The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this chapter, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:

At large means off the premises of the owner not under the control of the owner or a member of his immediate family or a person designated by the owner, either by leash or kept under confinement of such owner. The running at large of dogs and cats is prohibited at all times.

Cat includes both male and female cat.

Community service officer means a person who is a member of the Grand Rapids Police Department whose duty it is to perform law enforcement related duties that do not require a licensed peace officer to perform.

Confinement means a keeping of a dog or cat on an owner's property, fence, chain, vehicle, etc.

Custodian means any person or business entity, owning, harboring, or keeping a dog or cat either permanently or temporarily.

Dog includes both male and female dog.

Domestic animal means dog, cat, fish, birds and similar household pets kept for companionship and enjoyment. Domestic animals are those which commonly live in the household and not in a separate accessory building. Domestic animals include aquarium fish, non-poisonous, non-venomous and non-constricting arthropods, reptiles and amphibians and small mammals such as rabbits, gerbils, hamsters, guinea pigs, fancy mice and fancy rats.

Householder occupant means any person who ordinarily exercises dominion or possession over a residence, office, store, building, shop or other premises which is generally deemed to be a single unit of occupancy within the city whether as an owner, landlord, tenant or otherwise.

Keep means to have or retain possession of.

Non-domestic animal means those animals considered to be naturally wild and not naturally trained or domesticated; or which are considered inherently dangerous to the health, safety and welfare of people.

Owner means any person, firm or corporation owning, harboring, keeping a dog or cat or allowing the same to be about his premises.

Police officer means a person who is licensed to practice law enforcement in Minnesota and is a member of the Grand Rapids Police Department.

Proper authority means any person authorized by the city to enforce the provisions of this chapter.

Residence means any dwelling, abode or apartment where a single family customarily resides.

(Code 1978, § 14.01; Ord. No. 17-06-05, Exhs. A, B, 6-12-2017)

This subsection does not apply in the AG zoning district. Only domestic animals shall be kept but not raised or boarded for profit in the city, except as otherwise provided by this chapter.

The keeping of non-domestic animals shall not be permitted in the city, with the exception of chickens and then only in accordance with the applicable ordinance.

Unless otherwise defined, non-domestic animals shall include:

1. Any member of the cat family including, but not limited to lions, tigers, cougars, bobcats, leopards, jaguars, feral cats but excluding those recognized as domestic house cats.
2. Any natural wild member of the canine family including but not limited to wolves, foxes, coyotes, dingoes and jackals, but excluding those recognized as domesticated dogs.
3. Any hybrid or crossbreeds between an animal defined in clauses (1) or (2) and a domestic animal and offspring from all subsequent generations of those hybrids or crosses, such as a cross between a wolf and a dog.
4. Any member or relative of the rodent family including any skunk (whether or not descented), raccoon, or squirrel but excluding those members otherwise defined or commonly accepted as domesticated pets.
5. Any poisonous, venomous, constricting or inherently dangerous member of the reptile or amphibian families including, but not limited to, rattlesnakes, boa constrictors, pit vipers, crocodiles and alligators.
6. Any other animal that is not explicitly listed above but which can be reasonably defined by terms of this section, including, but not limited to bear, deer, non-human primates and game fish.

Exceptions: An exception may be made to this prohibition for non-domestic animals specifically trained for and actually providing assistance to the handicapped or disabled; for those non-domestic animals temporarily brought into the city as part of an operational zoo or by a veterinarian clinic; and for traveling exhibitions which keep non-domestic animals for exhibition or show, provided that such person, traveling circus, zoo or show holds a valid United States Department of Agriculture license and has obtained a permit from the City of Grand Rapids, provided such non-domestic animals are not kept in the city more than 14 business days; for educational purposes by an accredited institution of higher education; the keeping of livestock, including horses, is allowed on properties zoned for agricultural use.

(Code 1978, § 14.06; Ord. No. 17-06-05, Exhs. A, B, 6-12-2017)

The owner of, or the keeper of, any vicious animal shall not allow the same to be at large within the city. In actions under this section it shall only be necessary to prove the fact of viciousness of such animal, and it shall not be necessary to prove the knowledge of such viciousness by the owner of such animal.

