(City Council adopted these Ordinances on August 26, 1999)
Sec. 10-101. Definitions.
The following definitions shall apply in the interpretation and enforcement of this chapter unless it is apparent from the context that a different meaning is intended:
Animal. The term “animal” means and includes all living non-human creatures, domestic or wild, including livestock.
Animal control officer. The term “animal control officer” means any officer of the Oak Ridge Police Department Division of Animal Control.
At large. The term “at large” means off the premises of the owner and not under restraint.
Attack. The term “attack” means an unprovoked attack in an aggressive manner on a human in which the victim suffered a scratch, abrasion, or bruise; or on a domestic animal that causes death or injury that requires veterinary treatment.
Chief of Police. The term “Chief of Police” means the Chief of Police for the City of Oak Ridge.
City Manager. The term “City Manager” means the City Manager for the City of Oak Ridge or his authorized designee.
Confined. The term “confined” means securely confined indoors, within an automobile or other vehicle solely for transportation and transported in a humane manner, or confined in a securely enclosed and locked pen or structure or fence, electronic or otherwise, upon the premises of the owner of such animal. However, under no circumstances is an electronic or similar fence sufficient to confine an animal in heat or a vicious dog.
Cruelty. The term “cruelty” means any act or omission of care that inflicts unnecessary physical pain, suffering on an animal, or that results in the death of an animal, including, but not limited to, the following:
(a) striking, beating, kicking, dragging, choking, or the use of an object or weapon to inflict pain upon or to injure an animal;
(b) use of caustic, flammable, boiling or heated substances on an animal;
(c) suffocation or drowning of an animal;
(d) transport or confinement of an animal in an inhumane manner;
(e) torture, maiming, or mutilation of an animal;
(f) overworking, overdriving or driving an animal when overloaded;
(g) shooting a firearm or other missile-projecting weapon at an animal; wounding, capturing, or in any other manner molesting, injuring or killing an animal;
(h) inflicting burns, cuts, or lacerations on an animal by any method;
(i) failure to provide health related care or grooming of an animal;
(j) causing an animal, except livestock, to drag any heavy object, including but not limited to, cinder blocks, heavy weights, bricks, chains, or logs; or carrying any other object with the purpose of building up the strength or endurance of an animal; or
(k) any other act which causes harm or injury to an animal.
In the case of activities where physical pain is necessarily caused, such as medical, research, food processing, customary and normal veterinary and agricultural husbandry practices, pest elimination, and animal training and hunting, “cruelty” means a failure to employ the most humane method reasonably available.
Division of Animal Control. The term “Division of Animal Control” means the Oak Ridge Police Department Division of Animal Control.
Guard or attack dog. The term “guard dog” or “attack dog” means a dog trained to attack on command or to protect persons or property, by attacking or threatening to attack, and who will cease to attack upon command.
Fowl. The term “fowl” means any wild or domesticated bird.
Impoundment. The term “impoundment” means the taking into custody of an animal by any police officer, animal control officer, or any authorized representative thereof.
Kennel. The term “kennel” means any premises wherein any person engages in the business of boarding, breeding, buying, letting for hire, training for a fee, or selling dogs, puppies, cats, or kittens or any other animal typically kept on such premises.
Livestock. The term “livestock” means all farm animals, including but not limited to cattle, horses, pigs, fowl, sheep, goats and mules.
Muzzle. The term “muzzle” means a device constructed of strong, soft material or metal, designed to fasten over the mouth of an animal to prevent the animal from biting any person or animal. Such device shall not interfere with the animal’s ability to breathe.
Owner. The term “owner” means any person having a right of property in an animal, or who keeps or harbors an animal or who has it in his or her care, or acts as its custodian or who permits an animal to remain on or about the person’s premises. If an animal has more than one owner, all owners are jointly and severally liable for the acts or omissions of an owner.
Pig. The term “pig” means any type of pig, hog, or swine including, but not limited to, pot-bellied pigs.
Quarantine. The term “quarantine” means the humane confinement of an animal for the observation of symptoms for rabies, or other disease, in a secure enclosure that prevents the animal from coming into unplanned contact with any other animal or human being.
Restraint.
