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ORDINANCE NO.
AN ORDINANCE REGULATING ANIMALS AND LIVESTOCK, PROVIDING
FOR AN ANIMAL POUND, ESTABLISHING THE POSITION OF
POUNDMASTER AND PROVIDING FOR APPOINTMENT AND DUTIES OF
A POUNDMASTER, PROVIDING FOR AND REGULATING THE IMPOUNDMENT
OF ANIMALS AND LIVESTOCK, THE LICENSING AND CONTROL OF
ANIMALS AND THE SALE OF IMPOUNDED LIVESTOCK, DEFINING
OFFENSES FOR FAILURE TO CONTROL AND LICENSE ANIMALS OR
LIVESTOCK AND PENALTIES THEREFOR, AND SETTING FEES FOR
LICENSING AND IMPOUNDING ANIMALS AND LIVESTOCK, AND
FURTHER PROVIDING PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS BY THE OWNERS
OF ANIMALS AND LIVESTOCK.
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PORT TOWNSEND, IN REGULAR SESSION
ASSEMBLED, DO ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
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Section 1. Animal Pound: 'There is hereby created for the City
of Port 'Townsend an Animal Pound for the restraint, care ani
disposal of dogs, cats and other animals taken up or impounded
for violation of or contrary to any provisions of this oYiO�Y�Ncr
The Animal Pound shall be located at such place as the city
council of said city shall, from time to time designate. Said
animal pound shall be under the direct control and supervision
of the poundmaster.
Section 2. Poundmaster: The position of City Poundmaster is
hereby created, and the.city police chief shall employ, subject
to the confirmation of the mayor, a city poundmaster, and it
shall be the duty of such poundmaster to enforce the provisions
of this chapter anIto perform such other services aAay be
directed to do by the chief of police.
Section 3. Poundmaster to keep records: The city poundmaster
shall keep accurate and canplete records of all animals impounded,
including a description of the animal, where found and other
pertinent information; and a complete record of all monies
collected for sale, board, redemtion and care of said animals.
Such records shall be at all times open to inspection by city
officials and such poundmaster shall make and file with the city
clerk, on the first day of each month, a full and true report and
account of all animals impounded, sold and redeemed, and of all
the fees and charges collected by him the preceding month. Said
fees and charges to be deposited by him to the current expense
fund of the city.
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Section 4. Interference with Pound: Whoever shall open or attempt
to open any city pound, or whoever shall take or attempt to take
therefrom any impounded animal without first paying to such pound -
master all the fees and charges against such animals or without the
consent of the city poundmaster, or whoever shall in any manner
hinder, delay or obstruct the city poundmaster in the discharge of
any of his duties or work under this chapter, or whoever shall
directly or indirectly attempt to do so, or whoever shall hinder,
delay or obstruct the taking up or the impounding of any animals,
or whoever shall directly or indirectly attempt to.do so, shall be
guilty of a misdemeanor.
Section 5. Kee2inq of Animals or livestock: No cattle, horse,
ass, goat, mule, sheep, swine, dog, fowl, nor any other domestic
animal, shall be permitted to run at large during any part of the
hours of the day or night, on any of the streets, sidewalks, alleys,
parks or other public lands or places within the city limits.
Section 6. What constitutes running at Large: Any and all of the
animals mentioned in this chapter shall be deemed to be running at
large contrary to the provisions hereof, if found within the
city limits, unless the same are being driven or led along the public
streets in the act of transit or under the immediate control of the
person owning or charged with the care thereof, but if any of such
animals shall be found to be safely and properly tied or tethered
or fenced so as to prevent them from going upon or reaching any
sidewalks, streets, alleys, lanes, parks, or any other public lands
or places, they shall not be so deemed running at large contrary to
any provisions of this chapter. Any such animal found to be running
at large as provided in this chapter shall be declared to be a
nuisance and may be impounded as such.
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Section 7. Impoundment of animals or livestock at large: The city
poundmaster shall promptly take up and impound in the city pound
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any ana all such animals as described in this ° vi►�W found to be
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fi running at large contrary to any of the provisions of this r,
and to safely and properly keep, feed and water the same at the
expense of the city, until the same shall be disposed of, duly
` redeemed or sold as herein provided.