(Code 1978, § 42.11; Ord. No. 17-06-05, Exhs. A, B, 6-12-2017)

Animals are prohibited at Blandin Beach Park. No owner shall take his animal upon Blandin Beach Park. At all other city park locations, animals will be permitted so long as the animal is leashed, in conformity with other sections of this chapter. Dogs, off leash, are allowed in portions of city parks that have been designated as dog parks. Dangerous dogs will not be allowed in any portion of any city park. This section does not apply to "seeing-eye" dogs properly trained to assist blind persons when such dogs are actually being used by blind persons for the purpose of aiding them in going from place to place, to service dogs nor to police canine dogs properly trained and being used by law enforcement for official police duty.

(Code 1978, § 14.12; Ord. No. 17-06-05, Exhs. A, B, 6-12-2017)

Cross reference— Recreation parks, ch. 46.

It shall be the responsibility of licensed police officers and community service officers to enforce the provisions of this section and to be impounded by transporting or causing to be transported to the city domestic animal control facility or other appropriate place any dogs or other animals kept within the city contrary to the provisions of this section. Police officers and community service officers are authorized to issue citations and sign complaints against any person for violation of this chapter.

1. Any unrestrained or unidentified animal required to be restrained or marked for identification by this chapter may be impounded.
2. Any animal meeting the definition of a public nuisance animal may be impounded.
3. Any animal involved in a biting incident may be impounded.
4. Any dog that has been declared either potentially dangerous or dangerous pursuant to state law and has violated restrictions placed upon the animal may be impounded.
5. Any animal found to be not properly sheltered from cold, hot or inclement weather, not properly fed or watered or is injured and uncared for may be impounded.

Redemption of impounded animals. The police officer or community service officer shall make reasonable and practical efforts to locate the animal owner. Any animal so impounded shall be kept for at least five days, or at least ten days in the case of quarantine due to a bite, unless sooner reclaimed by the owner, or is put down in the case of a bite so that it can be examined for rabies. The owner of an animal being quarantined cannot claim the animal until after the quarantine period has expired. The owner of any impounded animal may reclaim the animal by paying the appropriate fees and meeting any additional requirements prescribed by city ordinance and state statute.

Facility inspection. The police department shall cause the domestic animal control facility to be in a clean and sanitary condition. The facility shall be inspected, annually, by a veterinarian.

Disposing of unclaimed animals. Any animal not reclaimed within five days, or ten days in case of quarantine, after being impounded, shall become property of the city and may be disposed of by the city.

Accounting. The police department shall cause a record to be kept of all animals received at the domestic animal control facility and the disposition of these animals.

Vaccination requirements. Every dog, cat or ferret over six months of age, kept as a pet, shall be vaccinated against rabies. Because of techniques and tolerances, species limitations and public health implications, animal rabies vaccines shall be administered only by or under the supervision of a veterinarian. Any animal of a species for which no rabies vaccination is licensed for that species by the United States Department of Agriculture shall be considered unvaccinated for rabies, regardless of the animal's vaccination history.

No dog or cat need be vaccinated when a licensed veterinarian has examined the animal and certified that, at such time, vaccination would endanger its health because of its age, infirmity, debility, illness or other medical consideration; and such exception certificate is presented to a police officer or community service officer when requested. The animal shall be vaccinated against rabies as soon as its health and age permit. Unvaccinated animals must be confined to the owner's property or a veterinary facility.

(Code 1978, §§ 14.07, 14.08, 14.10; Ord. No. 17-06-05, Exhs. A, B, 6-12-2017)

State Law reference— Impoundment of animals, Minn. Stat. § 340A.35.71.

The owner or custodian of any dog or cat shall prevent such animals from committing within the city any act which constitutes a nuisance. It is a nuisance for any dog or cat to run at large; frequent school grounds, parks or public places; chase vehicles; or molest or annoy any person away from the property of his owner or custodian. No person having custody or control of a dog or cat shall permit the animal to damage any lawn, garden or other property, public or private, or to urinate or defecate on private property without the consent of the owner or possessor of the property. It shall be the duty of each person having the custody or control of a dog or cat to remove any feces left by such animal on any sidewalk, gutter, street, park land or other public or private property, and to dispose of such feces in a sanitary manner.

No person owning, operating, having charge of or occupying any building or premises shall keep or allow to be kept, any animal which shall, by any noise, unreasonably disturb the peace and quiet of any person in the vicinity. The phrase "unreasonably disturb the peace and quiet" shall include, but is not limited to, the creation of any noise by any animal or animals which can be heard by any person, including a police officer or community service officer, from a location outside of the building or premises where the animal is being kept and which animal noise occurs repeatedly over at least a ten-minute period of time.

