As used in this chapter:
Means any county law enforcement officer who is charged with the responsibility of enforcing this or any other state or local law.
Means an employee charged with the responsibility of overseeing the operation of the county animal shelter.
Means a person providing shelter or food or otherwise caring for a dog or cat, or having the animal in their care for recreation or for any commercial purpose.
Means any animal of the species Felis catus.
Means San Juan County, Utah.
Means a dog with a known propensity for or history of unprovoked attacks against or intimidation of people or animals, as determined by the animal control officer.
Means any animal of the species Canis familiaris.
Means a dog specifically used to protect property and to guard against or watch for unwanted people or animals.
Means a person having financial or property interest in a dog or cat and providing shelter or food or otherwise caring for the animal.
Means an enclosed area where an animal or animals are kept.
Means being off the premises of the owner or caretaker and not under the control of the owner or caretaker or a member of his or her immediate family by leash or other means of physical control. Animals used for legal hunting purposes that are in pursuit of game, in compliance with Utah State law, are not deemed to be running at large. Additionally, animals used for the herding or protection of livestock, actively engaged in such activities are not deemed to be running at large.
Means any guide dog, signal dog, or other dog individually trained to provide aid or assistance to individuals with disabilities or special health needs as defined in Utah State Code Section
Means the state of Utah.
Means the standard series of inoculations given to dogs or cats to prevent the spread of disease.
No person shall remove any animal from the custody of the animal control officer or the animal shelter manager or out of the animal shelter by stealth or by force. No person shall interrupt or hinder the animal control officer or animal shelter manager in the discharge of their duties.
Every dog or cat owner or caretaker residing in the unincorporated county shall license every dog and cat they own or care for over the age of six months, and shall pay to the county applicable license fees as set from time to time by the County Commission. Every dog or cat owner or caretaker residing within an incorporated area of the county may meet this requirement by obtaining a valid license from the city in which they reside.
The owner or caretaker of a dog or cat shall state at the time the application for a license is made the owner’s name and address, and the sex, breed, and color of the dog or cat for which such application is being made. The owner or caretaker shall also present a certificate from a licensed veterinarian stating that the dog or cat has been vaccinated for the prevention of rabies, and such certificate must give the last date of vaccination and the number of the vaccination tag issued by the veterinarian at the time of the vaccination.
It is the duty of the dog or cat owner or caretaker to attach to the dog or cat the metallic license tag issued upon payment of the applicable license fee. Proof of current rabies vaccination for each dog or cat shall be provided to the county before a license tag is issued.
The fee for an annual license under this chapter for an unneutered male dog or cat, or for an unspayed female dog or cat shall be set by resolution. No registration tag will be issued for a sum less than the full annual fee, except, however, the license fee may be waived for in-service or assistant dogs. Proof of current rabies vaccination for each dog or cat shall be provided to the county before an annual license is renewed.
There shall be no fee for a lifetime license under this chapter, provided that the following requirements are met:
Properly licensed cats that have been spayed or neutered and are current on rabies vaccinations shall be permitted to roam.
Cats that are not spayed or neutered must remain on the owner’s or caretaker’s property under physical control and shall be prevented by the owner or caretaker from leaving the property.
It is unlawful for any person other than the owner or caretaker to remove the license tag from any dog or cat.
Any owner of a licensed dog or cat whose license tag has been lost shall secure a replacement tag by paying a fee established by county commission.
Whenever the ownership of a dog or cat changes, the new owner shall notify the county and pay a sum established by resolution, whereupon the county shall change the record accordingly for such dog or cat.
The county shall maintain a complete registry of all licensed dogs and cats, describing the same by name of owner, address, name, breed and number on the license tag.
All animal quarters, pens, runs and other structures or locations in which dogs, cats or other household pets are kept shall shall be maintained as necessary to prevent odor or health and sanitation problems. The owner or occupant of any premises permitting such conditions who does not abate unhealthy or unsanitary conditions in these areas within three days of notification by the animal control officer shall be guilty of a Class C Misdemeanor and fines not to exceed $650.00.
It is unlawful for any owner or caretaker to keep a dog or cat over the age of six months within the county unless the dog or cat has been vaccinated for rabies by a licensed veterinarian, and the period of immunization specified by the veterinarian has not expired. The owner or caretaker of the dog or cat shall possess a certificate from the veterinarian showing the date of the last vaccination and the number of the vaccination tag issued by the veterinarian at the time of vaccination.
Every owner or keeper of any dog or cat shall attach the animal’s vaccination tag to the collar of the dog or cat, to be worn at all times by the animal. Alternative means of displaying the vaccination information such as through the use of implanted microchips may be approved by the animal control officer.
An animal impounded for biting shall be examined by an animal control officer at the time it is impounded and at the end of the ten day quarantine period. If the animal control officer determines that it is necessary, at any time, for the animal to be seen by a veterinarian, arrangements will be made for the animal to be examined and the expense shall be passed on to the animal’s caretaker.
Animal control officers and police officers who reasonably suspect an animal is infected with rabies may dispose of the animal in accordance with Utah Administrative Code Rule R386-702. It shall be the duty of any person owning or exercising control over such animal to surrender the animal to any police officer or animal control officer upon demand. Failure to do so will be a Class C Misdemeanor.
