Discussion and Review of Tiffin Municipal Code Revisions — Council Updates

CHAPTER 55 ANIMAL PROTECTION AND CONTROL 55.08 ANNOYANCE OR DISTURBANCE. It is unlawful for the owner of an animal to allow or permit such dog or chicken to cause serious annoyance or disturbance to any person by frequent and habitual howling, yelping, barking, making loud noises, otherwise, or by running after or chasing persons, bicycles, automobiles, or other vehicles. 55.09 DOGS AND CATS LIMITS. A property owner or tenant who occupies any lot or portion of a lot that is zoned residential shall not keep more than three dogs and three cats at a residence. Any litter born by any of the animals kept legally at the residence will be allowed to remain until the puppies or kittens are eight weeks old, at which time they will be considered dogs or cats and will fall under the limitation stated above. This section shall not apply to community cats. 55.10 ACCUMULATION OF WASTES. No owner shall allow an accumulation of the waste from animals to become detrimental to the public health and the animal’s health. 55.11 OWNER’S DUTY. It is the duty of the owner of any dog, cat, or other animal that has bitten or attacked a person or any person having knowledge of such bite or attack to report this act to a local health or law enforcement official. It is the duty of physicians and veterinarians to report to the local board of health the existence of any animal known or suspected to be suffering from rabies. (Code of Iowa, Sec. 351.38) 55.12 CONFINEMENT. If a local board of health receives information that an animal has bitten a person or that a dog or animal is suspected of having rabies, the board shall order the owner to confine such animal in the manner it directs. If the owner fails to confine such animal in the manner directed, the animal shall be apprehended and impounded by such board, and after 10 days the board may humanely destroy the animal. If such animal is returned to its owner, the owner shall pay the cost of impoundment. This section does not apply if a police service dog or a horse used by a law enforcement agency and acting in the performance of its duties has bitten a person. (Code of Iowa, Sec. 351.39) 55.13 AT LARGE: IMPOUNDMENT. Animals found at large in violation of this chapter shall be seized and impounded, or at the discretion of the peace officer, the owner may be served a summons to appear before a proper court to answer charges made thereunder. 55.14 DISPOSITION OF ANIMALS. When an animal has been apprehended and impounded, written notice shall be provided to the owner within two days after impoundment, if the owner’s name and current address can reasonably be determined by accessing a tag or other device that is on or part of the animal. Impounded animals may be recovered by the owner upon payment of impounding costs, and if an unvaccinated dog, by having it immediately vaccinated. If the owner fails to redeem the animal within seven days from the date that the notice is mailed, or if the owner cannot be located within seven days, the animal shall be disposed of in accordance with law or destroyed by euthanasia. (Code of Iowa, Sec. 351.37, 351.41) 55.15 PET AWARDS PROHIBITED. (Code of Iowa, Ch. 717E) 1. Prohibition. It is unlawful for any person to award a pet or advertise that a pet may be awarded as any of the following: CODE OF ORDINANCES, TIFFIN, IOWA - 449 -