Failure of the owner or custodian of a dog or cat to prevent the dog or cat from committing such a nuisance is a violation of this chapter.

(Code 1978, § 14.02; Ord. No. 17-06-05, Exhs. A, B, 6-12-2017)

1. It shall be unlawful for any householder or occupant to possess, harbor, keep or allow to be kept or to maintain for any purposes whatever, more than three dogs and/or three cats over the age of three months at his residence or at any other single unit of occupancy within the city.
2. Temporary permission to keep dogs and cats of this number over the age of three months may be granted for periods as determined by the city council upon application being made thereto. The council shall designate the appropriate staff to investigate all such applications and make recommendation on the application and forward same to the council. The council shall not grant such temporary permission unless it is satisfied that other residents of the city will not be annoyed thereby.

(Code 1978, § 14.03; Ord. No. 17-06-05, Exhs. A, B, 6-12-2017)

1. All dogs kept, harbored or maintained by their owners in the city shall be registered with the police department if over three months of age. Upon registration dog licenses may be issued by the police department upon payment of a license fee as set forth by resolution for each dog regardless of sex. The license period will run from January 1 through December 31, of each year. The owner shall state at the time application is made for such license and upon printed forms provided for such purpose his name and address, telephone number, the name, breed, color, and sex of each dog or cat owned or kept by him.
2. All animal licenses shall be issued only upon presentation of a certificate issued by a veterinarian, licensed to practice veterinary medicine in the State of Minnesota, showing rabies immunization of the animal for at least the term of the license.
3. Lifetime animal licenses. Effective January 1, 2009, the owner of a dog or cat, upon presentation of documentation issued by a veterinarian that the dog or cat has been spayed or neutered, can obtain a non-transferable lifetime animal license. Throughout the life of the animal, the owners of animals that receive a lifetime license must maintain and have documentation of rabies immunization by a veterinarian, licensed to practice veterinary medicine in the State of Minnesota.
   The city council may require that a numbered rabies tag, issued by a licensed veterinarian, be displayed on the dog instead of a license tag. The owner of such dog shall provide the police department with the owner information, sex, breed of the dog, name of the veterinarian clinic and rabies tag number.
4. This section does not apply to dogs whose owner are nonresidents temporarily within the city, nor to dogs brought into the city for the purpose of participating in any dog or cat show, nor to "seeing-eye" dogs properly trained to assist blind persons when such dogs are actually being used by blind persons for the purpose of aiding them in going from place to place, to service dogs that assist hearing-impaired person, when being used as such, nor to police canine dogs properly trained and being used by law enforcement for official duty.

(Code 1978, § 14.04; Ord. No. 03-02-01, 2-10-2003; Ord. No. 09-01-02, 1-26-2009; Ord. No. 17-06-05, Exhs. A, B, 6-12-2017)

State Law reference— County dog licenses, Minn. Stat. § 347.08 et seq.

All dogs kept in the city over the age of three months shall wear a collar. A city dog license, or when a license is not required, a rabies tag, shall be displayed on the collar.

(Code 1978, § 14.05; Ord. No. 17-06-05, Exhs. A, B, 6-12-2017)

State Law reference— Tags and collars, Minn. Stat. § 347.11.

Whenever any animal, including a dog or cat, bites a person, the owner of the such animal shall immediately notify the police department. The police officer or community service officer shall ascertain the identity of such animal and the person owning, possessing or harboring it and shall immediately direct such person to forthwith quarantine the animal for a period of ten days after the bite occurred. The animal shall be quarantined for the period with evaluation of the rabies vaccination history taken into account.

If the owner has shown proof that such animal is currently vaccinated against rabies and has agreed to keep said animal separate from other animals and indoors at all times during the quarantine period, such animal may be quarantined at the owner's residence.

If the owner, possessor or harboring individual does not agree to quarantine the animal for a period of ten days or the victim so demands, the police officer may seek whatever legal process necessary to enter private property to seize the animal and impound it at the domestic animal control facility or a veterinarian clinic or have a veterinarian destroy the animal and cause it to be examined for rabies.

It shall be the duty of every owner of an animal that has bitten a person and that is under quarantine to immediately report to the police department any signs of sickness or disease on the part of the animal. At the end of the quarantine period and at any reasonable time during the quarantine period, the police officer or community service officer shall check the animal to determine whether such animal is infected with rabies and notify the victim of the bite of the findings.

