CODE OF ORDINANCES
City of
MOUNT PLEASANT, IOWA
Codified through
Ord. No. 1138, enacted April 14, 2004.
(Supplement No. 53)
Sec. 4-27.1. Dangerous animal--Defined.
Dangerous animal means:
(1) Any animal which is not naturally tame or gentle, and which is of a wild nature or disposition, and which is capable of killing, inflicting serious injury upon, or causing disease among human beings, or a domestic animal which attacks or bites without provocation, or a domestic animal which has demonstrated a propensity to attack or bite, if such propensity is known to the owner, or ought reasonably to be known to the owner, or a domestic animal which has known tendencies as a species to attack or bite.
(2) Any animals declared to be dangerous by the city council.
(3) The following animals which shall be deemed to be dangerous animals per se:
a. Lions, tiger, jaguars, leopards, cougars, lynxes, cheetahs, and bobcats;
b. Wolves, coyotes and foxes;
c. Badgers, wolverines, weasels, and skunks;
d. Raccoons;
e. Bears;
f. Monkey and chimpanzees;
g. Alligators and crocodiles;
h. Scorpions;
i. Snakes that are venomous or constrictors;
j. Gila monsters;
k. Any crossbreed of such animals which have similar characteristics to the animals specified above;
l. Piranha and sharks;
m. Staffordshire bull terrier, more commonly referred to as a pit bull terrier.
(Ord. No. 859, § 9, 1-13-93; Ord. No. 885, § 10, 11-10-93; Ord. No. 933, § 1, 6-14-95; Ord. No. 926, § 1, 4-12-95)
Sec. 4-27.2. Same--Keeping prohibited.
No person shall keep, shelter, or harbor, for any purpose within the city, a dangerous animal except as provided in section 4-27.3 of this chapter.
(Ord. No. 859, § 10, 1-13-93; Ord. No. 885, § 11, 11-10-93)
Sec. 4-27.3. Same--Exceptions.
The prohibition contained in section 4-27.2 of this Code shall not apply to the keeping of dangerous animals in the following circumstances:
(1) The keeping of dangerous animals in a public zoo, public aquarium, and bona fide educational or medical institution, humane society, or museum where they are kept as live specimens for the public to view, or for the purpose of instruction, research or study.
(2) The keeping of a dangerous animal for exhibition to the public by bona fide traveling circus, carnival, exhibit or show licensed to perform in the city.
(3) The keeping of dangerous animals in a bona fide, licensed veterinary hospital for treatment.
(4) The keeping of dangerous animals by a wildlife rescue organization with appropriate permit from the Iowa Conservation Commission.
(5) Any dangerous animals under the jurisdiction of and in the possession of the Iowa Conservation Commission, pursuant to Chapter 109 or 109A of the Iowa Code.
(6) Any guard or sentry dog properly contained as required by law.
(7) The entry into and display at an approved dog show, while properly confined in a cage or on a leash and personally restrained by a handler or owner of the dog.
(Ord. No. 859, § 11, 1-13-93; Ord. No. 885, § 12, 11-10-93)
Sec. 4-27.4. Same--Regulation of keeping.
(a) Every person, firm or corporation keeping, sheltering, or harboring a dangerous animal as permitted under section 4-27.3 shall at all times keep such animal securely confined within a cage or other enclosure approved by the community services officer.
(b) No person, firm or corporation owning, keeping, sheltering or harboring a dangerous animal as permitted under section 4-27.3shall permit or allow such animal to enter upon, be placed in, or traverse any public property, park property, public right-of-way, public waterway or lagoon, or public sewer system, or any business establishment licensed by the city, or the property of another, except when such animal is being transported while caged or confined.
Exception: The owner of a pit bull terrier shall be permitted to walk or exercise his/her pit bull terrier upon property excluded in section 4-27.4(b), provided such pit bull terrier is secured on a leash of four (4) feet or shorter and shall be wearing a securely fastened and approved muzzle. Further, the dog shall have a current city license affixed to its collar.
(c) It shall be the duty of the persons permitted to keep dangerous animals under 4-27.3 to report to the police department when any dangerous animal is found missing.
(d) No person shall keep or harbor a dangerous animal which has demonstrated a propensity without provocation to attack or bite.
(Ord. No. 859, § 12, 1-13-93; Ord. No. 885, § 3, 11-10-93)
Secs. 4-27.5--4-27.7. Reserved.
Sec. 4-27.8. Dangerous animals--Escape; general prohibition and duty.
No person shall aid or cause any dangerous animal, whether owned by such person or not, to escape confinement or impoundment, whether such confinement or impoundment be upon such person's property or that of another, by opening any gate, door or window or making any opening of any fence, enclosure of structure, or by unleashing or releasing such animal.
(Ord. No. 859, § 13, 1-13-93; Ord. No. 885, § 14, 11-10-93)