The animal control officer, animal shelter manager or a duly appointed agent shall immediately upon impounding any dog or cat make a complete registry entry, detailing the breed, color and sex of such animal and whether properly licensed, if known. If the dog or cat is properly licensed, the animal control officer, animal shelter manager or a duly appointed agent shall enter the name and address of the owner and the number of the license tag. If known and if bearing a vaccination tag, the number of such tag shall be recorded.
When any properly licensed dog or cat shall be impounded pursuant to this chapter, the animal control officer, animal shelter manager or a duly appointed agent shall give notice in person or by mail or telephone to the owner of such properly registered animal, and shall provide the reason for the impoundment. Written or oral notice given to the owner or caretaker or to any member of his or her household over the age of fourteen years shall be considered adequate notice.
In the case of a properly registered dog or cat impounded or taken up for being at large that has not been spayed or neutered and has been impounded or taken up for being at large two times within any consecutive twelve-month period, the owner or caretaker of said dog or cat shall be subject to a spay or neuter deposit of $50.00 prior to the release of the animal. Said deposit fee shall be refunded if the dog or cat owner or caretaker presents proof of spay or neuter within thirty days of release.
Any person redeeming an impounded dog or cat shall pay all fees established by the county and incurred in the care of the animal.
Disposal by euthanasia of any animal at the animal shelter shall be done humanely and in compliance with all state law.
Leash length shall be sufficient to provide control over the dog. Nonretractable leashes shall be no greater than eight feet in length. This provision shall not apply to in-service or assistant dogs or dogs assigned to law enforcement officers as part of the law enforcement officers’ official duties.
It is unlawful for any person within the limits of the city to in any manner whatever encourage or urge dogs or any other animals or fowl to fight or urge them on after they commence to fight. It is unlawful for any person within the limits of the city to place or collect wagers on any form of animal fighting. Violation of this subsection shall be a Class B Misdemeanor.
The animal control officer and law enforcement officers shall have the authority to euthanize or kill, or cause to be euthanized or killed, any dog found running at large that, in the judgment of the officers, poses a threat to the health and safety of persons or animals, or poses a threat to property. Unless otherwise restricted in this section.
It is unlawful for any person to abandon any animal or turn the same out at large within the county. Violation of this section is a Class C Misdemeanor punishable by a fine of no more than $650.00
It is unlawful for any person to abandon or turn out at large any sick, diseased, injured or disabled animal. Animal control officers and police officer shall have the authority to kill or euthanize and dispose of any animals found running at large within the county that are incapacitated by sickness, disease, injury or other disability, or that present a threat to the health and safety of persons and animals or present a threat to property. Violation of this section is a Class B Misdemeanor punishable by a fine of no more than $800.00
No person shall permit any wild or other dangerous animal to run at large, nor lead any such animal over any public road or on any public place within city limits.
Every person who, within the County, is cruel to animals in any of the following ways, is guilty of a class B misdemeanor punishable by a fine of no more than $800.00:
Any person who kills or injures an animal while driving a vehicle shall stop at the scene of the accident and render such assistance as practicable, shall make a reasonable effort to locate and identify himself to the owner of or any person having custody of the animal or contact the San Juan County Dispatch.
Premises where animals are confined shall be shall be maintained in a neat and sanitary condition.
It is unlawful for a person to throw or deposit poisoned meat or any poison or harmful substance in any street, alley, marketplace or public place, or on any private premises, in the county for the purpose of destroying or injuring any animal. This provision does not apply to efforts to exterminate insects and rodents. In the case of efforts to exterminate insects and rodents, distribution of poisons shall be controlled to prevent consumption of or contact with the poison by any persons or animals other than those targeted for extermination.
Except for the provisions of Section 6.04.090 (Licensed cats permitted to roam), the owner or caretaker of any animal shall not allow the animal to run at large within the county or to trespass on public property or private property without the prior approval of the property owner. Except for the provisions of Section 6.04.090 (Licensed cats permitted to roam), the animal control officer and law enforcement officer shall have the authority to impound any animal found to be running at large within city limits.
No person shall keep any guard dog for the purpose of guarding or protecting real or personal property in the county without first obtaining a permit from the county commission and paying a fee established by resolution. The permit shall list the location at which the dog is to be kept, and shall be nontransferable to any other location. Guard dog permits shall expire after one year from the date of issuance.
No person shall keep any guard dog for the purposes of guarding or protecting real or personal property unless such dog is securely confined within a building or enclosure. Owners of properties utilizing guard dogs shall have adequate safeguards to prevent the entry onto the property by children and accidental or unintentional entry onto the property by any persons. Properties utilizing guard dogs shall declare the potential danger at each entrance, door and gate, and shall have warning signs posted at intervals of no more than one hundred feet along all fences surrounding the property or buildings. Failure to comply with these provisions shall be a Class C Misdemeanor.
It is lawful for the animal control officer, in the performance of his or her duties, to call for and accept the assistance of any law enforcement officer.
Any person violating any provision of this chapter, whether by act of commission or act of omission, unless otherwise specified, shall be guilty of an infraction, and upon conviction thereof, shall be liable to punishment by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars.