title
To amend and reordain City Code ? 4-244, concerning the care and control of animals and penalties, for the purpose of imposing care and control requirements on certain animals other than dogs and cats.
body
THE CITY OF RICHMOND HEREBY ORDAINS:
? 1. That section 4-244 of the Code of the City of Richmond (2015), as amended, be and is hereby amended and reordained as follows:
Sec. 4-244. Care and control; penalties.
(a) No owner shall fail to exercise proper care and control of a [dog or cat] domestic, companion, wild, or exotic animal to prevent it from becoming a public nuisance.
(b) Every female dog and cat in heat shall be confined in a building or secure enclosure in such a manner that such female dog or cat cannot come into contact with a male dog or cat except for breeding planned by the owner.
(c) Any person owning or having within such person's possession or control any domestic, companion, wild, or exotic animal suspected of constituting a public nuisance may be proceeded against by warrant or summoned before the General District Court of the City to provide evidence why such domestic, companion, wild, or exotic animal should not be confined, euthanized, or removed or the public nuisance otherwise abated. The animal control officer or owner or custodian of the animal suspected of constituting a public nuisance shall confine the animal until such time as the court has made a final decision in the case. Upon proof that such domestic, companion, wild, or exotic animal constitutes a public nuisance, the domestic, companion, wild, or exotic animal shall, by order of the judge of the General District Court of the City, be confined, euthanized, or removed or the nuisance shall be otherwise abated, as such judge shall order. No person shall fail to comply with such an order.
(d) Any person convicted of a violation of Subsection (a) or (b) of this section shall be guilty of a Class 4 misdemeanor. Any person convicted of ...
Click here for full text