§ 6-19. Cruelty to animals.

(a)

It is unlawful for the keeper of any dog, cat or other pet or animal to willfully or through negligence injure or mistreat such pet or animal, by excessive beating, kicking or other physical abuse; failure to provide food, water or veterinary care; failure to provide clean shelter or other areas of confinement of adequate size; exposure to extreme heat or cold, or other acts of cruel and inhumane treatment.

(b)

It is unlawful for any person to kill or injure any dog, cat or other pet or animal, by shooting, striking, kicking, poisoning or by any other means, except in defense of person or property, or as otherwise provided in this chapter. No person shall harass or taunt any dog, cat, pet or other animal which is on the premises of its keeper. However, nothing in this subsection shall apply to a licensed veterinarian in the use of euthanasia when authorized by the pet's keeper or police officers in the performance of their duty.

(c)

It is unlawful for any person to cause, instigate or promote any fight in which two or more animals are engaged for the purpose of injuring, maiming or destroying themselves or another animal.

(d)

It is unlawful for any person to sell, offer for sale, barter or give away any live animal as a premium, prize, award, novelty or incentive to purchase merchandise. It is unlawful to color, stain or dye any chicken, duckling or fowl.

(e)

It is unlawful for any person to trap, for commercial or recreational use, furbearing animals using strangulation snares, steel-jaw traps or other body-gripping animal traps from all lands owned by the county. This subsection does not apply to trapping performed by government officials carrying out their official duties.

(Ord. No. 02-076, § 9, 4-25-2006; Ord. No. 02-247, § 11, 9-30-2014)