Section 8, Redemption of impounded animals or livestock: The owner
or person entitled to the possession of any such animals taken up
or impounded may redeem the same at any time before the sale or
disposal thereof, as herein provided, by paying to the city pound -
master all the fees and charges herein prescribed, and it shall be
the duty of the city poundmaster to charge and collect for- the use
of the city the following fees and charges:
For taking up or impounding the first head of livestock or animal,
the sum of five dollars; for each head of livestock or animal over
and above one belonging to the same owner taken up or impounded at
the same time, the sum of two dollars; for keeping or feeding of
each of such livestock or animals the sum of one dollar and fifty
cents per day after the first twenty-four hour period; for the
advertising and selling of such animals or livestock the feel;
prescribed by law for sheriffs on sale of personal property
execution.
Section 9. Unredeemed livestock offered for sale: If no person
shall redeem or legally release any such animals within forty-eight
hours after the impounding thereof, it shall be the duty of the city
poundmaster to advertise for the same for sale by posting notices
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of sale in three public places within the corporate limits of
the city, and also to post a copy of such notice at the pound gate
or entrance wherein such animals are kept, and to serve a copy
thereof on the owner of such animals, if known and can be found,
by personally delivering same to such owner or leaving it at his
usual place of abode, which notice shall describe such animals
to be sold, and state that the sane have been impounded and will
be sold -by the poundmaster at the gate or entrance to the city
pound, giving its location approximately, at public auction to the
highest bidder for cash without redemption, on the day and hour
therein specified in such notice, and which notice shall be dated
and signed by the poundmaster, and shall be posted and served as
herein provided, five days before the day of such sale, and it shall
be the duty of such poundmaster to make such sale in accordance with
such notice and provisions of this chapter, unless such animals
shall be redeemed or legally released before such sale, and deliver
immediate possession thereof to the purchaser upon receipt of the
purchase price and deliver to such purchaser a duplicate receipt
therefor as prescribed by ordinance; provided, that such poundmaster
shall have authority to continue or adjourn any sale, for one, two
or three days by public announcement thereof at the time and place
of sale fixed by such notice, and by noting such continuance of
adjournment on the notice; provided further, that in default of the
city's fees and charges against such animals the same shall be sold
to the city without redemption and shall become the absolute
property of the city to be sold or otherwise disposed of in such
manner as may be directed by the city council.
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Section 10. Surplus from sale of unredeemed livestock: if there
shall be any surplus arising from the sale of any such animals
under the provisions of this chapter, after deducting all the fees
and charges herein provided, the same may, by order of the city
council, be paid to the owner of such animals within six months
from the date of such sale and proof- of his ownership.
DOG AND CAT LICENSES AND RULES AND REGULATIONS
Section 11. License Required: It shall be unlawful for any person
to own keep or have in possession or control in the city any dog
or cat of either sex more than four months of age without having
first obtained a license therefor as herein provided. 1Vra4a4Arian,
pamoon cam^ pates QW , key c hat � ce+wr01
a� az cis, a*11- beeM of f=w c rnem!6hs W mosft-- im ajge ,
s-ha� he rAwpoj=rci be o4tbwOn t lose-. kimonme, sxp*r Licenses shall
be issued by the city clerk upon payment of the following fees:
Female dog ...................... $4.00
Male and spayed female dogs..... $2.00
Cat of either sex............... $1.00
Such licenses shall consist of a metal tag of a size and shape
suitable to be attached to the collar of the animal for which issued,
shall be numbered serially commencing with the number one each year
and shall bear the number of the year for which issued. Such license
shall be for a period of one year, shall be due on January lst of
each year and shall expire on December 31st of the year of issuance.
All licenses issued for dogs of either sex shall be permanently
attached to the collar or harness of and worn by the animal for
which issued until such license shall have expired. Before issuing
any dog or cat license, the city clerk shall take .from the applicant
therefor an application in writing which shall state the breed, age,
sex and general description as to color, weight and characteristics
and give the name, if any, of the animal for which the license is
being issued, and the serial number of the license tag to be issued
therefor, and shall be signed by the applicant.
Section 12. Maintaininga nuisance: It shall be unlawful for any
person to suffer or permit, within the city, any dog or cat in their
possession, or under their control, to bark or howl, or to in any
manner make or create any obnoxious noise or disturbance, or do any
other act or thing to the annoyance of any persons, or to keep,
harbor or maintain any dog or cat doing so. Allsuch animals are
hereby declared to be a nuisance and may be impounded as such.
Section 13. Dog_or cat to wear license tag: It shall be unlawful
for the owner or custodian of any dog or cat to keep within. the city
without having permanently attached to a suitable collar or harness
worn by such animal the current metal license tag issued for such
cat or dog. Any dog or cat found without such license tag is
hereby declared to be a nuisance and may be impounded as such.
Section 14. Maintaining vicious or dangerous animal: It shall be
unlawful for any person to keep, harbor or maintain any vicious or
dangerous animal at any place within the city. It shall be the
duty of the poundmaster with -the assistance of the police department
of the city in such cases as may be necessary, to kill or otherwise
properly dispose of any such animal found within the city. The
police judge shall have authority to, in his discretion and in
addition to any other penalty imposed for the violation of this
section, order any such animal killed or otherwise properly
disposed of and assess the cost and expense thereof as an additional
penalty to be taxed and collected as any other fine or cost in
such case.
Section 15. Impoundment: Any clog or cat taken up or impounded
for a violation hereof shall be held for a period of at least
forty-eight hours during which period the owner or custodian
thereof may redeem and regain custody thereof by paying to the
city any license fee that may be due for such animal; by further
paying to the poundmaster the sum of five dollars for a pick-up
charge for taking such animal into custody; and paying a charge
of• one dollar and fifty cents to the poundmaster for compensation
for board and care for such impounded animal for each twenty-four
hour period or part thereof for which said animal is retained.
Any dog or cat held so impounded for more than forty-eight hours
may be so redeemed by the payment of the sum of one dollar and
fifty cents for each twenty-four hour period that such animal has
been in excess of forty-eight hours, in addition to all other
license fees and penalties herein provided for, said sum payable
to the poundmaster. Provided, however, that if any dog or cat so
impounded shall be suffering from injury or disease of such nature
as to require the services of a veterinarian, the same shall not
be released from the pound or other place where the same may be
held except to a licensed veterinarian for treatment. If any
impounded cat or dog has need of medical treatment, the cost thereof
shall be paid before being released. Any impounded dog or cat
suffering from any incurable injury or disease, or any disease.or
condition which shall cause the same to be a menace to public
or safety shall be destroyed by the poundmaster in a humane
manner, and disposed of in such a manner as to properly safeguard
and protect the public health and safety. Any impounded dog or
cat not suffering as herein described, shall, after being held
for forty-eight hours, be humanely destroyed by the poundmaster;
Provided, however, that in the discretion of the poundmaster such
animal may be held for a reasonable period in excess of forty-eight
hours for the purpose of redemption. At any time during the period
of such discretionary holding, any person may redeem such animal
by payment of the license fee and penalties and charges herein
provided for.
Section 16. Payment of impoundment fee: Such compensation shall
be due the city as hereinbefore listed as payment for board and
care of animals at the city pound and shall be due from and be
paid directly by the redeeming owner or custodian to the city
poundmaster.
Section 17. Disposal of dead animals: In addition to any other
duties herein specified, it shall be the duty of . the poundmaster
to gather up, remove, and properly dispose of any dead animals
found in the city.
Section 18. License immaterial: The ownership or possession of
a license issued by the city, for any dog or cat, shall not be
material to any matter of fact or law related to the keeping,
control of, or disposal of fe-nal dogs or cats in season as herein
described.
Section 19. Tres assinq Animal:
It shall be unlawful to suffer or
permit any animal to trespass on private property so as to damage or
destroy any property or thing of value and same is hereby declared to
be a nuisance and such animal may be impounded as such. Whenever it
shall be affirmed in writti.ng by three (3) or more persons having
separate residences, or regularly employed in the neighborhood that
any animal is a habitual nuisance by reason of running at large,
trespassing, howling, barking, or other noise, or damage to property,
being vicious, or by its actions potentially vicious or in any other
way or manner causing undue annoyance, the poundmaster, if he finds
such nuisance to exist in fact, shall serve notice upon the owner
or custodian of such animal, that such nuisance must be abated within
twenty-four hours, after which the poundmaster shall decide whether
such nuisance has been abated and if not, any such animal may be
impounded. The owner or person in possession or care of such animal
found to be nuisance shall be deemed guilty of maintaining a nuisance.
Section 20. In any case where a group of dogs may be found
running in a pack of three or more in number, and it shall appear
that said dogs are uncontrolled and running at large in such manner
as to endanger persons or animals, the poundmaster, or his deputy,
or any police officer of the city, may use all such force as may be
necessary to disperse and eliminate such running in a pack, without
regard to whether any actual damage has been done or is in progress
of being done by such pack.
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Section 20. This ordinance shall take effect upon January 1, 1974.
Read for the first, second and third times, passed by the council
and approved by the Mayor on December 4, 1973-?
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B . STEVE
yor
ATTEST:
PATRICIA J .
EDERSEN
City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO F01UI:
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