(Code 1978, § 14.09; Ord. No. 17-06-05, Exhs. A, B, 6-12-2017)

Editor's note— Ord. No. 17-06-05, Exhs. A, B, adopted June 12, 2017, changed the title of § 10-46 from "Dog and cat bites" to read as herein set out.

1. Nourishment; shelter. No person shall deprive any animal over which he has charge or control of necessary food, water or shelter.
2. Cruelty. No person shall willfully torture, cruelly beat, neglect or unjustifiably injure, maim or mutilate any animal whether it belongs to himself or another person. No person shall knowingly leave an animal in a motor vehicle in such circumstances as to cause the animal to be overheated or to suffer from the cold. When, in the judgement of a police officer, the animal in a motor vehicle is in danger due to heat or cold, the police officer may use whatever reasonable and practical means available to make entry into the vehicle and remove the animal.

(Code 1978, § 14.11; Ord. No. 17-06-05, Exhs. A, B, 6-12-2017)

Editor's note— Ord. No. 17-06-05, Exhs. A, B, adopted June 12, 2017, changed the title of § 10-47 from "Muzzling" to read as herein set out.

Police officers and community service officers shall have the authority to enforce this chapter and applicable state law. Any person may call or make a report to a police officer or community service officer, stating the facts and circumstances of the alleged violation of this chapter.

The police officer or community service officer may investigate such complaint. The police officer or community service officer may issue a citation or complete a report, submitting it along with statements and evidence, to the office of the Grand Rapids City Attorney for determination of whether a formal criminal complaint should be issued.

Any animal found in violation of this chapter is subject to impoundment.

It shall be unlawful for any person to knowingly interfere with, hinder or molest a police officer, community service officer or other individual assisting them in enforcing this chapter or state law.

(Ord. No. 17-06-05, Exhs. A, B, 6-12-2017)

Chicken Coop means a structure for housing chickens made of wood or other similar materials that provides shelter from the elements.

Chicken Run means an enclosed outside yard for keeping chickens.

Premises means any platted lot or group of contiguous lots, parcels or tracts of land.

(Ord. No. 09-09-06, 9-14-2009)

Chickens may be kept by permit in R-1, SR-1, R2, and SR-2 zones. It is unlawful for any person to keep or harbor chickens on any premises unless issued a permit to do so as provided in this chapter. No permit shall be issued for the keeping or harboring of more than three hen chickens on any premises. No permit shall be issued for the keeping of any rooster chicken on any premises, and only one chicken shall be allowed per 2,500 square feet of lot size.

Chickens are regulated without permit as a Farm Animal in AG, RR, and SRR zones subject to limits described in Municipal Code 30-564 Uses With Restrictions.

Ref. Chickens are listed under farm animals in Municipal Code 30-421 Definitions.

(Ord. No. 09-09-06, 9-14-2009)

No person shall maintain a chicken coop and run unless they have been granted a permit by the City. The permit shall be subject to all terms and conditions of this chapter and any additional conditions deemed necessary by the council to protect the public health, safety and welfare. The necessary permit applications will be available in the city clerk's Office. Included with the completed application must be a scaled diagram that indicates the location of any chicken coop and run, and the approximate size and distance from adjoining structures and property lines. Also included must be the prior written consent of 75 percent of all adjacent landowners to the premises. A fee as stated in the City Fee Schedule will be charged for each permit which shall expire on December 31st of the second year of the permit. The permit must be applied for every year and the renewal application must include a re-affirmation of written consent of 75 percent of all adjacent landowners to the premises every year. If written consent of 75 percent of all adjacent landowners to the premises cannot be secured, a permit shall not be issued.

(Ord. No. 09-09-06, 9-14-2009)

Every person who owns, controls, keeps, maintains or harbors hen chickens must keep them confined at all times while in the city in a chicken coop and chicken run. Any coop and run shall be screened with a solid fence or landscaped buffer with a minimum height of four feet. Any coop and run shall be at least 25 feet from any residential structure on any other premises.

(Ord. No. 09-09-06, 9-14-2009)

1. All chicken coops and runs must be located at least 25 feet from any dwelling on any other premises. All chicken coops must meet the requirements of the building and zoning codes, must not exceed ten square feet per chicken and must not exceed six feet in total height. Attached fenced-in chicken runs must not exceed 20 square feet per chicken and must not exceed six feet in total height. Chicken runs may be enclosed with wood and/or woven wire materials, and allow chickens to contact the ground. Chicken feed and manure must be kept in rodent and raccoon-proof containers and must not be placed in yard compost piles.
2. Chicken coops must either be:
   1. Elevated with a clear open space of at least 24 inches between the ground surface and framing/floor of the coop; or
   2. The coop floor, foundation and footings must be constructed using rodent-resistant concrete construction.

