198 - Wolf/Dog Hybrid Regulation - Two Rivers

Ordinance #198
Pets
Wolf/Dog Hybrid Regulation - City of Two Rivers

SEC. 6-5-17 WOLF/DOG HYBRID REGULATION AND CONFINEMENT

(a) A wolf/dog hybrid is defined as any cross-breed resulting from the mating of a domesticated dog and a wolf, coyote jackal or dingo or resulting from the mating of any wolf/dog hybrid and another wolf/dog hybrid or a domesticated dog. As used herein:

(i) The term "canine animal" includes all members of the family canidae except foxes.

(ii) The term "Domesticated dog" means canis familiaris.

(iii) The term "wolf' includes both canis lupus and canis niger.

(iv) The term "coyote" means canis latrans.

(v) The term "jackal" means canis aurens.

(vi) The term "dingo" means canis dingo.

(b) No person shall harbor, keep or maintain within the City of Two Rivers any wolf/dog hybrid which has not been registered pursuant to See. 6-5-18 of the Municipal Code on or before July 1, 1996. This prohibition shall not apply to animals being transported through the city limits of the City of Two Rivers within a one-hour period of time. A pup born to a female wolf/dog hybrid so registered shall be removed from the City of Two Rivers before it has reached the age of five (5) months. Wolf/dog hybrids permitted in the City of Two Rivers shall be confined as set forth in this Ordinance.

(c) Whenever any person is charged with harboring, keeping or maintaining a wolf/dog hybrid in the City of Two Rivers which has not been registered on or before July 1, 1996, that person shall, to the satisfaction of the Court, remove said animal from the City of Two Rivers until a trial on the citation. If said animal has not been so removed within forty-eight (48) hours of the service of the citation, the said animal may be impounded as directed by the City of Two Rivers Police Department until the trial on the citation. In that case, the owner of any such animal shall pay all expenses incurred due to such impoundment, including but not limited to the cost of shelter, food, handling and veterinary care/ If is determined by plea or trial that said animal is a wolf/dog hybrid not registered pursuant to Sec. 6-5-18 on or before July 1, 1996, it shall be removed from and not returned to the City of Two Rivers.

(d) The owner of any wolf/dog hybrid permitted to be kept in the City of Two Rivers, and the owner of any property on which such wolf/dog hybrid is kept, shall see that the animal is at all times confined according to the minimum requirements of this Ordinance.

(e) A wolf/dog, hybrid may be kept only in enclosures that meet the following minimum requirements:

1. The first enclosure shall be constructed of not less than 9-gauge galvanized chain link fencing, with mesh openings not greater than two inches (2"), which shall be securely anchored by stainless steel or copper rings, placed at intervals not greater than six inches (6") apart, to a poured concrete base as described herein. Such enclosure shall be not less than five hundred (500) square feet in area, plus two hundred-fifty (250) square feet for each additional canine animal kept therein. Such enclosure shall be the location in which any wolf/dog hybrid is primarily kept.

2. The first enclosure shall extend to a height of not less than eight (8) feet, and shall be surrounded from ground level to a height of not less than four (4) feet by one-quarter inch (1/4") galvanized mesh screening.

3. The first enclosure shall have a full top, which shall also be constructed of not less than 9-gauge chain link fencing with mesh openings not greater than two inches (2"), and which shall be securely anchored to the sides of the enclosure. The entire base of the first enclosure shall be a poured concrete slab floor at least 4 inches (4") thick.

4. The second enclosure shall consist of a securely anchored fence at least six (6) feet in height, which shall entirely surround the first enclosure, and no part of which shall be nearer than six (6) feet from any part of the first enclosure. Said fence shall be a "vision barrier" fence, no more than 5 percent open for through vision, except, however, that the portion of said fence facing the dwelling of the owner of said animals or of the property on which they are kept shall be constructed of not less than 9-gauge chain link fencing, to provide for observation of said animals. If any portion of said fence is made of wood, the finished or painted side thereof shall face outward from the first enclosure.

5. Both enclosures shall be kept locked with case hardened locks at all times when an animal is unattended by an adult. The First (innermost) enclosure shall have double entrance gates or doors situated and constructed in such a fashion as to prevent an animal from escaping past an open gate or door. The gates or doors providing access to the first (innermost) enclosure shall be spring-loaded, so as to shut of their own accord behind anyone entering that enclosure.

6. Within the first enclosure, shelter shall be provided adequate to protect the animals confined against weather extremes. The first enclosure shall be regularly cleaned to remove excreta and other waste materials, dirt and trash, in a manner adequate to minimize health hazards and avoid offensive odors.

7. The above described enclosures shall be located in the rear yard of any property on which a wolf/dog hybrid is kept, as defined in Sec. 10-1-7(a) (66) of the City of Two Rivers Municipal.

