Source: https://ecode360.com/11768136
Timestamp: 2019-04-22 18:17:11+00:00

Document:
§ 102-2 Findings and purpose.
§ 102-3 Mandatory spaying/neutering; notification of cat abandonment.
§ 102-4 Penalties for offenses.
§ 102-5 Unaltered animal certification; administration.
§ 102-6 Sterilization of impounded animals.
§ 102-8 Neuter Assistance and Education Fund.
§ 102-9 Sale in public places.
§ 102-10 Cats roaming at large.
§ 102-12 Construal of provisions.
§ 102-16 Removal of dog waste.
§ 102-17 Penalties for offenses.
§ 102-18 Guide dogs exempted.
Animal control fees — See Ch. 122, Art. IV.
Hearing procedure for citations — See Ch. 129.
The Town Council of the Town of Mansfield finds that there is an overpopulation of stray and unwanted cats in the Town, evidenced in part by the impoundment of an increasing number of cats every year during the past six years by the Animal Control Officer. It is the purpose of this article to promote the health, safety and general welfare of the residents of the Town of Mansfield by reducing the number of stray/abandoned cats. This article shall serve to reduce the excessive numbers of unwanted animals and thereby contribute to the welfare of cats and elimination of unnecessary euthanization of “surplus” cats by restricting the breeding practices of pet owners and breeders. It is also found that other communities with such ordinances have experienced significant decreases in the number of cat surrenders.
No person shall own, harbor or keep a cat over the age of six months which has not been spayed or neutered, unless such person holds an unaltered animal permit for the animal (see § 102-5, Unaltered animal certification; administration, below). Any such person who violates this provision may be cited and fined by the Animal Control Officer for such violation.
Any person intentionally providing care or sustenance for a cat shall be deemed to be the owner and shall comply with this section.
Any owner of an unaltered cat who has been cited or fined by the Animal Control Officer for failing to obtain a permit shall have his or her citation or fine dismissed if proof of altering in the form of an official neuter or spay certificate is presented within 30 days of the issuance of the citation or the owner obtains the necessary permit within 30 days of the issuance of the citation and the animal has not reproduced.
To ensure that the animal is not simply lost.
To identify potential problem areas.
To receive assistance with spay/neuter and/or placement of the animal(s).
Those complying will not be subject to penalty for having an unaltered animal on the premises if they are willing to surrender it to the Animal Control Officer.
Anyone who violates this article shall be given notice of such violation by certified mail, return receipt requested, addressed to said person at his/her last known address, or by personal service by the Animal Control Officer. If such violation is not cured within seven days after receipt of such notice, a penalty may be assessed by the Animal Control Officer. The penalty for violation of this article shall be $90, payable to the municipal Neuter Assistance and Education Fund. If the violation is not corrected within 30 days and the fine is not paid, the continuing violation becomes a second offense, the fine for which shall be an additional $90. A fine of $90 will be assessed for each additional thirty-day violation.
The Animal Control Officer may, at his/her discretion, waive the citation and/or penalty if the animal(s) is surrendered to the Animal Control Department for placement, or for other good cause to be determined by the Animal Control Officer.
The penalty shall not be waived by the Department upon the transfer or abandonment of the cat by the noncompliant owner except as specified in Subsection B above.
The annual permit fee of $75 is paid at the time of application and upon each annual renewal.
The animal is examined annually by a licensed veterinarian and is following the preventative program recommended by the veterinarian.
The animal is current on rabies vaccination.
The owner otherwise complies with any applicable local/state law concerning the care and housing of animals and has not been in violation of animal-related ordinances/laws in the past 24 months.
Offspring of the unaltered animal will not be sold or adopted until they are at least eight weeks of age.
Records will be kept documenting how many offspring were produced and who adopted or purchased them (name, address, phone number).
Offspring must be immunized against common diseases.
The seller/adopter must disclose the permit number in any advertisement.
The cost incurred must be paid by the owner or keeper, or that the owner or keeper obtain unaltered animal certification per this article.
Animal shelters and rescue organizations that have implemented an ongoing spay/neuter program.
Medical: A licensed veterinarian has determined that an animal is medically unsuited to undergo the surgical procedure and has signed a statement to that effect specifying the medical grounds for the exemption.
Temporary medical: The veterinarian may specify a temporary medical condition, including the prognosis of when the surgery may be performed, which shall become the expiration date of the temporary exemption.
Transitory status: An animal is temporarily in the Town to participate in a show or event sponsored by a nonprofit, sanctioned animal organization.
All fees and penalties collected under the provisions of this article shall be deposited into a special fund known as the “Neuter Assistance and Education Fund” (“the Fund”). The purpose of the Fund shall be to offer financial assistance to qualified residents for the spaying and neutering of their cats and to create public awareness regarding efforts to control pet overpopulation in the Town. Additionally, the Animal Control Department shall maintain a current list of resources for reduced-price spay/neuter services for distribution to residents of the Town.
A person shall not display any cat in a public place for the purpose of selling or giving the animal away. The term “public place” shall include but not be limited to streets, highways, areas exterior to shops or businesses, carnivals, sidewalks and flea markets. This section does not apply to a registered rescue group or animal welfare society.
No owner or keeper of any cat or kitten shall allow such cat or kitten to roam at large if the cat or kitten is not altered. Any such owner or keeper who violates this section will be subject to a citation and fine of $90 by the Animal Control Officer.
Any person fined pursuant to this article may appeal such fine pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 129, Hearing Procedure for Citations.
Whenever used, the singular number shall include the plural, the plural the singular, and the use of either gender shall include both genders.
This article shall be known and may be cited as the "Dog Waste Control Ordinance."
This article is enacted pursuant to the provisions of Sections 7-148 and 7-152c of the Connecticut General Statutes.
When used in this article, the following words, terms and phrases, and their derivations shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the content clearly indicates a different meaning.
Any member of the canine species, male, female, neutered male or spayed female.
Any person or persons, firm, association, partnership, LLC or corporation having temporary or permanent custody of, sheltering or having charge of, harboring, exercising control over, or having property rights to a dog, or in the case of a person under the age of 18, the person's parent or legal guardian. A dog shall be deemed to be harbored if it is fed or sheltered for three consecutive days.
Public areas in the Storrs Center Special Design District, and sidewalks, recreation fields, playing fields, school grounds and playgrounds owned, leased or maintained by the Town.
If any dog shall defecate on any public property, the owner of such dog shall immediately use a plastic bag or other suitable container to remove or cause to be removed from the property all feces deposited by the dog and deposit it in an appropriate waste receptacle. If such feces are not removed or so deposited, the owner of the dog shall be in violation of this article.
The Town Manager may designate, in writing, one or more Town officials, employees or agents empowered to take enforcement action authorized by this article.
Any violation of this article shall be punishable by a fine of $50. The citation issued to the offender shall note that if the fine is not paid within 10 days of issuance of the citation, the amount of the fine will be doubled and that the Town may initiate proceedings under the authority of C.G.S. Section 7-152c and Chapter 129 of this Code of Ordinances to collect the fine. The alleged offender must also be informed that he, she or it may appeal the citation and fine pursuant to Section 129-10 of the Hearing Procedure for Citations Ordinance.
The provisions of this article do not apply to a guide dog accompanying any blind person or mobility-impaired person.

References: § 102

§ 102

§ 102

§ 102

§ 102

§ 102

§ 102

§ 102

§ 102

§ 102

§ 102
 § 102