(Ord. No. 09-09-06, 9-14-2009)

No person who owns, keeps or harbors hen chickens to permit the premises where the hen chickens are kept to be or remain in an unhealthy, unsanitary or noxious condition or to permit the premises to be in such condition that noxious odors are carried to adjacent public or private property. Any chicken coop and run authorized by permit under this chapter may be inspected at any reasonable time by a city animal control officer, Community Development Department, or other agent of the city.

(Ord. No. 09-09-06, 9-14-2009)

1. Any person who keeps or harbors chickens in the city limits without obtaining or maintaining a current permit or after a permit has been suspended or revoked by council action shall be guilty of a petty misdemeanor. The Grand Rapids Police Department and the Grand Rapids Community Development Department may investigate violations of this ordinance. In the event of a violation of any provision in this article, the city administrator may, at his/her discretion, unilaterally revoke the permit.
2. Additionally, if a chicken is not properly contained and runs at large, the responsible owner may be cited with an administrative citation for allowing such activity.

(Ord. No. 09-09-06, 9-14-2009)

This article is enacted to protect, preserve, and promote the health, safety and welfare of the citizens of the city through the management of recreational feeding of white tailed deer within the city as part of a comprehensive strategy to reduce or eliminate negative impacts experienced as a result of an increasing deer population in the city.

(Ord. No. 10-04-06, § 1-1, 4-26-2010)

1. The findings of the council of an increasing deer population are as follows:
   1. Recreational feeding of deer often causes deer concentrations which develop into depredation and other public safety problems;
   2. Depredation of garden crops and landscaping plants is increasing as deer habitat decreases and deer populations increase within particular areas and neighborhoods in the city;
   3. Woodland plant communities within the city where deer concentrations are high are deteriorating as a result of those high deer populations; and
   4. High deer populations are resulting in increased car/deer crashes within the community, causing public safety concerns and negative economic impacts such as increased car insurance premium costs.
2. The intent of the city council is not to unreasonably infringe upon the recreational enjoyment of city residents who observe wildlife and enhance wildlife habitat on their property. However, the purpose of this artificial feeding ban is to eliminate these deer attractions which, when combined with other management strategies, should reduce, over time, the depredation impacts to adjacent residents, as well as the safety of the traveling public on city streets and thoroughfares.
   

(Ord. No. 10-04-06, § 1-2, 4-26-2010)

No person may place or permit to be placed on the ground, or within five feet of the ground surface any grain, fodder, salt licks, fruit, vegetables, nuts, hay or other edible materials, which may reasonably be expected to intentionally result in deer feeding, unless such items are screened or protected in a manner that prevents deer from feeding on them. Living fruit trees, gardens and other live vegetation shall not be considered as deer feeding.

(Ord. No. 10-04-06, § 1-3, 4-26-2010)

This prohibition shall not apply to:

1. Veterinarians, city animal control officers or county, state or federal game officials who are in the course of their duties, have deer in custody or under their management;
2. Persons authorized by the city to implement the deer management program approved by the city council; or
3. Any food placed upon the property for purposes of trapping or otherwise taking deer where such trapping or taking is pursuant to a permit issued by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
4. Persons feeding birds using self-enclosed feeding devices or containers.
5. The use of straw, hay or straw-related materials for erosion control, mulching, gardening or other landscape purposes.
6. This article does not apply to any areas in the city that are zoned agricultural.

(Ord. No. 10-04-06, § 1-4, 4-26-2010)

1. Responsible authority. The chief of police and the police department, or their designee, shall enforce the provisions of this article.
2. Civil remedies. This article may be enforced by injunction, action for abatement, or other appropriate civil remedy to eliminate a public nuisance.
3. Criminal penalties. A person who violates any provisions of this article shall be guilty of a petty misdemeanor. The first violation of this article shall result in a written warning. Any subsequent violation shall result in a citation for the petty misdemeanor offense. Each act of violation and each day a violation occurs or continues is a separate offense. In all cases the city shall be entitled to collect the cost of prosecution to the extent outlined by law, Rules of Criminal Procedure, and the Rules of Court.

(Ord. No. 10-04-06, § 1-5, 4-26-2010)