Chapter 55
Animal Protection and Control
Chapter Contents
55.01 Definitions
55.09 Rabies Vaccination
55.02 Animal Neglect
55.10 Owner's Duty
55.03 Livestock Neglect
55.11 Confinement
55.04 Abandonment of Cats and Dogs
55.12 At Large: Impoundment
55.05 Livestock
55.13 Disposition of Animals
55.06 At Large Prohibited
55.14 Impounding Costs
55.07 Damage or Interference
55.15 Number of Animals
55.08 Annoyance or Disturbance
55.01 DEFINITIONS.
The following terms are defined for use in this chapter.
1. "Animal" means a nonhuman vertebrate.
(Code of Iowa, Sec. 717B.1)
2. "At large" means off the premises of the owner and not under the control of a competent person, restrained within a motor vehicle, or housed in a veterinary hospital or kennel.
3. "Livestock" means an animal belonging to the bovine, caprine, equine, ovine or porcine species; farm deer, as defined in Section 481A.1 of the Code of Iowa; ostriches, rheas, emus or poultry.
(Code of Iowa, Sec. 717.1)
4. "Owner" means any person owning, keeping, sheltering or harboring an animal.
55.02 ANIMAL NEGLECT.
It is unlawful for a person who impounds or confines, in any place, an animal, excluding livestock, to fail to supply the animal during confinement with a sufficient quantity of food or water, or to fail to provide a confined dog or cat with adequate shelter, or to torture, deprive of necessary sustenance, mutilate, beat, or kill such animal by any means which causes unjustified pain, distress or suffering.
(Code of Iowa, Sec. 717B.3)
55.03 LIVESTOCK NEGLECT.
It is unlawful for a person who impounds or confines livestock in any place to fail to provide the livestock with care consistent with customary animal husbandry practices or to deprive the livestock of necessary sustenance or to injure or destroy livestock by any means which causes pain or suffering in a manner inconsistent with customary animal husbandry practices.
(Code of Iowa, Sec. 717.2)
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.
(Code of Iowa, Sec. 717B.8)
55.05 LIVESTOCK.
It is unlawful for a person to keep livestock within the City except by written consent of the Council or except in compliance with the City's zoning regulations; EXCEPT it shall be legal to harbor or keep any members of the cattle, goat, horse, sheep or swine family where each animal shall individually have not less than 7,500 square feet of contiguous land, excluding buildings, without further approval of the City.
(Ord 314 - Jan. 02 Supp.)
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.
55.07 DAMAGE OR INTERFERENCE.
It is unlawful for the owner of an animal to allow or permit such animal to pass upon the premises of another thereby causing damage to, or interference with, the premises.
55.08 ANNOYANCE OR DISTURBANCE.
It is unlawful for the owner of domesticated animals to allow or permit such animal to cause serious annoyance or disturbance to any person or persons by frequent and habitual howling, yelping, barking, crowing or otherwise; or, by running after or chasing persons, bicycles, automobiles or other vehicles.
(Ord 315 - Jan. 02 Supp.)
55.09 RABIES VACCINATION.
Every owner of a dog shall obtain a rabies vaccination for such animal. It is unlawful for any person to own or have a dog in said person's possession, six months of age or over, which has not been vaccinated against rabies. Dogs kept in kennels and not allowed to run at large are not subject to these vaccination requirements.
(Code of Iowa, Sec. 351.33)
55.10 OWNER'S DUTY.
It is the duty of the owner of any dog, cat or other animal which 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)
55.11 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 ten (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)
55.12 AT LARGE: IMPOUNDMENT.
Animals found at large in violation of this chapter shall be seized and impounded at the impoundment facilities utilized by the City, 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.
55.13 DISPOSITION OF ANIMALS.
When an animal has been apprehended and impounded, written notice shall be given in not less than two days to the owner, if known. 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 does not redeem the animal within seven days of the date of notice, or if the owner cannot be located within seven days, the animal may be humanely destroyed or otherwise disposed of in accordance with law.
(Code of Iowa, Sec. 351.37, 351.41)
55.14 IMPOUNDING COSTS.
Impounding costs are a $35.00 pick up fee plus the costs of the impoundment as established by the impoundment facility.
55.15 NUMBER OF ANIMALS.
It is unlawful for an owner to harbor or house on the same premises more than four (4) animals over the age of six (6) months unless such animals are in a licensed state kennel or pet shop, veterinary hospital or animal grooming shop. All owners shall show proof of vaccination for rabies on any dog six (6) months and older. No person shall harbor such animals as to create unhealthful or unsanitary conditions for the humans or animals occupying the premises or create any other conditions constituting a nuisance. Upon discovery of excess number of animals or unsanitary conditions the Enforcement Officer shall be asked to do an investigation. If the investigation reveals a violation the owner shall be asked to abate the conditions and if the animals exceed the allowed amount the owner shall have 90 days to reduce the number.
(Ord. 336 – Dec. 07 Supp.)
