For the purposes of this chapter, the following words and phrases shall mean:

(a)   Abandon - includes the leaving of an animal by its owner or other person responsible for its care or custody without making effective provisions for its proper care.

(b)   Animals - means all vertebrate and invertebrate animals such as but not limited to bovine cattle, horses and other equines, hogs, goats, dogs, cats, rabbits, sheep, chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys, pigeons, and other fowl or wild animals, reptiles, fish, bees or birds that have been tamed, domesticated or captivated.

(c)   Animal Shelter - means the facility or facilities operated by the city or its authorized agents for the purpose of impounding or caring for animals under the authority of this chapter or state law.

(d)   At-large - means to be outside of a fence or other enclosure which restrains the animals to a particular premise or not under the control, by leash or lead, of the owner or other authorized person capable of restraining the animal.  Animals tethered to a stationary object within range of public thoroughfares are deemed to be at-large.

(e)   Bite - means any actual or suspected abrasion, scratch, puncture, tear, bruise, or piercing of the skin, caused by any animal, which is actually or suspected of being contaminated or inoculated with the saliva from the animal, directly or indirectly, regardless of the health of the animal causing such bite.

(f)   Cat - means any member of the species felis catus, regardless of sex.

(g)   Competent Authority - means any of the following:

(1)   A law enforcement officer.

(2)   An officer of the Jefferson County Humane Society.

(3)   A designated representative of the City of Ozawkie.

(4)   A licensed veterinarian.

(h)   Dangerous or Vicious Animal - means any animal deemed to be dangerous or vicious per section 2-113.

(i)    Dog - means any member of the species canis familiaris, regardless of sex.

(j)    Fowl - means all animals that are included in the zoological class aves, which shall include, but not limited to, chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys, guineas and pigeons.

(k)   Harbor - means any person who shall allow any animals to habitually remain or lodge or to be fed within his or her home, store, yard, enclosure or place of business or any other premises where he or she resides or controls.

(l)    Humane Live Animal Trap - means any cage trap that upon activation encloses an animal without placing any physical restraint upon any part of the body of such animal.

(m)  Humanely Euthanize - means the proper injection of a substance that quickly and painlessly terminates the life of an animal, or any other method approved by the American Veterinary Medical Association or the American Humane Society.

(n)   Immediate Control - means the regulation and supervision by a competent person so that an animal is unable to run or get loose at will.

(o)   Kennel - means any establishment, commercial or otherwise, maintained for breeding, rearing, grooming, boarding, or otherwise harboring in an enclosure in one location only, more than five (5) dogs.

(p)   Livestock - includes, but is not limited to cattle, horses, goats, sheep or other animals commonly regarded or used as farm or ranch animals.

(q)   Neutered - means any male or female cat or dog that has been permanently rendered sterile.

(r)    Own - means and includes own, keep, harbor, shelter, manage, possess, or have a part interest in any animal.  If a minor owns any such animal subject to the provisions of this chapter, the head of the household of which such minor is a member shall be deemed to own such animal for the purposes of this chapter.

(s)   Owner - means the one who owns, or his or her employee, agent, or other competent person into whose charge an animal has been placed by the actual owner as described in subsection (q) above.

(t)    Vaccination - means an injection of a vaccine, approved by the State Board of Public Health and administered by a licensed veterinarian for the purpose of immunizing an animal against rabies.

(u)   Veterinarian - means a doctor of veterinary medicine licensed by the State of Kansas.

(Code 2007)

It shall be unlawful for any person to:

(a)   Willfully or maliciously kill, maim, disfigure, torture; beat with a stick, chain, club or other object; mutilate, poison, burn or scald with any substance; or otherwise cruelly set upon any animals, except that reasonable force may be employed to drive off vicious animals;

(b)   Drive or work any animal cruelly or cruelly work any maimed, mutilated, infirm, sick or disabled animal, or cause, allow or permit the same to be done;

(c)   Have, keep or harbor any animal which is infected with any dangerous or incurable and/or painfully crippling condition except as provided in section 2-105.

