379 Animal Regulations & Licensing
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ORDINANCE NO. 379"
AN ORDINANCE REPEALING TITLE 8, CHAPTER 1, ENTITLED 'ANIMALS ESTRAY, POUNDMASTER'
AND TITLE 8, CHAPTER 6, ENTITLED 'DOGS' AND ADOPTING A NEW CHAPTER ON 'ANIMAL CON-
TROL OFFICER, ANIMAL~REGULATIONS AND LICENSING', WHICH SHALL BE KNOWN AS TITLE 8,
CHAPTER 1, OF THE REVISED AND COMPILED ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF MERIDIAN.
WHEREAS, the City Council and the Mayor of the City of Meridian, Idaho have
concluded that it is in the best interest of said~cityt6"repeal,-i.1Hle:g~'{hapter
1 arid Title 8, Chapter 6, as they now read, to revise, recodify the ordinances
contained therein, and to adopt a new ordinance pertaining to Animal Control Of-
ficers and Animal Regulations and Licensing, which shall be readopted as Title 8,
Chapter 1.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
MERIDIAN, ADA COUNTY, rDA~O:
Section 1 ThatTitJe 8, Chapter 1, and Title 8, Chapter 6 of the revised and
complled ordinances are here by repealed.
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Section 2 That a new Title 8, Chapter 1 is hereby adopted for the Regulation
and Licensing of Animals, which shall read as follows:
Section:
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8-102
8-104
8-106
8-108
8-110
8-112
8-114
8-116
8-118
8-120
8-122
8-124
8-126
8-128
8-130
8-132
8-134
8-136
8-138
8-140
8-142
8-144
8-146
8-148
8-150
8-152
8-154
CHAPTER I
ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER
Appointment of Animal Control Officer
Penalty, Violating Chapter
Severability
Defi nit ions
Interfering with Animal Control Officer
License Required
Collar, Tag
License, Fees, Expiration
Rabies Vaccination
License Tags, Imitation
Ownership Restrictions, Quantity Of Dogs
Dogs Running at Large
Impounding of Dogs
Impound Fees
Disposal of Dogs. Voluntary
Dogs Rushing at People
Barking or Howling Dogs
Female Dogs in Heat
Cruelty to Animals
Poisoni~g . of Animal
Injured or Diseased Dogs, Destruction
Procalmation of Mayor
Rabies
Quarantine
Animals Running at Large
Liability for Damage to Property
Dead Animals
8-102 APPOINTMENT OF ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER: The Chief of Police shall appoint
an Animal Control Officer who shall, under the directiondf the Chief of Police,
have the authority to enforce the provision of this chapter.
8-104 PENALTY: It shall be unlawful and punishable as a misdemeanor to violate
any of the provisions of this Chapter.
8-106 SEVERABILITY: If any provision, clause, sentence, or paragraph of this
ordinance, or the application thereof to any person or circum~t~nce, shall ~e "
held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect the other provlslons ~r appllca-
tion of the provisions of this ordinance which can be given effectwlthout the
invalid provisions or application and, to this,end. the provisions of this
ordinance are hereby declared to be severable.
8-108 DEFINITIONS:
A. The term "DOG" as used in this ordinance, shall include either a male
or female member of the canine family.
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B. The term "OWNER" as used in this ordinance, is meant to include any ('
person owhing;Reeping, harboring';"or-otherwise responsible' for such animal.
8-110 INTERFERING WITH ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER: It shall be unlawful for any person to;
a. hinder or interfer with in any manner, the animal control officer
while enforcing any of the provisions of this chapter, or;
b. recover or attempt to recover possession of any impounded animal,
in any manner contrary to the provisions of this chapter.
8-112 LICENSE REQUIRED: It shall be unlawful for any person to own, harbor, keep or
possess a dog which is more than six months of age within the City of Meridian with-
out first procuring a license therefor as provided by this ordinance; provided, how-
ever, that the provisions ofCthis ordinance shall not a~ply to any person visiting
in the City of Meridian for a period not exceeding thirty (30) days, and owning or
possessing a dog currently licensed, and bearing the license issued by another mu-
nicipality or other licensing authority_
8-114 COLLAR, TAG: Every dog shall at all times wear a substantial, durable collar,
to which shall be securely attached the required license tag.
