ARTICLE I. IN GENERAL

SECTION 205.010:     ANIMALS RUNNING AT LARGE DECLARED NUISANCES -- IMPOUNDMENT OF ANIMALS RUNNING AT LARGE

All horses, mules, asses, cattle, hogs, sheep and goats are hereby prohibited from running at large within the City.  All such animals found running at large within the City are hereby declared nuisances and shall be taken up and impounded by the public impounded or the Police of this City in the City Pound.  (R.O. of 1942, §5; CC 1970 §4-1)

          Cross References--Dogs running at large prohibited, §205.220; cats running at large prohibited, §205.310.

SECTION 205.020:     REDEMPTION OF IMPOUNDED ANIMALS

The owner of any animal taken up and impounded as provided in this Chapter may redeem the same at any time on or before the day of sale, by paying to the public impounded his fees and such necessary expenses as may have been incurred by reason of the detention of such animal, and thereupon the Chief of Police shall forthwith deliver the animal so redeemed to the owner thereof or to his legal representative.  (R.O. of 1942, §7; CC 1970 §4-2)

SECTION 205.030:     SALE OF UNREDEEMED IMPOUNDED ANIMALS

Whenever any horse, mule, ass, cattle, hog, sheep or goat shall have been taken up and impounded as provided in this Chapter, and no owner shall appear and claim the same, it shall be the duty of the Chief of Police, after the expiration of three (3) days from the date of such impounding, to advertise such animal for sale at public auction to the highest bidder for cash, giving five (5) days notice of the time and place of sale by written or printed handbills posted in at least six (6) public places within the City, which handbills shall contain a brief description of the animal to be sold, specifying therein the color, marks or brands of the same.  (R.O. of 1942, §6; CC 1970 §4-3; Ord. No. 7230)

SECTION 205.040:     REFUND OF MONEY PAID FOR IMPOUNDED ANIMAL

They Mayor and the City Council at any time before the expiration of six (6) months, may refund money paid into the Treasury under this Chapter upon due proof by affidavit or other evidence, that the person claiming such money was the legal owner of the animal from the sale of which such money was paid into the City Treasury. (R.O. of 1942, §8; CC 1970 §4-4)

SECTION 205.050:     RECORD OF ANIMALS IMPOUNDED

The public impounded shall keep a record in which he shall enter the time when any animal or dog is impounded, a description of the same, where found, when and by whom redeemed or when sold, a memorandum of the date, sale, price paid and to whom sold.  Such record shall at all times be open to the public inspection. (R.O. of 1942, §4; CC 1970 §4-5; Ord. No. 7230)

SECTION 205.060:     ANIMAL NEGLECT

A.     A person is guilty of animal neglect when he has custody or ownership or both of an animal and fails to provide adequate care or adequate control.

B.     Animal neglect is a Class C misdemeanor upon first (1st) conviction and a Class B misdemeanor upon the second (2nd) and all subsequent convictions.  All fines and penalties for a first (1st) conviction of animal neglect may be waived by the court provided that the person found guilty of animal neglect shows that adequate, permanent remedies for the neglect have been made.  Reasonable costs incurred for the care and maintenance of neglected animals may not be waived.  (RSMo. §578.009; Ord. No. 7230)

SECTION 205.065:     MISTREATMENT OF A POLICE CANINE AND/OR EQUINE

A.     It shall be unlawful for any person to willfully or maliciously tease, taunt, torment, strike, kick, mutilate, disable or otherwise injure or kill, or to unwarrantably interfere or meddle with any canine or equine while such animal is being utilized by the Washington Police Department, or any officer or employee thereof, in the performance of any function or duty of said Department, or of such officer or employee.

B.     Mistreatment of a canine and/or equine is a class A misdemeanor.  (Ord. No. 5729 §1, 12-6-82; Ord. No. 03-9459 §1, 10-20-03)

          Cross Reference--Cruelty to animals generally, §205.060.

