§ 14-28. Limitation on number of dogs, cats, ferrets and Vietnamese potbellied pigs.

(a)

It shall be unlawful and a public nuisance for any person in charge of a residence to keep or allow to be kept more than four dogs or four cats, or four Vietnamese potbellied pigs or any combination of such animals exceeding four in number, over the age of 120 days at such residence unless the residence or all of the dogs, cats and Vietnamese potbellied pigs kept there are within one or more of the following exceptions:

(1)

The residence is licensed as a commercial animal establishment.

(2)

The residence is zoned agricultural (RA) pursuant to the zoning ordinance but is not licensed as a commercial animal establishment, in which case the number of dogs, cats and Vietnamese potbellied pigs kept shall not exceed 25 over the age of 120 days.

(3)

The individual in charge of the residence has a current domestic animal avocation permit or a domestic animal rescue kennel and rescue cattery permit, in which case the number of animals shall not exceed ten over the age of 180 days, unless otherwise granted an exception pursuant to such permit. Only one such permit may be issued for any one residence structure, even if such residence structure contains more than one separate residence.

(b)

It shall be unlawful and a public nuisance for any person to keep or allow to be kept more than four ferrets unless the residence is licensed as a commercial animal establishment or the individual in charge of the residence has a current domestic animal avocation permit, in which case the number of ferrets shall not exceed ten, unless otherwise granted an exception pursuant to such permit.

(c)

When animals in excess of the limit established in subsection (a) or (b) of this section are found at a residence, all of the animals found at the residence may be removed to the municipal animal shelter to be handled in accordance with section 14-34, except that the person in charge of the residence, if present, may designate and retain up to four licensed cats, dogs or Vietnamese potbellied pigs and four licensed ferrets.

(Code of Gen. Ords. 1967, § 6.26; Ord. No. 48707, 6-22-78; Ord. No. 53297, 10-22-81; Ord. No. 65201, 3-1-90; Ord. No. 010616, § 1, 5-10-01; Ord. No. 040585, § 1, 6-10-04; Ord. No. 150493 , § 1, 7-2-15)