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The keeping of wild animals means possessing and handling of wild animals on any property and
<br />providing such an animal with the necessities of life such as feeding and sheltering. The keeping of wild
<br />animals may include animals being used or intended to be used for research, training, breeding, boarding,
<br />as a personal pet, or for agricultural purposes. The keeping of a wild animal may also include wild animals
<br />intended to be used for exhibition providing that such animals are not exhibited within the city, such as in
<br />the case of a public showing, circus or zoo.
<br />Wild animal.
<br />(1) The term "wild animal" means a mammal, large or poisonous reptile and bird that, in their
<br />uncaptured wild state, have the physical capacity to be dangerous to the safety and welfare of
<br />any person or property. Examples of such wild animals are (but not limited to these examples)
<br />bears, lions, wolves, coyotes, cougars, bison, tigers, panthers, monkeys, apes, large alligators
<br />and crocodiles (greater than four feet in length), large snakes (greater than six feet), and
<br />poisonous snakes, excluding dogs, cats, other traditional house pets and livestock.
<br />(2) Reducing such mammals, reptiles and birds to captivity, whether trained, raised or bred in
<br />captivity or otherwise considered domesticated in any manner, shall not remove such wild animals
<br />from these requirements and regulations.
<br />(Code 1978, § 5.09.06, subd. 2; Ord. No. 87-08)
<br />Sec. 10-120. - Penalty.
<br />A person who fails to comply with or violates provisions of this Code or the restrictions of a conditional
<br />use permit, wild animal license. or variance shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. Appropriate actions and
<br />proceedings may be taken by law or inequity to prevent a violation of this article of the conditions or
<br />restrictions of a conditional use permit, wild animal licence- or variance, to prevent unlawful construction, to
<br />recover damages, to restrain, correct or abate a violation, and to prevent illegal use of a lot; these remedies
<br />shall be in addition to the penalties described in this section.
<br />(Code 1978, § 5.09.06, subd. 10; Ord. No. 87-08)
<br />Sec. 10-121. - Purpose and intent.
<br />It is the intent of this article to establish regulations that will allow as a conditional use the keeping of
<br />wild animals, with a wild animal liccnscconditional use permit in certain zoning districts. The city recognizes
<br />that wild animals require special handling to ensure that the health, safety and welfare of the public is
<br />protected and all land use conflicts are minimized.
<br />(Code 1978, § 5.09.06, subd. 1; Ord. No. 87-08)
<br />Sec. 10-122. - Enforcement.
<br />(a) Impoundment. In addition to the penalties imposed in section 10-120, a person in violation of this article
<br />may be subject to having the wild animals in question impounded, or destroyed. Owners in violation of
<br />this article will have ten days to correct the violation and redeem a wild animal. The owner is
<br />responsible for all costs incurred by the city to capture, keep and/or destroy a wild animal. If a wild
<br />animal is not redeemed, the city will dispose of such wild animal in any manner it deems necessary
<br />such as, but not limited to, selling, destroying, or donating to an appropriate organization or agency.
<br />(b) Rabies. A wild animal capable of transmitting rabies which has been known to have bitten a person
<br />shall be quarantined and observed for rabies under the direction of a licensed veterinarian for a period
<br />of time and in facilities determined to be adequate by that veterinarian and the city. If a wild animal is
<br />proven to be rabid, the wild animal shall be destroyed. If a wild animal is proven to not be rabid by a
<br />licensed veterinarian, it will be returned to the owner.
<br />(c) Enforcement authority. Enforcement officers shall have the right to destroy a wild animal posing an
<br />immediate threat of serious harm to any person, livestock or house pet.
<br />(Code 1978, § 5.09.06, subd. 9; Ord. No. 87-08)
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