.
B. Upon expiration of said ten (10) days, if it is
determined the animal does not have a disease which might
have been transmitted by such bite, the animal may then be
released.
502.11 - CONFINEMENT OF ANIMALS WITH HISTORY OF BITING
Every animal that has a history of biting a human or any domestic
animal shall be confined by the owner within a building or
secure, covered enclosure. Such animal shall not be taken out of
such building or secure, covered enclosure unless muzzled and on
a leash.
502.12 - DOGS ON LEASH
The restriction imposed by Section 502.08 shall not prohibit the
appearance of a dog upon the streets or other public place when
such dog is on a leash or under restraint, except a female dog in
season.
502.14 - A~A/qDONMENT OF ANIMALS
It shall be unlawful to abandon any dog, cat, or other animal
within this City.
502.16 - DOG AND CAT LICENSE REQUIRED
1. No person shall own, harbor, or keep a dog or cat over six
(6) months of age within the City unless a current license for
such dog or cat has been obtained. The license shall be issued
for a two (2) year period and shall expire on December 31 of the
last year of the license issued.
2. Dogs and cats over six (6) monhts of age owned or kept by
non-residents of the City are not permitted to remain in the City
longer than ten (10) days without complying with the terms of
this Ordinance.
502.18 - DOG AND CAT LICENSE FEES AND APPLICATIONS
It shall be required of each person owning, keeping, or harboring
a dog or cat to pay a license fee to the City Administrator as
imposed by this section, except as provided in Section 502.36
herein. The license fee for any dog or cat shall be computed at
the rate duly set by the Council from time to time. Each
application for such license shall include a statement, signed by
the person applying for the license, which cersifies that the dog
or cat has been inoculated for rabies not more than twenty-four
(24) months preceding the date of application. Upon receipt of
the license feu and the signed application, the City
Administrator shall execute the receipt in triplicate, the
original of which shall be given to the person who pays the fee.
The duplicate shall be given to the Police Department and the
third copy shall be retained in the records of the City
Administrator. This receipt shall describe the dog or cat as to
color, breed, age, sex and weight. Any owner shall produce for
inspection the license receipt upon the request of the Animal
Warden or a police officer.
502.20 - UNAUTHORIZED USE OF DOG OR CAT LICENSE RECEIPTS, TAGS OF
INOCULATION CERTIFICATES
It shall be unlawful for any person to use for any dog or cat, a
license receipt, license tag, or a rabies inoculation certificate
issued to another person, dog or cat.
502.22 - DOG AND CAT TAGS
The City Administrator shall procure a sufficient number of
metallic tags for delivery of one such tag to the person paying
the license fee. It shall be the responsibility of the owner of
the dog or cat for which said tag was obtained to permanently
attach the tag to the collar of the dog or cat in such manner
that the tag may be readily seen. The tag is not transferable to
any other dog or cat or to a new owner of the dog or cat. If a
tag is lost or stolen, the owner may obtain a new tag by
surrendering the license receipt for the first tag and by paying
an additional fee as duly set by the Council from time to time.
502.24 - IMPOUNDING DOGS, CATS, ~ OTHER A/~IM;tLS
The Animal Warden or any police officer of the City shall seize
and impound any dogs or cats found in the City without the tag
provided for by this ordinance, or animals running at large in
violation of Section 502.08. To enforce this ordinance, said
Animal Warden or police officer may enter upon any private
premises in pursuit of an animal running at large. It shall be
unlawful for any person or persons to interfere with the Animal
Warden or a police officer engaged in taking an animal hereunder
for impoundment or to refuse to surrender an animal to the Animal
Warden or a police officer for confinement.
502.28 - DISPOSITION OF CERTAIN DISEASED OR DANGEROUS ANIMALS
1. Any animal displaying symptoms of being rabid may be seized
at any place or time and shall be confined in the City pound, or
other appropriate place designated for such purpose by the
Council from time to time, at the expense of the owner, until
found to be free from rabies.
2. If any animal appears to be diseased, vicious, dangerous,
rabid, or has been exposed to rabies, and such animal cannot be
taken up and impounded without serious risk, such animal may be
killed if reasonably necessary for the safety of any person or
persons.
502.30 - REDEMPTION OF A/~IP~tLS
1. The City, upon the impounding of any animal, may condition
redemption of said animal from impoundment upon payment of the
required impounding fee as duly set by the Council from time to
time, plus the cost of boarding for each day said animal has been
confined in said pound, together with the payment for a current
license for said animal if no current license has been issued.