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8-116 LICENSES. FEES.-'EXPIRATION: All dog licenses issued within the City of Meridian
shall be valid only in the calendar year issued and shall expire December 31st of
that year.
The owner or person having charge of any dog, except as provided for inthis or-
dinance. shall ma~e application to the City of Meridian for a dog license and pay
an animal license fee as follows.
A. Non~neutered male dogs $10.00
B. Non~spayed female dogs $10.00
C. Neutered or spayed dogs $ 5.00
D_ A charge of three (3) doll ars shall be made for each lost license tag
reissued by the city.
A_certificate of neuter or spay issued b,y- a veteri'nari'an or the Idaho lfumane
Society shall be required to be pres-ented at tb,e ttme the li'cense is appl ted for
in order to secure the license rate f6r a neutered or spayed dog.
8-118 RABIES VACCINATION: The owners of all dogs required to be licensed under this
ordinance. shall present to the CHy of Meridian Licensing Department. prior to
being issued a dog license, a vali'd rabies vacci'nat;-on certificate issued by a
licensed veterinarian.
A rabies certificate shall be considered valid within the following guidelines.
A~ Within one (1) year from date of issue when the dog vaccinated, was less
than one year old.
B. Within three (3) years from date of issue when the dog vaccinated, was
one (1) or more years of age.
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8-120 IMITATION LICENSE TAGS: It shall be unl awful for any person to allow any dog
owned, kept or harbored by him to wear a license tag issued for another dog or to
wear any i'mitation of the ltcense tag ;-ssued by the ci'ty for that year, or any tag
marked on plate or collar similar to that required by the city at that time and
calculated to deceive.
8-122 OWNERSHIP RESTRICTION: No person or establishment may at anyone time own or
license more than three (3) dogs at any single location within the jurisdiction of
this ordinance unless otherwise authorized by law or ordinance. This provision
shall not apply to a litter of puppies under six (6) months of age and kept and
housed with the mother.
8-124 RUNNING AT LARGE PROHIBITED: It shall be unlawful for any dog owner to allow
or permit any dog, whether licensed or not, to be or remain upon the streets or
alleys of Meridian, or in any public p~ace in Meridian, or upon any other premises
without the consent of the person in possession of such other premises, unless:
A. Such dog be in custody of a person and controlled by a leash not exceeding
six (6) feet in length, or unless;
B. Such dog be confined in a motor vehicle.
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8-126 IMPOUNDING OF DOGS: It shall be the duty of the Animal Control Officer to
impound any dog found running loose within the city limits of Meridian in vio-
lation of the provisions of this chapter.
A. The Animal Control Officer shall cause notice to be served within
forty-eight (48) hours, either in person or by mail upon the regis-
tered owner of any dog wearing a valid license impounded under the
provisions of this chapter.
B. Any dog, either licensed or unlicensed, impounded under the provisions'
of this chapter, not redeemed within five (5) working days, is de-
clared to be a public nuisance and shall be disposed of in a humane
manner.
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8-128 IMPOUND FEES: Any person recovering possession of any dog impounded under
the provisions of this chapter, shall in addition to obtaining a license for
such dog, if the dog is not then licensed, pay an impound fee as follows:
First impoundment
'~ _ $1 5 . 00
Second impoundment $25.00
Third impoundment '"$50.00
Fourth & Subsequent impoundments $75.00
In addition to the impound fee, a board fee of two (2) dollars per day shall
be charged.
8-130 VOLUNTARY DISPOSAL OF DOGS: The Animal Control Officer, at the request of
any resident. shall pick up and dispose of any dog owned or under the control
of that person. The charge for this service shall be the sum equivalent to
that incurred by the city for the disposition of that animal, but in no event
less than five (5) dollars. This fee shall be paid aL the time such animdl is
picked up.
8-132 DOGS RUSHING AT PERSONS: Any owner or keeper of a dog that rushes at any
person. on a public right of way; lawfully on-any property, public or private;
any postal, utility or city employee during the course of their employment; or
any cyclist or motor vehicle, shall keep such dog confined or tethered in such
a manner as to prevent such action by said dog.
8-134 BARKING OR HOWLING DOGS: It shall be unlawful for any person to permit a dog
in their custody or under their control to bark, howl or otherwise create a dis-
turbance to any neighbor.
