DIVISION 1. GENERALLY
Sec. 3-26. Definitions.
The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this article, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
Owner, when applied to the proprietorship of a dog, shall include every person having a right of property in such dog, every person who keeps or harbors such dog or has it in his care, and every person who permits such dog to remain in or about any premises occupied by him.
Reasonable control shall mean keeping a dog on a suitable leash or under oral control of the owner or custodian, or some other person with the permission of the owner in all cases other than on private property, unless the dog is confined in a closed automobile or shipping receptacle.
(Ord. No. 108, § 87, 5-9-72; Ord. No. 123, § 1, 9-17-75)
Sec. 3-27. Enforcing agency.
The township police department is hereby designated the enforcing agency under this article and it shall be its duty to enforce the same.
(Ord. No. 123, § 10, 9-17-75)
Sec. 3-28. Penalty for violations.
A person who violates any provision of this article is responsible for a municipal civil infraction, subject to payment of a civil fine as specified in section 1-10 of this Code, plus costs and other sanctions, for each infraction. Repeat offenses shall be subject to increased fines as provided by section 1-10 of this Code.
(Ord. No. 123, § 9, 9-17-75; Ord. No. 123A, § 1, 4-8-98)
Sec. 3-29. Confinement at night.
It shall be unlawful for any dog not to be confined upon the premises of its owner or custodian at all times between sunset of each day and sunrise of the following day, except when such dog is otherwise under the reasonable control of some person.
(Ord. No. 108, § 90, 5-9-72)
Sec. 3-30. Cruelty.
No person owning or harboring any dog, or any other person, shall treat a dog in a cruel or inhumane manner and/or negligently cause or permit any dog to suffer unnecessary pain.
(Ord. No. 123, § 7, 9-17-75)
State law references: Cruelty to animals, MCL 752.21 et seq., MSA 28.161 et seq.
Sec. 3-31. Dangerous dogs.
No person shall own or harbor a vicious dog, or a dog that has been bitten by any animal known to be afflicted with rabies. Any person who shall have in his possession a vicious dog or a dog which has contracted, or is suspected of having contracted, rabies or which has been bitten by any animal known to have been afflicted with rabies, shall upon demand of the health officer, or any police officer of the township, produce and surrender such dog to the health department or police department of the township to be held for observation and/or treatment; provided that with the approval of the health department, any such dog may be surrendered to a registered veterinarian. It shall be the duty of any person owning or harboring a dog which has been attacked or bitten by another dog or animal showing the symptoms of rabies to immediately notify the police department that such person has such dog in his possession. Whenever a dog is brought to the pound or other shelter for having bitten a person, the dog warden or other duly authorized officer may, if deemed necessary and advisable, and after holding such dog a sufficient length of time to meet the requirements of the health department for investigation, cause such dog to be destroyed as a vicious dog.
(Ord. No. 123, § 6, 9-17-75)
Sec. 3-32. Yard cleanliness.
It shall be unlawful for any person to fail to keep yards and exercise dog runs free of dog droppings, uneaten food and maintained in a sanitary manner so as not to be a nuisance because of odor, attraction for flies and vermin.
(Ord. No. 123, § 5, 9-17-75)
Sec. 3-33. Barking dogs.
It shall be unlawful for any person to keep or harbor a dog which by loud or frequent or habitual barking, yelping or howling shall cause a serious annoyance to the neighborhood, or to people passing to and fro upon the streets.
(Ord. No. 123, § 4, 9-17-75)
Sec. 3-34. Reasonable control.
It shall be unlawful for any dog not to be confined upon the premises of its owner or custodian, except when such dog is otherwise under the reasonable control of some person.
(Ord. No. 123, § 3, 9-17-75)
Sec. 3-35. Liability for damages.
Every owner of a dog shall be liable for damages for any and all injuries to person or property that may be caused by such dog on any public highway or other public place, to be determined and collected in appropriate legal proceedings, in which proceedings any failure or refusal by such owner to comply with the requirements of this article shall constitute primafacie evidence of negligence.
(Ord. No. 123, § 8, 9-17-75)
Secs. 3-36--3-45. Reserved.
DIVISION 2. LICENSES
Sec. 3-46. Required.
It shall be unlawful for any person to own, possess or harbor any dog six months of age or over in the township unless such dog is licensed in accordance with the provisions of the law in such case made and provided, or to own, harbor or possess any dog six months old or over that does not at all times wear a collar or harness with a metal tag attached as required by law.
(Ord. No. 123, § 2, 9-17-75)

[TOP]