The pound keeper shall issue a receipt in triplicate pursuant to
the requirements of this section, the original of which shall be
given to the person paying the required impoundment fee, the
duplicate to be furnished to the City Administrator, and the
triplicate to be retained by the pound keeper.
2. If at the end of five (5) days after said impounding, the
animal has not been redeemed, it may be sold at private sale, or
the keeper of the pound may dispose of the animal in a humane
manner or pursuant to the terms of Minnesota Statutes, Section
35.71.
502.32 - POSSESSION OF NUISANCE ANIMALS
No person shall keep, own, harbor, or otherwise possess within
the City an animal which is a public nuisance animal as defined
in Section 502.00.
502.34 - ANIMALS DISTURBING THE PEACE
It shall be unlawful for any person to own, keep, have in his
possession, or harbor any animal which by frequent and habitual
howling, yelping, barking or otherwise, shall cause serious
annoyance or disturbance to persons or to the neighborhood;
provided, however, that the provisions of this ordinance shall
not apply to duly auShorized hospitals or clinics established and
operating for the treatment of small animals. No person shall be
convicted under the provisions of 5his ordinance except upon the
evidence from fifty percent (50%) of the adult residents living
within five hundred (500) feet of the residence of the animal
complained of or from four (4) persons each of a different
household, whichever is less, and no warrant shall be issued
except after written notice has been mailed or delivered to the
occupant of the premises where such animal is kept or harbored
advising that a complaint has been made about the animal and
calling attention to the provisions of this ordinance.
502.36 - PERMITS FOR COMMERCIAL AND PRIVATE KENNELS
i. No person shall own, harbor, or keep upon his premises more
than three (3)dogs or cats over the age of six (6) months unless
in a commerical or private kennel duly permitted under this
section. If the premises is ten {t0) acres or more, said person
may own, keep, or harbor up to ten (10) cats over the age of six
(6) months as long as they have been spayed, neutered, and
documentation to that fact is provided.
2. No person shall operate a commercial or private kennel in
this City without first obtaining a permit. Application for such
permit shall be made to the City Administrator and shall be
accompanied by the permit fee.
3. Commercial and private kennel permits shall be issued on an
annual basis, expiring on December 31 following the first
effective day of the kennel permit. The commercial kennel permit
fee shall be the amoun~ per year or fraction thereof as se% by
the Council from time to time.
4. Commercial and private kennels shall be kept in a clean and
healthful condition at all times and shall be open for inspection
by duly authorized City authorities at any reasonable time. A
commercial or private kennel permit may be revoked by the Council
by reason of the violation of this ordinance or any health or
nuisance order, laws, or regulations.
502.38 - MAINTENANCE OF PRIVATE KENNELS AND CO~A~ERCIAL DOG
1. Private and commercial kennel facilities shall be
structurally sound and maintained in good repair. Indoor housing
facilities should be adequately ventilated and have ample light
and heat, either natural or artificial.
2. Animals kept outside shall be provided with access to
shelter to protect them from the sun, rain, and snow, together
with adequate bedding when the temperasure falls below 50
degrees.
3. If animals are confined by chains, such chains shall be so
attached that they cannot become entangled with the chains of
other animals or any other objects. Chains shall be of a size
commonly used for the size of animals involved and shall be
attached to the animal by means of a well-fitted collar. Such
chains shall be at least three times the length of the animal as
measured from the tip of its nose to the base of its tail.
4. Enclosure shall be of sufficient size to allow each animal
to turn around fully and stand, sit, and lie in a comfortable
normal position. The floors of the enclosure shall be
constructed so as to prevent injury to the animal's legs and
feet.
5. The temperature for indoor housing facilities shall not be
allowed to fall below 50 degrees Fahrenheit for animals not
accustomed to lower temperatures.
6. Disposal facilities shall be provided to minimize vermin,
infestation, odors and disease hazards.
7. Adequate storage and refrigeration shall be provided to
protect feod supplies against contamination and deterioration.
Section 2. Summary Approved. The City Council hereby
determines that the text of the summary of this ordinance marked
"Official Summary of Ordinance No. 96402 , a copy of which is
attached hereto, clearly informs the public of the intent and
effect of the ordinance. The Council further determines that
publication of the title and such summary will clearly inform the
public of the intent and effect of 'the ordinance.
