Wheatland Municipal Code Ch. 6.04 Animal Control

Any person discovering a stray or apparently lost animal shall report the same to the city police department or the city's designated animal control authority. Any person who apprehends or picks up an animal that appears to be stray or lost shall report the same to the city police department within twenty-four hours thereafter and shall release such to the city police department or the city's designated animal control authority upon the demand of such authority.

(Ord. 492, 11/28/2023)

It is unlawful and a misdemeanor to permit any vicious dog or dangerous animal to go unrestrained.

(Ord. 492, 11/28/2023)

The keeping or harboring of any dog, cat, or other animal or fowl, whether licensed or not, which by habitual howling, yelping, barking or other noise disturbs or annoys a considerable number of persons or a neighborhood is unlawful and a misdemeanor, and is a public nuisance, and each day that such act is continued shall constitute a separate offense.

(Ord. 492, 11/28/2023)

It is unlawful and a misdemeanor to suffer or permit any animal or fowl to trespass on private or public property so as to damage or destroy any property or thing of value, or so as to commit any other act dangerous to public health or safety, and any animal committing any such act is a public nuisance and may be impounded by the city police department or the city's designated animal control authority.

(Ord. 492, 11/28/2023)

Whenever it is affirmed in writing by one or more persons having separate residences or regularly employed in the neighborhood that any animal is an habitual nuisance by reason of trespassing, howling, barking or other noise, or is causing damage to property, or is or acting or has acted in a vicious manner or in any way that causes or has caused undue annoyance, the city police department or the city's designated animal control authority may investigate, and if it is found by such authority that a nuisance exists, may serve notice upon the owner or custodian that such nuisance must be abated. If the owner or custodian does not abate the nuisance within forty-eight hours after the giving of such notice, the city police department may impound the animal or fowl.

(Ord. 492, 11/28/2023)

It is unlawful and a misdemeanor for the owner or other person having custody or control of any animal to suffer or permit the animal or animals to defecate or litter upon any public or private property, and any animal allowed to so defecate or litter upon any public or private property is declared to be a public nuisance and may be impounded by the city police department or the city's designated animal control authority. In addition, the animal or animals shall be subject to the provisions which provide for the abatement of the nuisance.

(Ord. 492, 11/28/2023)

It is unlawful for any animal owner or keeper to harbor any animal within the city which has been declared vicious or unsafe by the animal control authority of the city. Any animal, for the purposes of this section, is subject to impoundment by the animal control authority of the city if the animal has bitten, in an unprovoked manner, on one or more occasions. The animal's owner or keeper shall surrender the animal or animals upon demand by the animal control authority or city police department. It is unlawful and a misdemeanor for an owner to fail to surrender any animal or animals under his or her control after written demand to do so in the form of a citation. If the animal or animals are not surrendered upon such demand, each additional day thereafter shall constitute a separate and distinct violation of this chapter.

(Ord. 492, 11/28/2023)

It is unlawful for any person who owns or keeps a dog within the city to allow or permit such dog, whether licensed or unlicensed, to run at large in or upon any public place or premises, including, but not limited to, public parks, school grounds, commercial districts, or in or upon any private place or premises, except with the written consent of the owner or person in charge of such private place or premises. In all public places or premises, and in all private places or premises where the owner or person in charge has not consented for a dog to run at large, dogs must be securely restrained by a substantial leash of not more than eight feet in length and shall be under the control of a responsible person at all times.

(Ord. 492, 11/28/2023)

It is unlawful to keep or maintain any premises, yard, coop or building in which fowl or animals are kept or maintained in an unclean or unsanitary condition or in any condition which constitutes a public nuisance due to odor or noise.

(Ord. 268 § 13, 1988; Ord. 449 §§ 2, 3, 2013; Ord. 492, 11/28/2023)

It is unlawful for any person to harbor or keep any dangerous animal within the city that has been determined and declared to be dangerous by the county health officer, city police chief, or city's designated animal control authority.

(Ord. 412 § 22, 2009; Ord. 492, 11/28/2023)

Any person who violates any provision of this chapter or who fails to comply with any of its requirements is guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be punishable as provided in Chapter 1.16.

(Ord. 412 § 23, 2009; Ord. 492, 11/28/2023)