Ordinances-2019-456 - Chapter 55

CITY OF TIFFIN ORDINANCE NO. 2019-456 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE MUNICIPAL CODE OF TIFFIN, IOWA, CHAPTER 55, BY ADDING LANGUAGE TO INCLUDE COMMUNITY CATS BE IT ENACTED by the City Council of the City of Tiffin, Iowa: Section I. Purpose: The purpose of this ordinance is to amend Chapter 55 of the Municipal Code of Tiffin, Iowa, to implement a Trap-Neuter-Return Program to control the Community Cat population. Section II. Amendment. Chapter 55 is hereby amended as follows: CHAPTER 55 ANIMAL PROTECTION AND CONTROL 55.01 DEFINITIONS. The following terms are to be added: 9. “Owner” – means any person owning, keeping, sheltering or harboring an animal. This shall not include Community Cat caregiver. 11. “Community Cat” is defined as any free-roaming cat that may be cared for by one or more residents of an immediate area who is/are known or unknown; a community cat may or may not be feral. 12. “Eartipping” means the removal of the \( \frac{1}{4} \) inch tip of the community cat’s left ear, performed while the cat is under anesthesia in compliance with any applicable federal or state law, and under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian. Eartipping is the universally accepted method to identify a sterilized and lawfully vaccinated feral or free-roaming cat. 13. “Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR)” means the non-lethal process of humanely trapping, sterilizing, vaccinating, eartipping, and returning Community Cats to their original location. 55.04 ABANDONMENT OF CATS AND DOGS. A person who has ownership or custody of a cat or dog shall not abandon the cat or dog, except the person may deliver the cat or dog to another person who will accept ownership and custody or the person may deliver the cat or dog to an animal shelter or pound. Returned as pertains to the TNR protocol shall not constitute abandonment. (Code of Iowa, Sec. 717B.8) 55.06 AT LARGE PROHIBITED. It is unlawful for any owner to allow an animal to run at large within the corporate limits of the City. This section shall not apply to Community Cats. 55.09 DOGS AND CATS LIMIT. A property owner or tenant who occupies any