(a) For all animals, the term “restraint” means on the premises of the owner, or if off the premises, secured by leash or lead under the control of a person physically capable of restraining the animal and obedient to that person’s commands.
(b) A dog or puppy may be restrained by a fixed point chain or tether for no more than eight (8) hours in a twenty-four (24) hour period.
(c) A dog may be exclusively restrained by a chain or tether provided that it is at least ten (10) feet in length, with swivels on both ends, and is properly attached to a pulley or trolley mounted on a cable which is also at least ten (10) feet in length and mounted at least four (4) feet and no more than seven (7) feet above ground level in a manner so as not to interfere or become entangled with objects on the property.
(d) Any tethering system employed shall not allow the dog or puppy to leave the owner’s property.
(e) No chain or tether shall weigh more than one-eighth (1/8) of the dog or puppy’s body weight.
(f) Any chain or tether must be attached to a properly fitting collar or harness worn by the dog or puppy.
Severe attack. The term “severe attack” means an unprovoked attack upon a human being in which the victim suffered a severe bite or was shaken violently, and which causes serious physical trauma or death.
Wild animal. The term “wild animal” means any live monkey, non-human primate, raccoon, skunk, deer, wildcat, possum, fox, leopard, panther, tiger, lion, lynx, or any other warm-blooded animal that can normally be found in the wild state. The term “wild animal” does not include: domestic dogs (excluding hybrids with wolves, coyotes, or jackals), domestic cats (excluding hybrids with ocelots or margays), livestock, rodents, reptiles, snakes, and captive-bred species of common cage birds.
Sec. 10-102. Supervision of animal shelter.
The city animal shelter shall be under the supervision of the City Manager.
Sec. 10-103. City designated as bird sanctuary.
The corporate limits of the city are hereby designated a bird sanctuary.
Sec. 10-104. Trapping, hunting, and shooting birds prohibited; exceptions.
It shall be unlawful for any person to trap, hunt, shoot or attempt to shoot birds or wildfowl or to rob nests thereof, except that starlings, English sparrows and pigeons congregating in the city may be destroyed at the direction of the City Manager.
Sec. 10-105. Registration of dogs and cats.
(a) All residents owning, keeping, or harboring any dog or cat over three (3) months of age or any other animal which must be vaccinated for rabies, shall pay to the city a yearly registration fee of three dollars ($3) for each spayed or neutered dog or cat and ten dollars ($10) for each unspayed or unaltered dog or cat owned, kept, or harbored.
(b) Upon receipt of the registration fee required by subsection (a) and the exhibition of an unexpired certificate of rabies vaccination, the City Manager shall issue a registration certificate to the owner of the animal, giving the owner’s name, date issued, amount paid, description, name, age and sex of the animal, the registration tag number issued, the date the animal was vaccinated, and the type of vaccine used.
(c) At the time a registration certificate is issued under subsection (b), the City Manager shall also deliver a registration tag bearing the serial number of the registration certificate and the year in which it was delivered. The shape and/or color of the tag shall be changed every year and it shall be the duty of every owner to provide each registered animal with a collar or harness to which the registration tag must be affixed and such owner shall see that the collar or harness is constantly worn. If a registration tag is lost or destroyed, a duplicate will be issued upon presentation of a receipt showing the payment of the fee, and payment of a one dollar ($1) duplicate tag fee.
(d) The registration tag is valid for a maximum period of twelve (12) months and will expire on the same date the rabies vaccination expires.
(e) It shall be unlawful for any person owning, keeping or harboring an animal within the city to fail to register such animal as required by this section.
(f) It shall be unlawful to transfer or place a registration tag onto any animal for which the tag was not issued.
(g) Animals within the city limits for thirty (30) days or less are not required to be registered.
(h) Persons newly residing within the city limits have thirty (30) days in which to comply with this section.
Sec. 10-106. Registration fee for kennels.
Persons operating a kennel where dogs are bred for sale shall not be required to pay the registration fee required by Section 6-5, but in lieu thereof shall pay, on or before the first day of May of each year, or upon the operating of such kennel, a registration fee as a kennel operator. These fees are annual fees and shall be as follows:
(1) Less than ten (10) animals, five dollars ($5).
(2) Between ten (10) and twenty (20) animals, ten dollars ($10).