Section 3. Posting and Filing. A copy of this ordinance is
filed in the office of the City Clerk and shall be available for
inspection by any person during regular office hours.
Section 4. The City Clerk shall publish the title of this
ordinance and the official summary in the official newspaper with
notice that a printed copy of the ordinance is available for
inspection by any person during regular office hours at the
office of the City Clerk.
Section 5. Effective Date. This ordinance becomes effective
upon its passage and the publication of its title and summary.
Passed by the City Council of the City of Elk River this
18th day of Novermber, 1996.
.,Henry A. Duitsman, Mayor
ATTEST:
~andra A. Thackeray, City C~erk
/
s: \document \erdinanc\dogcator. doc
RESOLUTION 96- ~o2
A RESOLUTION FOR THE CITY OF ELK RIVER
OFFICIAL SUMMARY OF ORDINANCE 96- 28
A RESOLUTION APPROVING NOTICE OF PUBLICATION OF
OFFICIAL SUMMARY OF ORDINANCE 96-2s , AN ORDINANCE
REPEALING SECTION 502 OF THE CITY CODE, "DOGS AND
OTHER ANIMALS" AND ENACTING A NEW SECTION 502 IN LIEU
THEREOF ENTITLED "DOGS, CATS AND OTHER ANIMALS"
WHEREAS,
the City Council of the City of Elk River has adopted an
ordinance pursuant to which Section 502 of the City of Elk
River Code of Ordinances, Dogs and Other Animals, has
been repealed and a new section 502 adopted in lieu thereof,
entitled "Dogs, Cats and Other An/reals."
the following is a summary of new Section 502 as adopted m
Ordinance 96- 2s
The ordinance provides for restrictions and regulations m
the keeping and harboxSng of animals by any person or
persons.
The ordinance adds "Cats" to the definition of animals.
The ordinance sets forth hcensing requirements for dogs
and cats over the age of six months.
The ordinance sets forth requirements for the issuance of
private and commercial kennel hcenses, including
hcense fees and maintenance requirements.
The ordinance sets forth requirements in the keeping of
animals so as to prevent the animals from becoming
pubhc nuisances.
The ordinance specifically deletes section 502.26 of the
original ordinance which refers to impoundment of stray
dogs and animals.
The ordinance provides for enforcement by the Animal
Warden and those officers designated under the
operational supervision of the Chief of Police.
WHEREAS,
a printed copy of the ordinance is available for inspection by
any in the office of the City Clerk at City Hall.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that this official summary of
Ordinance 96-22_ sh~ll be pubhshed in heu of pubhcation the
entire ordinance, as provided by Minnesota law.
Passed and adopted by the Elk River City Council this lSTSday ofN0V. ,
199_~.
/
?Ienr~v A. Duitsman, Mayor
ATTEST:
Sa~ndra A. Tl~ackeray, City C e~
s:\councfl\$umres.doc
Mfidavit of Publication
STATE OF MINNESOTA
)8S.
COUNTY OF SHERBURNE)
(JC!'A ~ .
being duly sworn, on oath says that helshe is the publisher or
authorized agent and employee of the publisher of the newspa-
per known as The Elk River Star News, and has full knowledge
of the facts which are stated below:
(A) The newspaper has complied with all the requirements
constituting qualification as a qualified newspaper, as provided
by Minnesota Statute 331A.02, 331A.07, and other applicable
laws, as amended. () .
(B) The printed "-QiJAhI:i~,(ry\..) 96- IOd..
which is attached was cut from the columns of said ne~spaper,
and was printed and published once each week, for (~-
oossive :j'"; it was first published on Wednesday. the;;l. .
day of Y C9-1..l-UVlA.l J-V\J , 19~, and was thereafter
printed and published on every Wednesday to and including
Wednesday, the _ day of ,19_;
and printed below is a copy of the lower case alphabet from A to
Z, both inclusive, which is hereby acknowledged as being the size
and kind of type used in the composition and publication of the
. notice.
a b c de fgh ij kl m no pqrstu v wxyz
B~~~
TITLE: ~
S'j\>scribed and sworn to before me on this ,Q '1~ day of
':Y~~ , 19~.
RATE INFORMATION
(1) Lowest classified rate paid by
commercial users for comparable
space
(2) Maximum rate allowed by law for
the above matter
(3) Rate actually charged for the
above matter
$ c,Ci.uO
$ '1'1.1,0
$ 1'1"~O