§ 4-2. Mistreatment.

(a)

It shall be unlawful for any person to abuse, misuse, beat, torture, or maltreat any animal or fowl or for the owner or person having custody of any animal or fowl to deprive the animal or fowl of proper shelter, defined as a structure with four (4) sides, roof, and solid floor off the ground, food, water, care and attention. It shall also be unlawful for any person to leave, dump or abandon the animal or fowl on the highways, roads, streets or private property, be it private or public property.

(b)

It shall be unlawful for the owner of any animal or the person having custody of any animal to leave any animal or fowl on any uninhabited property or in an uninhabited dwelling or structure.

(c)

It shall be unlawful for the owner or person having custody of any animal to restrain the animal outside by any method which:

(1)

Fails to provide protection from the elements.

(20

Fails to provide from entanglements.

(3)

Fails to provide the animal the sufficient "off-restraint" time to encourage training, health and socialization.

(4)

Utilize a chain around the animal's neck.

(5)

Utilizes a tether with a length less than five (5) times that of the animal or ten (10) feet, whichever is greater.

(6)

Allows the animal within ten (10) feet of the street right-of-way or the nearest edge of a sidewalk alongside a roadway, whichever is more restrictive.

(7)

Utilizes a public utility, such as water service assemblies, natural gas meters and service poles, as part of the restraint mechanism.

(Code 1970, § 4-3; Ord. No. 281, 2-10-97; Ord. No. 365, 6-14-99; Ord. No. 792, 7-9-07; Ord. No. 842, 4-14-08)

State law reference

Similar provisions, R.S. 14:102.

Cross reference

Cruelty to animals, § 8-221.