(d)   Sell or offer for sale, barter, give away, or use as an advertising device or promotional display, living baby chicks, rabbits, ducklings or other fowl under two months of age in any quantity less than 12; or to sell, offer for sale, barter, give away, or display animals or fowls as specified in this section which have been dyed, colored or otherwise treated so as to impart to them an artificial or unnatural color.  This section shall not be construed to prohibit the sale of animals or fowls as specified in this subsection, in proper facilities, by hatcheries or persons engaged in raising and selling such animals and fowls for recognized animal husbandry purposes;

(e)   Promote, stage, hold, manage, or in any way conduct any game, exhibition, contest or fight in which one or more animals are engaged for the purpose of injuring, killing, maiming, or destroying themselves or any other animal;

(f)   Neglect or refuse to supply such animal with necessary and adequate care, food, drink, air, light, space, shelter or protection from the elements as necessary for health and well-being of such kind of animal.

(g)   Abandon or leave any animal in any place without making provisions for its proper care;

(h)   These provisions shall not apply to the exceptions sanctioned under section 2-105.

In addition to the penalties provided in section 1-116 of this code, the municipal court judge may order a person convicted of violation under this section to turn the animal involved over to a designated humane society.  All such animals taken by the designated agency may be placed with another or more suitable person or destroyed humanely as soon thereafter as is conveniently possible. 

(Code 2007)

The provisions of section 2-102 shall not apply to:

(a)   Normal or accepted veterinary or veterinary hospital practices or treatment of animals under active veterinary care;

(b)   Bona fide experiments carried on by commonly recognized research facilities;

(c)   Killing, attempting to kill, trapping, catching or taking of any animal in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 32 or Chapter 47 of the Kansas Statutes Annotated;

(d)   Rodeo practices accepted by the rodeo cowboys’ association;

(e)   The humane killing of an animal which is diseased or disabled beyond recovery for any useful purpose, or the humane killing of animals for population control, by the owner thereof or by an authorized agent such as a licensed veterinarian, at the request of the owner;

(f)   The humane killing of an animal by a public health officer or a law enforcement officer in the performance of his or her official duty;

(g)   The humane killing of an unclaimed animal after three full business days following the receipt of such animal at a municipal pound or an incorporated humane society shelter by the owner, operator or authorized agents of such establishments.

(Code 2007)

It shall be unlawful for the owner, lessee, occupant or person in charge of any premises in the city to possess and maintain any animal or fowl within the city or permit to be maintained thereon any stable, shed, pen or other place where horses, mules, cattle, sheep, goats or swine, or undomesticated animals are kept. This provision shall not apply to:

(a)   The maintaining of dogs which are regulated by Article 2 of this chapter;

(b)   The maintaining of non-poisonous and non-vicious animals and fowl which are commonly kept as household pets, such as cats, hamsters, rabbits, parakeets, and comparable animals, when kept as household pets and in a safe and sanitary manner in accordance with section 2-108;

(c)   The transporting of animals through the city by ordinary and customary means.

(Code 2007; Ord. 2016-06)

It shall be unlawful for any person to use, place, set out, or deploy any animal trap aboveground, which makes use of a spring gun, spring jaws, clamping devices, cutting or stabbing mechanism or any other devices that will damage or severely injure any animal when caught or trapped by the device or trap; except that nothing herein contained shall prohibit the use of animal traps that are so designed to trap and hold animals without injuring the animals.

(Code 2007)

It shall be unlawful for the owner of any animal to keep or maintain such animal in the city so as to constitute a nuisance.  For the purpose of this section, nuisance is defined as any animal which:

(a)   Molests or interferes with persons in the public right-of-way;

(b)   Attacks or injures persons, or other domestic animals;

(c)   Causes any condition which threatens or endangers the health or well-being of persons or other animals.

If a summons is issued charging violation of this provision, a subpoena shall also be issued to the complainant to testify to the nuisance under oath.

(Code 2007)

The keeping, or harboring of any animal which by loud, frequent and habitual barking, howling, yelping, mewing, roaring or screeching shall disturb the peace of any neighborhood is hereby prohibited. It shall be the duty of any person harboring or keeping such loud or noisy animal or animals to abate the condition, and if he or she fails to do so, the city may abate it by taking up, impounding and/or disposing of the animal at the expense of the owner. 

(Code 2007)

(a)   It shall be unlawful for any person to keep or maintain any animal in any yard, structure or area that is not clean, dry and sanitary, free from debris and offensive odors that annoy any neighbor, and devoid of rodents and vermin.