SECTION 205.070:     ANIMAL ABUSE

A.     A person is guilty of animal abuse when a person:

     1.     Intentionally or purposely kills an animal in any manner not allowed by or expressly exempted from the provisions of Sections 578.005 to 578.023, RSMo.;

     2.     Purposely, intentionally or recklessly causes injury, suffering, or pain to an animal;

     3.     Abandons an animal in any place without making provisions for its adequate care;

     4.     Overworks or overloads an animal, or drives or works an animal unfit to work; or

     5.     Having ownership or custody of an animal willfully fails to provide adequate care or adequate control.

B.     Animal abuse is Class A misdemeanor.  (RSMo. §578.012; Ord. No. 7230)

SECTION 205.080:     SANITATION REQUIREMENT FOR ANIMAL PENS, ETC.

A.     All premises where an animal is kept shall be maintained in a clean and sanitary condition at all times and sanitary methods shall be used to obliterate or prevent any offensive odors.

B.     Dogs kept in pens shall have a minimum of thirty (30) square feet of run area per dog, except mother and puppies, and such areas shall be cleaned at least three (3) times per week.  In no event shall animal waste be allowed to be a part of garbage or refuse collection.  (Ord. No. 3509 §11, 4-15-68)

SECTION 205.090:     KEEPING DOGS OR ANIMALS SO AS TO BE NUISANCES PROHIBITED

No person shall own, harbor or keep any dog or other animal when the animal becomes an annoyance affecting the peace, health or welfare of the inhabitants of the neighborhood.  (Ord. No. 3509 §12, 4-15-68)

SECTION 205.100:     EXHIBITING STALLIONS, JACKS, ETC.

No person shall exhibit in an indecent manner any stallion, goat, jack, bull, boar or ram, or cause or permit any such animal to be let to any animal of the opposite sex, unless the same is in some enclosed shed or stable, and entirely out of public view and hearing. (R.O. of 1942, §289; CC 1970 §4-10)

SECTION 205.110:     SLAUGHTERHOUSE REGULATIONS

No butcher shall kill or slaughter any beeves, hogs, sheep or other animals within this City, unless the house, yard, pen or place where such killing shall take place is provided with a floor sufficiently tight and solid to prevent its becoming a receptacle of filth or offensive matter.  The floor in every case shall be constructed with a descent towards a gutter which shall pass through the same and lead to a public, district or private sewer; and no slaughtering shall be done in any slaughtering house not provided with sewer connection.  Any violation of the provisions of this Section shall be deemed a nuisance.  (R.O. of 1942, §267; CC 1970 §4-11)

SECTION 205.120:     STABLE, SHED, ETC.

Whenever any stable, stall, shed or apartment, or any yard or appurtenance thereof, in which any horse, cattle, sheep, cow or swine or any other animal or fowl shall be kept, or any place within the limits of this City, in which manure or liquid discharges of such animals or fowl shall collect or accumulate, and which stable, stall, shed or apartment or any yard or appurtenance thereof, is not kept in a clean and wholesome condition so that no offensive smell shall be allowed to escape therefrom, shall be deemed a nuisance. (R.O. of 1942, §264; CC 1970 §4-12)

SECTION 205.130:     REMOVAL OF DEAD ANIMALS AND FOWL

The owner or possessor of any animal or fowl which may die within this City, shall, within twelve (12) hours after the death of such animal or fowl, remove or cause the same to be removed beyond the City; and if the same is not removed within twelve (12) hours as aforesaid, then it shall be the duty of the Chief of Police or any Policeman of this City to cause the same to be removed at the cost of the owner of said animal or fowl.  (R.O. of 1942, §258; CC 1970 §4-13; Ord. No. 7230)

SECTION 205.135:     ANIMAL WASTE ON PUBLIC AND PRIVATE PROPERTY

A.     No owner, keeper or harborer of any animal shall allow such animal to perform any normal bodily function of excrement, urination or regurgitation upon the private property of another person or upon any other private property not owned by the owner, keeper or harborer of such animal unless the owner, keeper or harborer of such animal immediately and properly removes and disposes of any such waste.

B.     No owner, keeper or harborer of any animal shall allow such animal to perform any normal bodily function of excrement, urination or regurgitation upon the private property of another person or upon any public property, any City, County or State owned or maintained property for the general public's access, recreation or use unless the owner, keeper or harborer of such animal immediately and properly removes and disposes of any such waste.  (Ord. No. 04-9621 §§1--2, 7-19-04)