Free Css Template 168

Willmar Police Department

Home

WPD

F.A.Q.s

Animal Complaints

The Willmar Police Department Police Officers as well as Community Service Officers (CSOs) handle the animal complaints. Animal complaints can include, but are not limited to, animals running at large, barking dogs, requesting a live trap for wild animals, animal neglect, etc... Animal complaints can be taken by contacting dispatch and advising them of the issue. Dispatch will then go through the proper procedure for handling and dispatching complaints. Below are a summary of some of the Willmar City Ordinances (chapter 4 article 2) that cover animal issues. There is also links at the end of the page to the humane society and some of the state statutes that cover animal issues.

Sec. 4-26. Dogs or Cats running at large

It shall be unlawful and deemed to be a violation of this chapter for the owner, keeper or person lawfully charged with the care of any dog or cat, to permit or allow the dog or cat to run at large at any time within the city limits of the city.

Sec. 4-28. Dogs being a nuisance

Every person who owns or has in his lawful control any licensed dog in the city is charged with the duty to keep, control and maintain such dog so that such animal is not and does not become a nuisance.

Sec. 4-30. Barking Dogs

It shall be unlawful for any person to keep or harbor a dog, which habitually barks, bays, cries, or howls. Habitually barking, baying, crying, or howling shall be defined as barking, baying, crying, or howling continuously for at least three (3) minutes with less than one (1) minute of interruption. In order to be a violation of this section, such barking, baying, crying, or howling must be audible off of the premises where the dog is located at the time of the incident.

Sec. 4-41. License Required

No person within the limits of the city shall keep or maintain any dog or cat, either male or female, without first having paid the license fee and procured a license for each such dog and cat, as provided in this division. It shall be the duty of every owner and every keeper, within the city, to make application for a license to the city clerk-treasurer on or before January 15 of each year, or if any dog or cat is acquired after January 15 of any year, then within fifteen (15) days after the dog or cat becomes six (6) months of age; to have such animal licensed; to pay the license fee therefor; and to attach the license tag issued by the city clerk-treasurer to the collar of such dog or cat as provided in this division.

--No license shall be required for any dog or cat under three (3) months of age.

Sec. 4-42. Registration; tax, license, registration fee

Any person who is the owner or keeper of any dog or cat kept or maintained in the city, shall annually, on or before January 15 of each year, cause each animal owned or kept to be described and registered by its name and number for the year for which the application is made, at the office of the city clerk-treasurer, or at the office of any agent of the city clerk-treasurer.

Sec. 4-43. Certificate of spaying or neutering; proof of rabies vaccination

When application is made for a license for a spayed female or neutered male, the applicant shall present a statement from a qualified veterinarian stating that the operation for spaying or neutering was performed, and giving the date thereof. If this certificate is not furnished, the license fee shall be the same as for an unspayed female or unneutered male. Before any license may be issued satisfactory evidence must be produced by the owner or keeper of the dog or cat, to show that the dog or cat for which a license is sought has been vaccinated for rabies within three (3) years immediately preceding issuance of the license.

Sec. 4-44. Issuance of license and tag.

Whenever any person has fully complied with the provisions of this division, the city clerk-treasurer, or its agent, shall issue to the person under his/her hand and seal a properly numbered license for each dog or cat, together with a metal tag upon which shall be plainly stamped or impressed the license number as determined by the city clerk-treasurer, and the year for which the license is issued. It shall be the duty of such owner or keeper to cause such animal to constantly wear a collar to which shall be firmly attached the license tag received from the city clerk-treasurer, or its agent.

Sec. 4-45. Additional fee for failure to obtain license.

If any person fails or neglects to apply for a dog or cat license as provided for in this division, and fails to pay the fee when due and within the time specified in this division, a penalty of fifty (50) percent of any license fee shall be required of such person in order to obtain such license.

Sec. 4-27. Impoundment of pets

For failure to pay for and obtain license.

(1) In case of the failure on the part of any owner or keeper of a dog or cat to pay the license fee and to secure the license upon the dog or cat subject to license, the dog or cat shall be surrendered by the owner or keeper thereof, upon demand, to any police officer of the city or any person appointed by the city council as dog and cat catcher of the city, who shall cause such a dog or cat to be immediately impounded in some safe and suitable place under the care and control of the custodian of dogs and cats.

(2) The custodian shall keep such dog or cat for a period of time as required by M.S.A. § 35.71.

(3) If the owner or keeper of any dog or cat so impounded desires to redeem such dog or cat, he shall be permitted to do so at any time within the period specified in subsection (a)(2) of this section, upon payment to the custodian of dogs and cats of the license fee provided in this article and, in addition to the license fee, such sum as may from time to time be established by resolution of the city council for the caring for and keeping of such dog or cat. The license fee paid shall be turned over to the city clerk-treasurer, who shall thereupon issue a proper license and tag to the owner or keeper of the dog or cat.

(4) If any dog or cat so impounded is not redeemed by the owner, keeper or person legally in charge of the dog or cat, within the said time period set forth in subsection (a)(2) of this section, the custodian of dogs and cats shall be authorized to destroy the dog or cat.

For animals running at large.

(1) If any dog or cat upon which a license fee has been paid shall be found at large, without wearing a collar with the license tag for the proper year attached thereto as provided in this article; or if any dog or cat upon which no license fee has been paid shall be found running at large, then such dog or cat shall be impounded and shall be subject to redemption by the owner or keeper as provided in subsection (a) of this section.

(2) The owner or keeper of such dog or cat shall be notified by the custodian of dogs and cats that such dog or cat has been impounded, if the owner, keeper or person lawfully charged with the care of such dog or cat can be readily ascertained.

(3) If such dog or cat is not redeemed as provided in subsection (a) of this section, and the impounding charges or fees paid for the care of the dog or cat, the dog or cat may be destroyed as provided in subsection (a) of this section.

Kandiyohi County Humane Society (Hawk Creek Animal Shelter)

Minnesota State Statutes relating to animals