SUBSTITUTE BILL NO.  4021

 

ORDINANCE NUMBER  3034

 

 

AN ORDINANCE regulating the

TETHERING OF DOGS AND CATS

IN THE CITY OF CREVE COEUR

 

        WHEREAS, the City Council has determined it to be in the public interest to establish regulations regarding the tethering of dogs and cats in the City of Creve Coeur for reasons of public health, safety, and welfare, and

 

        WHEREAS, a copy of this ordinance has been made available for public inspection prior to its adoption by the City Council and this bill having been read by title in open meeting three times before final passage.

 

         NOW, THERFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CREVE COEUR, MISSOURI, THAT:

 

         SECTION 1:   New definitions are hereby added to Chapter 5, Article I, Section 5-1 of the Code of Ordinances of the City as follows:

 

Appropriate shelter. A cover or protection from the elements containing adequate and appropriate bedding such as straw, hay, or wood shavings, which is small enough to allow the dog or cat to retain its body heat but is large enough to allow the animal to stand, turn around, and lie down.

 

Harness. A combination of leather or nylon straps and buckles which, when fitted around the neck and torso of the dog or cat, helps to distribute the pulling force more evenly across the shoulders.

 

Tethering.  Attaching a dog or cat to a stationary object or pulley run by means of a chain, rope, tether, cable, or similar restraint. “Tethering” does not include the use of a leash to walk a dog.

 

         SECTION 2:   A new Chapter 5, Article VI Sec. 5-49 of the Code of Ordinances of the City is hereby adopted as follows:

 

Sec. 5-49   Tethering, prohibited conduct.

 

It shall be unlawful for any owner or other person controlling or possessing any dog or cat to:

 

(a)    Leave a dog or cat tethered outdoors for eight continuous hours or for a total of twelve hours in a twenty-four hour period.

(b)    Tether a dog or cat except by means of a properly fitting harness or collar of nylon or leather construction and a tether in proportion to the size of the animal. The tether must be at least fifteen (15) feet in length with a swivel at both ends.

(c) Tether a dog or cat outdoors under conditions where the animal or tether can become entangled on the tether, another animal, or some other object or where the tether can restrict the animal’s access to suitable, edible, and sufficient food, clean water (cool in summer and unfrozen in winter), and appropriate shelter.

(d)    Tether a dog or cat outdoors in unsafe or unsanitary conditions or when said tether does not allow the animal to defecate or urinate in an area separate from the areas where it must eat, drink, or lie down.

(e)    Expose a dog or cat to any weather conditions that cause immediate imminent threat to the animal’s physical well being.

 

         SECTION 3:    All ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict with the provisions of this ordinance are hereby repealed.

 

         SECTION 4:    This ordinance shall be in full force and effect upon the expiration of fifteen (15) days after adoption by the City Council and the signing thereof by the Mayor.

 

ADOPTED THIS  6^th DAY OF January 2005

 

 

                                      __________________________________________________

                                      DAVID KASSANDER

                                      PRESIDENT OF CITY COUNCIL

 

                                      APPROVED THIS 6^th DAY OF  January 2005

 

 

                                   ____________________________________________________

                                    HAROLD L. DIELMANN

MAYOR

 

 

ATTEST:

 

_____________________

LAVERNE COLLINS, CMC

CITY CLERK