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TITLE V

ANIMALS

Chapter 5A.02     Regulation and Licensing of Cats

5A.0201     License, Application and Fee for Cats

License:
It shall be unlawful for any owner, residing within the City of Scotland, to have an unlicensed cat.  The owner of a licensed cat shall securely fasten the City of Scotland Cat License to a collar around the licensed cat’s neck.

Application:
Any person, residing in the City of Scotland, desiring to have in their custody any cat, shall on or before May 31 each year make application to the City Finance Officer for a City of Scotland Cat License to keep such cat. The application shall be made on a form furnished by the City of Scotland and shall be filed with the City Finance Officer.  In addition, the applicant shall furnish proof from a licensed veterinarian that the cat has been immunized for rabies within the last 24 months.

License Fee:
A fee of five dollars is due for each City of Scotland Cat License issued.

Upon satisfactory proof that a City of Scotland Cat License has been lost, a fee of two dollars is due for a replacement.

5A.0202     Cats at Large

It is unlawful for a cat to run at large.  An owner is responsible to prevent their cat from running at large.

5A.0203     Prohibited Behavior

It shall be unlawful for any owner or owners, within the limits of the City of Scotland, to permit their cat to engage in prohibited behavior.  Prohibited behavior shall mean digging in garbage, destroying or depositing bodily waste on shrubbery, lawns, flowers or gardens.

Any person violating the provisions of this section shall be fined in a sum not exceeding one hundred dollars ($100.00) per cat.

5A0204     Complaint Procedure

On the complaint of any person by affidavit that a cat is engaging in prohibited behavior, the owner or owners of said cat, within ten (10) days after notice of such complaint, shall take the necessary steps to prevent the cat or cats from engaging in prohibited behavior.  Upon expiration of the ten (10) days and upon a second complaint by affidavit regarding the same cat or cats, the owner or owners shall remove the offending cat from the corporate limits of the City, or surrender the cat to the police authorities for destruction as provided in Section 5.0206.

5A.0205     Destruction of Cats Demonstrating Prohibited Behavior

Upon compliance with Section 5.0205 the Chief of Police is hereby authorized to employ, whenever he/she may deem it necessary, a sufficient number of persons to capture, kill and dispose of all cats engaging in prohibited behavior, contrary to the provisions of this chapter.  It shall be the duty of the Chief of Police to destroy such cat and to cause it to be removed and properly buried.

5A.0206     Rabies or Hydrophobia

Any person who shall suspect that any cat in the City is infected with rabies or hydrophobia shall report his/her suspicion to the local police or health authorities, describing the cat and giving the name of the owner, if known.  If upon examination of health authorities, the cat shall prove in fact to be infected with said disease, the cat may be killed and the person making the report shall be entitled to receive the sum of five dollars ($5.00) from the unappropriated moneys in the City Treasury.

Should such disease be found prevalent among cats in the City or should any condition of such disease warrant, the Mayor may in the interest of the general welfare, order, by proclamation, the impound and examination of all cats until the same condition is arrested, taking such measures as may, in the interest of the general welfare, be necessary to arrest the disease.

5A.0207         Number of Cats Limited

It shall be unlawful for any person to have or to keep more than five (5) cats over the age of six months on any lot or premises in the City, unless such person residing on or in the lot or premises has a valid kennel license issued by the City. Humane societies, veterinarian offices, and retail pet stores are exempt from the provisions of this section. 

5A.0299         Penalties

Unless otherwise stated, any person violating the provisions of this chapter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and fined a sum not exceeding one hundred dollars ($100).  Each day a violation continues shall be considered a separate offense.