8-136 FEMALE DOGS IN HEAT: Each female dog, when in heat, shall be penned or en-
closed in such a manner as to preclude other dogs from attaCking or being at-
tracted to such female dog in such a manner so as to create a public nuisance.
8-138 CRUELTY TO ANIMALS:
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A. No owner shall fail to provide his animal(s) with sufficient food,
proper shelter and adequate veterinary care when required.
B. No person shall beat, torment, overwork, or otherwise abuse any animal.
C. No person shall abandon any animal.
D. No person shall place or cause to be placed, any dead animal on public
or private property without the consent of the owner or person in charg
of the property.
8-140 POISONING OF ANIMALS: It is unlawful for any person by any means to make
accessible to any animal, with intent to cause harm or death, any substance
which has in any manner been treated or prepared with any harmful or poisonous
substance. This paragraph does not pronibit the lawful use of poisonous sub-
stances for the control of rodents and insects in furtherance of the public
hea lth.
8-142 INJURED OR DISEASED DOGS, DESTRUCTION: Any dog impounded hereunder and suf-
fering from serious injury or disease, may be humanely destroyed at the discre-
tion of the Chief of Police or the Idaho Humane Society, Inc.
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8-144 PROCLAMATION OF MAYOR: The mayor of the City of Meridian is hereby auth-
orized and empowered to issue a proclamation upon order of the Council when-
ever the prevalence of rabies in said city and vicinity deems it necessary
calling attention of the public to the necessity of complying with the pro-
visions of this chapter relative hereto.
8-146 RABIES: It shall be unlawful for the owner or keeper of any dog to permit
such dog to tun at large wittrin Lhe 1 imits of the city, during the prevalence
of rabies in the said city, or after the issuance of a mayor's proclamation as
provided in this chapter.
8-148 QUARANTINE:
A. It shall be unlawful for a person to own, keep or harbor any dog af-
__flictedCwith rabies.
B. It is hereby made the duty of any owner of a dog showing symptoms of
rabies, or of an unvaccinated dog which has bitten any person causing
an abraision of the skin, to surrender the dog for confinement at the
Idaho Humane Society, Inc., or to a licensed veterinarian, for a min-
imum of ten (10) days. If such dog shall be determined free of rabies,
the same shall be returned to the owner upon payment of the regular fee
for keeping dogs impounded. If such fee is not paid, the dog shall be
subject to disposal as provided by law. At the discretion of either
the Idaho Humane Society, Inc', the Health Department, or the Chief of
Police, the quarantine of a dog may be upon the premises of the owner,
or the person in charge of such dog, if the dog is securely confined,
kept from contact with other animals and is submitted to a veterinar-
ian for examination at the owner's expense to determine whether or not
the dog is rabid.
8-150 ANIMALS RUNNING AT LARGE: That no horse, mule, cow, calf, steer, bull, swine
or other domestic animal shall be allowed to run at large, or to be herded in any
of the streets, alleys or public places within the corporate limits of the City of
Meridian or upon any private premises therein, except those of the owners of such
animals, unless when being driven through for 'shipment or other purposes, the owner
or owners of such animals first obtain permission of the owner or owners of such
private premises, or his or their agent or the occupant thereof. Any animal found
in violation of this section, is subject to impoundment wHhimp6und fees equiva-
lent to the cost incurred by the city, but no less than the impound fee schedule in
this chapter.
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8-152 LIABILITY FOR DAMAGE TO PROPERTY: The owner, harborer or keeper of any animal
that does damage to property of another shall be liable to the owner of the property
damaged for the damages and costs of suit. In the prosecution of actions for such
damage,:i:tis not necessary for the plaintiff to show that the owner, harborer or
keeper of such animal had knowledge of the fact that such animal was doing damage
to the property.
8-154 DEAD ANIMALS: It sha 11 be the duty of the Animal Control Officer to remove or
cause to be removed, the carcass of any dead animal found in any public place within
the city limits of Meridian, and properly dispose of same.
Section 3: This ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after its
passage, approval and publication as required by law.
PASSED by the City Council and approved by the Mayor of the City of Meridian,
Ada County, Idaho, this 2nd day of September, 1980.
APPROVED:
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ATTEST:
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c: Codifiers 9-3-80
AIC
Minutes
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