(3) More than twenty (20) animals, fifteen dollars ($15).
At no time shall the number of dogs in the kennel exceed the number covered by the registration fee.
Sec. 10-107. Confinement of animals in heat.
Every female animal in heat shall be confined for a period of twenty-four (24) days in such a manner that such animal cannot come into contact with another animal except for planned breeding. While exercised, the animal shall be properly leashed.
Sec. 10-108. Animals kept off the owner’s property, prohibited.
(a) No animal, except livestock, shall be kept on a vacant lot or area that is not adjacent to the owner’s property.
(b) An animal may be kept on the premises of the owner’s business as protection while the business is closed, provided the owner complies with all applicable sections of this chapter.
Sec. 10-109. Animals at large prohibited.
No animal, whether registered or not, shall be allowed to run at large or upon the premises of one other than the owner unless secured by a leash or lead.
Sec. 10-110. Impoundment of animals running at large.
(a) It shall be the duty of the City Manager or his duly authorized representative to apprehend and impound in the city animal shelter any animal found running at large.
(b) An animal wearing a valid city tag shall be held for a period of seven (7) working days from the date of apprehension. Untagged, unregistered animals shall be held for a period of three (3) working days. Days are defined as days the animal shelter is open.
(c) Any animal not claimed within the times provided in subsection (b) may be destroyed or sold.
(d) The impoundment of an animal under this section shall not relieve the owner thereof from prosecution for permitting such animal to run at large in violation of Section 6-9.
(e) The record of the owner, and not the particular animal, for one (1) year prior to the date of the current violation, shall be considered when calculating the number of offenses committed.
(f) Any unaltered animal that has been impounded three (3) times within any twelve (12) month period shall be spayed or neutered within thirty (30) days of release from the shelter. The owner must show proof of the procedure to the Division of Animal Control.
(g) In addition to, or in lieu of, apprehending and impounding an animal found at large, the animal control officer, upon determining the owner, may return the animal to the owner and issue a summons requiring the owner to appear in city court for determination of whether or not there has been a violation within the meaning of Section 6-9.
(h) No animal shall be released from impoundment unless and until it has been vaccinated and registered and a tag placed on its collar.
Sec. 10-111. Impounding fees.
The impounding fees are as follows:
(1) Registered animal wearing a valid tag,
(a) Twenty dollars ($20) for the first offense,
(b) Thirty dollars ($30) for the second offense, and
(c) One hundred dollars ($100) for the third offense plus an additional fifty dollars ($50) for every subsequent offense.
(2) Unregistered animal or registered animal not wearing a valid tag,
(a) Thirty dollars ($30) for the first offense,
(b) Forty dollars ($40) for the second offense, and
(c) One hundred dollars ($100) for the third offense plus an additional fifty dollars ($50) for every subsequent offense.
Sec. 10-112. Failure to re-claim animal at large.
Any owner who has been notified that his or her animal has been impounded and who refuses to pay the impounding fee set forth in Section 6-11 shall be subject to a penalty for failure to re-claim the animal. In determining the number of failures to re-claim, the entire record of the owner with regard to every animal owned will be considered. The penalty shall be as follows:
(a) First failure to re-claim, fifty dollars ($50).
(b) Second failure to re-claim, one hundred dollars ($100).
(c) Third and subsequent failures to re-claim, two hundred and fifty dollars ($250).
Sec. 10-113. Authority to kill animals at large.
If any animal found at large in violation of this chapter cannot be safely taken up and impounded and either poses a threat to a person or the public or is seriously injured, such animal may be killed by any police officer or animal control officer. Nothing is this section shall be construed to prevent a police officer or animal control officer from killing an animal in self-defense.
Sec. 10-114. Keeping or possessing livestock.
It is unlawful for any person to keep or possess livestock, including pigs and goats, within the city. This section is inapplicable to areas zoned for livestock, provided the owner complies with the conditions set forth in the Zoning Ordinance.
Sec. 10-115. Possession of wild animals, prohibited.
It is unlawful for any person to own or possess a wild animal within the city limits.
Sec. 10-116. Condition for sales of certain animals.
(a) Fowl or rabbits younger than eight (8) weeks of age may not be sold in quantities of less than twenty-five (25) to a single purchaser.