(b)   Excrement shall be removed at least once each week from any animal shelter, pen or yard area where animals are kept, or more often if necessary to prevent or control odors, fly breeding, or rodent infestation.  If excrement is stored on the premises by any animal owner, it shall be stored in adequate containers with fly-tight lids, and all such stored or accumulated wastes shall be disposed of at least once each week.

(c)   All animal shelters, pens and yards shall be so located that adequate drainage is obtained, normal drying occurs, and standing water is not present.

(d)   All animal shelters and board fences confining animals shall be maintained in good repair, and all animal shelters and board fences confining animals subject to residential and commercial classification shall be protected from deterioration by painting or comparable treatment.

(e)   Electrically charged fences shall not be permitted for animal confines except where the electrically charge fence is protected by an exterior fence.

(f)   All premises on which animals are kept shall be subject to inspection by a duly authorized law enforcement officer or public health official.  If the officer or official determines from such inspection that the premises are not being maintained in a clean and sanitary manner, he or she shall notify the owner of the animals in writing to correct the sanitation deficiencies within 24 hours after notice is served on the owner.  Any animal kept under any condition which could endanger the public or animal health or create a health nuisance may be impounded. Animals shall be released after fees are paid and cause for impoundment has been corrected.

(Code 2007; Code 2025)

All dead animals shall be disposed of by the owner or keepers within 24 hours of the animal’s death, by burial, incineration in a facility approved by the animal control officer, by rendering or by other lawful means approved by the animal control officer.  No dead animal shall be dumped on any public or private property.

(Code 2007)

(a)   Prohibited: It shall be unlawful for any person to keep, possess or harbor a vicious animal within the city.  Impoundment of animals whose owners have been cited for violation of this section shall be at the discretion of the animal control officer.  If the animal presents a clear and present danger to the public health or safety, it shall be the duty of the animal control officer or his or her agent to impound such animal.

(b)   Defined: For purposes of this chapter a vicious animal shall include:

(1)   Any animal with a known propensity, tendency or disposition to attack unprovoked, to cause injury or to otherwise endanger the safety of human beings or domestic animals; or

(2)   Any animal which attacks a human being or domestic animal without provocation;

(3)   Any animal owned or harbored primarily or in part for the purpose of fighting or any animal trained for fighting;

(4)   Any animal which is urged by its owner or harborer to attack, or whose owner or harborer threatens to provoke such animal to attack, any law enforcement officer while such officer is engaged in the performance of official duty.

(c)   Complaint: Whenever a sworn complaint is filed in the city office against the owner of an animal alleging that such animal is vicious and in violation of this section, the district judge shall hold a hearing to determine whether or not the animal is vicious within the meaning of this section and thereby in violation of this section.  The owner of the animal shall be notified in writing of the time and place of the hearing at least one week prior to the hearing.  In making a determination, the municipal judge shall consider the following:

(1)   The seriousness of the attack or bite;

(2)   Past history of attacks or bites;

(3)   Likelihood of attacks or bites in the future;

(4)   The condition and circumstances under which the animal is kept or confined;

(5)   Other factors which may reasonably relate to the determination of whether or not the animal is vicious.

The municipal judge shall order the impoundment, the muzzling in accordance with subsection (d) and/or the confinement of the animal accused of being in violation of this section in a manner and location that will insure that it is no threat to persons or other animals pending the outcome of the hearing.  If such impoundment, muzzling or otherwise safe confinement is not possible or if prior court orders to restrain such animal have gone unheeded, the district court may order the animal immediately destroyed.

(d)   Vicious Dogs to be Muzzled:  It shall be the duty of every owner, keeper or harborer of any dog in the city, which dog is vicious or has been known to bite, chase, or run after any person or animal in the streets, alleys, or any public place in the city, to keep the same muzzled with a good and sufficient wire or leather muzzle, securely fastened so as to wholly prevent such dog from biting any animal or person until such time as a determination has been made by the court as to whether the dog is vicious or not.  Any person owning, keeping or harboring any dog within the city limits contrary to this section shall be guilty of a violation of this code.

(e)   Immediate Destruction: Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to prevent the law enforcement officer from taking whatever action is reasonably necessary to protect himself or herself or members of the public from injury or danger, including immediate destruction of any vicious animal without notice to the owner.

