Animal Control

CASCADE CHARTER TOWNSHIP
KENT COUNTY, MICHIGAN
ANIMAL CONTROL
ORDINANCE 4 of 1999

THE CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF CASCADE ORDAINS:

Sec. 1. General Provisions.

It is deemed by the Township that the ownership of an animal is a privilege which carries with it responsibilities to the Township and its residents with regard to the care and custody of said animal. In interpretation and application, the provisions of this Chapter shall be construed to impose a primary responsibility for compliance with the provisions of this Chapter on the owner of said animal.

Responsibility for enforcement of this Chapter shall be vested in the Director of the Kent County Department of Animal Control and his or her agents and employees.

Sec. 2. Definitions.

As used in this Ordinance, the following terms have the following meanings, unless the context clearly requires otherwise:

"Animal Control Officer" shall mean an agent of the Director of the Kent County Department of Animal Control.

"Owner" when applied to the proprietorship of an animal, means every person having a right of property in the animal and every person who keeps or harbors the animal or has it in his care, and every person who permits the animal to remain on or about any premises occupied by him. For purposes of this Ordinance, any person keeping or harboring any animal for seven (7) consecutive days shall be deemed the Owner thereof within the meaning of this Chapter.

Sec. 3. Dogs Running at Large.

No person owning or having charge, care, custody, or control of any dog shall cause, permit, or allow the dog to run or be at large within the Township whether it be upon any highway, street, lane, alley, court, park, or other public place, or upon any private property or premises other than those of the person owning or having charge, care, custody, or control of such dog, unless such dog is restrained by a substantial chain or retractable leash not exceeding twenty (20) feet in length and is in the charge, care, custody, or control of a person with the ability to restrain it.

Sec. 4. Animal Waste.

A person having custody of any dog shall not permit, either willfully or through failure to exercise due care or control, such dog to commit a nuisance within the Township by defecating upon any public property or upon any private property or premises other than those of the person having charge, care, custody, or control of such dog, without the consent of the owner or person in lawful occupation of such property. Notwithstanding the above, it shall not be a violation of this Chapter if the Owner of the dog immediately cleans up the area where the dog has defecated.

Sec. 5. Penalty.

Any person violating any of the provisions of this Chapter shall have committed a civil infraction and may be ordered to pay a civil fine of not more than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00). In addition, any animal which is in violation of the provisions of this Chapter shall be subject to being impounded by an animal control officer.

Sec. 6. Effective Date.

This Ordinance shall become effective upon publication.

The foregoing Ordinance was offered by Board Member Parrish, supported by Board Member Carpenter. The roll call vote being as follows:

YEAS: Carpenter, Julien, Kleinheksel and Parrish

NAYS: None

ABSTAIN: None

ABSENT: Goodyke, Johnson and Timmons

I certify the foregoing to be a true copy of an Ordinance adopted at a Regular Meeting of the Cascade Charter Township Board on the 14th day of July 1999.