(b) No person shall give away any live animal, including fish, reptile or bird, as a prize for, or as an inducement to enter, any contest, game, or other competition, or as an inducement to enter a place of amusement; or offer such animal as an incentive to enter into any business agreement whereby the offer was for the purpose of attracting trade.
(c) No person shall sell, offer for sale or give away any dog or cat under six (6) weeks of age.
Sec. 10-117. Cruelty to animals prohibited.
(a) It shall be unlawful for any person to maliciously or willfully strike, beat, abuse, or intentionally run down with a vehicle any animal, or otherwise engage in any act to cause or inflict unnecessary pain, injury, suffering, or death to an animal, or to do anything defined in Section 6-1 under “cruelty.”
(b) It shall be unlawful to color, dye, stain, or otherwise alter the natural color of any animal.
(c) Any person convicted of cruelty to animals shall be subject to a penalty of not less than two hundred dollars ($200) and not to exceed five hundred dollars ($500).
(d) Nothing in this section prevents a person from using reasonable force to drive away a vicious or trespassing animal or to take any action necessary to avoid injury to a person.
Sec. 10-118. Improper care of animals prohibited.
No person owning or keeping an animal shall fail to provide it with the minimum care, nor shall such person keep an animal under unsanitary conditions or in an enclosure that is overcrowded, unclean or unhealthy.
(a) Except for emergencies or circumstances beyond the owner’s control, an animal is deprived of minimum care if it is not provided with care sufficient to preserve the health and well-being of the animal considering the species, breed and type of animal. Minimum care includes, but is not limited to, the following requirements:
(1) Food of sufficient quantity, quality and nutrition to allow for normal growth or maintenance of body weight.
(2) Open or adequate access to potable water in sufficient quantity to satisfy the animal’s needs. Snow or ice is not an adequate water source. Fowl shall at all times be provided with receptacles kept constantly filled with clean water.
(3) Access to a barn, doghouse, or other shelter sufficient to protect the animal from the elements.
(4) Veterinary care deemed necessary by a reasonably prudent person to relieve distress from injury, neglect or disease.
(b) An enclosure is overcrowded unless its area is at least the square of the length of the animal in inches (from tip of nose to base of tail) plus six (6) inches for each animal confined therein, and the height must allow for each animal to fully stand upright.
(c) An enclosure is unclean when it contains an excessive amount of animal waste.
(d) An enclosure is unhealthy when its condition is likely to cause illness or injury to the animal.
Sec. 10-119. Abandonment.
It shall be unlawful for any person to abandon an animal that is under its ownership or care. If an animal is found abandoned, the animal may be impounded. Abandonment consists of:
(1) leaving an animal for a period in excess of twenty-four (24) hours without providing for someone to feed, water and check on the animal’s condition,
(2) leaving an animal by a roadside or other area, or
(3) leaving an animal on either public or private property without the property owner’s consent.
Any person convicted of violating this section shall be subject to a penalty of not less than two hundred dollars ($200) nor more than five hundred dollars ($500). Each animal abandoned is a separate violation.
Sec. 10-120. Poisoning.
It shall be unlawful for any person, other than a licensed veterinarian or a person under the direction of a veterinarian for humanitarian purposes, to:
(1) administer poison to any animal(s);
(2) distribute poison in any manner whatsoever with the intent or for the purpose of poisoning any animal; or
(3) knowingly leave a poisonous substance of any kind or ground glass in any place with the intent to injure an animal or in any location where it may be readily found and eaten by an animal.
The provisions of this section are not applicable to licensed exterminators using poisons as part of a pest control program or to persons using commercial insecticides and rodent baits to control insects and wild rodents. This section is also inapplicable to any measures taken under Section 6-4 by the City Manager.
Sec. 10-121. Noisy animals prohibited.
(a) No person owning or keeping any animal shall fail to prevent such animal from disturbing the peace of any other person by loud and persistent or loud and habitual barking, yelping, howling, braying, whinnying, crowing, calling or making any other noise, whether the animal is on or off the owner’s premises.
(b) No person shall be charged with violating this section unless a written warning was given to the owner within the twelve (12) months preceding the alleged date of violation. Such warning is sufficient if it recites subsection (a) and states that a complaint was received. A warning is given if personally given to the owner or mailed first class to the owner.