(f)   Release of: If a complaint has been filed in the city office against the owner of an impounded animal for a charge under this section, the animal shall not be released except on the order of the district judge, who may also direct the owner to pay all impounding fees in addition to any penalties for violation of this chapter.  The district judge may, upon making a finding that an animal is vicious or that  it represents a clear and present danger to the citizens or to other animals in the community, order the animal to be destroyed in a humane manner by the animal shelter. Surrender of an animal by the owner thereof to the animal control officer does not relieve or render the owner immune from the decision of the court, nor to the fees and fines which may result from a violation of this section.

(g)   This section shall not apply to either (1) dogs kept by law enforcement agencies or (2) dogs used to guard or protect public or private property or persons thereon and which have acted in the manner, described in this section, in or on the property of the owner or custodian of such dog.

(Code 2007; Code 2025)

It shall be unlawful for any person to willfully allow any animal or fowl under his or her control to be or to run at large within the city.  Any animal or fowl found at large shall be impounded as provided in section 2-112 or 2-207 (dogs).

(Code 2007)

(a)   The animal control officer or law enforcement officer shall impound any animal or fowl found at large in the city or constituting a nuisance or otherwise in violation of this chapter in a suitable pound or enclosure provided or contracted for by the city.  The impounding officer shall make diligent inquiry as to the owner of the animal and shall notify the owner thereof of such impoundment as soon as reasonably possible.

(b)   In case the identity of the owner of the impounded animal or fowl cannot be ascertained, the animal control officer or police officer shall, upon taking any such animal into custody and impounding the same, make a record thereof, with a description of the animal and the date and place taken into custody and the place of impounding, and shall thereupon immediately post a public notice stating that the animal, describing the same with the date and place of taking, has been taken up.

(c)   The animal control officer shall each month submit a report to the City Council showing the number of animals impounded.

(Code 2007)

(a)   Any law enforcement officer or local health officer may take up, upon private or public property, any animal which has bitten or scratched a person or other animal and impound the animal in the Jefferson County Humane Society.

(b)   Any animal desired for observation by the local health officer under this section shall be delivered to the animal control officer or any law enforcement officer upon demand and shall not be withheld, hidden or harbored.  Any person violating this provision shall be guilty of a violation of this code.  Upon refusal of any person to so deliver such animal, the municipal judge shall cause a warrant to be issued for the arrest of such person, which warrant shall also provide for the surrender of the animal and shall be lawful authority for the apprehending and forcible taking of such animal.

(Code 2007)

Any law enforcement officer or local health officer may take up, upon private or public property, any animal which has bitten or scratched a person or other animal and impound the animal in a veterinary hospital or animal care facility for a period of not more than 30 days during which time the local health officer shall determine whether or not such animal is suffering from a disease.

(Code 2007)

Whenever a dog, cat or other animal is bitten by a rabid animal or an animal later proved to have been rabid, it shall be the duty of the owner of the animal that is bitten, to report that fact to the local health officer and/or the police department.  It shall also be the duty of the owner of the bitten animal to either destroy or have his or her bitten animal destroyed unless:

(a)   The animal which was bitten had been vaccinated against rabies at least three weeks before being bitten and has a current vaccination; and

(b)   If the bitten animal has a current vaccination, it shall be confined for 90 days; and

(c)   The bitten animal shall be released from confinement only upon written order from the local health officer, who declares the animal to be free of rabies; and

(d)   If the animal is found to have contracted rabies during confinement, it shall be properly disposed of.

(Code 2007)

Any person who as the operator of a motor vehicle strikes any animal shall stop at once and shall immediately report such injury or death to the owner of such animal, or in the event that the owner cannot be ascertained, and located, the operator shall at once report the accident to the animal control officer or any law enforcement officer.

(Code 2007)

The mayor is hereby authorized whenever in his or her opinion the danger to the public safety from rabid animals is made imminent to issue a proclamation ordering all persons owning any animal in the city to confine the animal in a good and sufficient enclosure from which the animal cannot escape, or fasten such animal by means of a chain on the premises where the owner may reside, for such time as may be specified in such proclamation.  Any animal not confined during such time may be disposed of wherever found by any police officer, or the animal control officer of the city.  The owner of such animal shall be prosecuted for such violation thereof.

(Code 2007)

No person or household shall own or harbor more than three (3) dogs of six months of age or older or more than one litter of pups, or more than three (3) cats of more than six months of age or more than one litter of kittens, or more than a total of three (3) dogs and cats more than six months of age in any combination.

(Code 2007)