(f) A wolf/dog hybrid may be transported only if confined in a secure, locked container, covered with 1/4" galvanized fine mesh screen. This paragraph shall not prohibit the walking of such animals, provided they are muzzled and restrained by a leather lead, at least one inch (1") in diameter and not exceeding three (3) feet in length, attached to a metal choker-type collar, under the control of an adult. The muzzle must be made in a manner that will not cause injury to the wolf/dog hybrid or unduly interfere with its vision or respiration, but will prevent it from biting any person or animal.

(g) To insure compliance with this ordinance, any person possessing any registration papers, certificate, advertisement or other written evidence relating to the bloodlines or ownership of a canine animal found within this city shall produce the same for inspection on demand of any law enforcement, conservation or public health officer or court.

(h) No person shall own, harbor or keep in his/her possession on any one parcel of property more than three (3) wolf/dog hybrids over five (5) months of age at any one time, nor shall any person retain a litter or portion of a litter of wolf/dog hybrids longer than five (5) months.

(i) The foregoing provisions of this ordinance shall not apply to Doctors of Veterinary Medicine in temporary possession of wolf/dog hybrids in the ordinary course of their practice.

(j) Violation of any of the foregoing provisions of this ordinance shall be subject to penalties as provided in the general penalty provisions of the Municipal Code of the City of Two Rivers, as set forth in See. I-1-7 thereof

(k) No person shall willfully or negligently release or abandon a wolf/dog hybrid as defined herein within this City.

(1) Any person who violates paragraph (k) of this ordinance shall forfeit not more than $10,000.00, plus the cost of prosecution for each violation. Any person who is in default of the payment of forfeitures or costs imposed hereunder, unless found indigent by a court of competent jurisdiction, shall be imprisoned in the Manitowoc County jail for up to ninety (90) days for each violation or until payment has been made.

(m) The provisions of this ordinance are declared to be severable, and if any section, paragraph, sentence, clause or phrase of this Ordinance shall for any reason be held to be invalid or unconstitutional, such decision shall not effect the validity of the remaining sections, paragraphs, sentences, clauses and phrases of this ordinance, which shall remain in effect.

As to any person keeping of wolf/dog hybrids in existing enclosures in the City of Two Rivers on the date of passage of this ordinance, Paragraph (e) shall take effect on August 15, 1996; for all other persons, said paragraph shall take effect and be in force from and after passage and publication as provided by law. The remaining provisions of this ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after passage and publication as provided by law.

SEC. 6-5-18 WOLF/DOG HYBRID REGISTRATION

(a) In this Ordinance, "wolf/dog hybrid" shall be defined as provided in Sec. 6-5-17(a) of the Municipal Code of the City of Two Rivers.

(b) All owners of any wolf/dog hybrid in the City of Two Rivers, shall, on or before July 1, 1996, and annually thereafter on or before April 1st of each year, register such animal and provide a current color photograph of such animal with the City Clerk-Teasurer's office and pay a registration fee of $25.00. At the time of registration, each owner of any wolf/dog hybrid kept within the city limits of the City of Two Rivers shall provide to the City Clerk-Treasurer proof of liability insurance in the amount of at least one hundred thousand dollars ($ 100,000-00) for any acts of property damage, personal injury or other liability incurred by virtue of any injury Or damage inflicted by such wolf/dog hybrid. Such insurance shall name the City of Two Rivers as co-insured solely for the purpose of notice of cancellation of such insurance policy,

(c) The owner or keeper of a wolf/dog hybrid shall display on the premises on which such animal is kept signs warning that there is a wolf/dog hybrid on the property as provided herein. Such signs shall be visible and capable of being read within at least twenty (20) 1~et of their placement, but shall not be more than two (2) square feet in area, and shall state in bold, capital letters, on a white background, the following: "WARNING--WOLF/DOG HYBRIDS PRESENT". One such sign shall be placed in the front yard of any property on which any wolf/dog hybrid is kept, as said term is defined in See. 10-1-7(a)(64) of the Municipal Code of the City of Two Rivers, and additional such signs shall be placed on all gates or doors providing access through the second (outermost) enclosure required under Sec. 6-5-17 of the Municipal Code of the City of Two Rivers.

(d) Any person who fails to register a wolf/dog hybrid or fails to post signage as required by the Ordinance shall be subject to penalty as provided in the general penalty provisions of the Municipal Code of the City of Two Rivers as set forth in Sec. 1-1-7 thereof.

(e) The provisions of this ordinance are declared to be severable, and if any section, paragraph, sentence, clause or phrase of this Ordinance shall for any reason be held to be invalid or unconstitutional, such decision shall not effect the validity of the remaining sections, paragraphs, sentences, clauses and phrases of this ordinance, which shall remain in effect.

This ordinance shall take effect and be in full force from and after passage and publication as provided by law.