(c) No person shall be convicted of violating this section unless two (2) or more witnesses testify to the noise, or unless there is other evidence corroborating the testimony of a single witness.
Sec. 10-122. Animal on school grounds.
It shall be unlawful for any owner, or any other person having an animal under his or her care or control to take, allow, or let such animal upon the grounds, property, or premises of any public school operated by the Oak Ridge School System unless such person shall first have obtained written permission from the superintendent of schools or his designee. This section is not applicable to any law enforcement animal.
Sec. 10-123. Citation procedure for violations of this chapter.
Whenever an animal control officer determines there has been a violation of any of the provisions in this chapter, in lieu of obtaining a warrant for the arrest of the offender, the animal control officer may prepare in quadruplicate a written notice to appear in city court containing the name and address of such person, the offense charged, and the time when such person shall appear in city court. The time specified for appearance shall not be less than five (5) days from the date of the issuance to appear, unless the person cited agrees to a shorter time period. If the person so demands, the appearance in court shall be the first session of court following the citation. The cited person shall sign one (1) copy of the notice to appear. Signing the notice shall constitute the cited person’s promise to appear on the date specified in the notice. One copy of the notice shall be delivered to the cited person.
Sec. 10-124. Failure to obey animal control citation.
No person shall violate his or her written promise to appear provided for in Section 6-23, regardless of the disposition of the charge for which the citation was originally issued.
Sec. 10-125. Acceptance of guilty pleas and penalties for animal control violations.
The city court clerk is hereby authorized to accept pleas of guilty for violations of this chapter, to accept designated penalties in connection with such pleas, to issue receipts therefor, and to appear for such person in court for the purpose of entering pleas of guilty, all in accordance with such procedures as may be established by the judge of the city court. Such penalties shall be accepted upon the entry of any plea of guilty before the court clerk. The amount of such penalty to be accepted shall be so designated by rule of court promulgated by the judge of the city court; provided that no such penalty may be accepted for a sum less than the minimum penalty imposed by any section of this chapter for such offense. Any person given a citation for a violation of any provision of this chapter may post the penalty appropriate thereto, and notify the clerk of the city court that he or she will not appear for trial in which case the matter may be entered on the docket for trial. There shall be no cost assessed in cases in which a plea of guilty is entered under this section.
Sec. 10-126. Collection and disposition of fees.
All fees required by this chapter shall be collected as required and shall be deposited in the general fund.
Sec. 10-127. Penalties.
Any person violating any provision of this chapter, unless the penalty is specified in the section, shall be punished by a penalty not to exceed five hundred dollars ($500). Each day a violation exists shall be deemed a separate violation.
Sec. 10-128. Severability.
If any section, sentence, clause, or phrase of this chapter is for any reason held to be invalid or unconstitutional by a decision of any court of competent jurisdiction, such a decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this ordinance.
Sec. 10-129—10-137. Reserved.
ARTICLE II. RABIES CONTROL
Sec. 10-201. Vaccination of animals.
(a) It shall be unlawful for any person to own, keep, or harbor any dog or cat, or other animal that requires vaccination for rabies, which has not been vaccinated against rabies as required by state law.
(b) Evidence of such vaccination shall consist of a certificate bearing the owner’s name and address, number of the vaccination tag issued, date of vaccination, date the animal shall be re-vaccinated, description and sex of the animal vaccinated, type and lot number of the vaccine administered and the signature of the person administering the vaccine.
(c) The certificate shall be prepared in triplicate, the original to be given to the owner, the first copy filed in the office of the local health department, and the second copy retained by the person administering the vaccine.
(d) All vaccinations shall be administered by or under the supervision of a veterinarian licensed by the State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners to practice veterinary medicine in the State of Tennessee.
Sec. 10-202. Apprehension and disposition of rabid animals and suspects.
Any animal capable of being infected with rabies which is rabid or believed to be rabid shall be immediately reported to the Police Department. Such animal shall be taken up and impounded if this can be accomplished with safety. If it is necessary for the city to destroy the animal to prevent further biting or for the safety of the community, every effort shall be made to avoid damage to the brain.
Sec. 10-203. Quarantine of animals infli | 