8467-94 Amending Various sections within Chapter 5 Animals & Fowls

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• Substitute Bill No 10-94 Ordinance No.$467-q4 AN ORDINANCE OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA,AMENDING VARIOUS SECTIONS WITHIN CHAPTER 5 OF THE SOUTH BEND MUNICIPAL CODE ENTITLED"ANIMALS AND FOWL". STATEMENT OF PURPOSE AND INTENT. The Common Council of the City of South Bend believes that animals that live within the city limits deserve to have proper care. Therefore, in the interest of promoting better animal care regulations, the Council passed Ordinance No. 7505-85 on August 19, 1985 which set forth comprehensive animal care regulations. That ordinance was then amended by Ordinance No. 7791-87, and again in 1989 to further refine such regulations. In light of the increasing concern over the safety and welfare of its citizens and the pets which our residents have, the Council believes that our current regulations are in need of amendment in order to enhance the overall welfare of both. This ordinance would give the Animal Control Commission the authority to hear appeals of a determination of whether an animal is a dangerous animal. It would also require better reporting requirements of citation violators to the Commission as well as to the City. This ordinance would also require that cats be vaccinated and registered.In light of the growing potential for the spread of rabies by such animals, such a regulation is a reasonable regulation to avoid further public health and safety problems in this area. Additionally this ordinance would improve local animal control by having cats or dogs who are picked up in violation of Chapter 5,permanently identified with a microchip identification tag. The ordinance also encourages responsible pet owners to consider having their pets identified with a microchip identification tag with reduced registration fee incentives. Pet owners over the age of fifty-five (55)years of age would also benefit from the reduced registration fee incentive. It is believed that the following ordinance sets forth reasonable regulations which are in the best interests of the City of South Bend. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the Common Council of the City of south Bend, Indiana, as follows: Section I. Chapter 5,Article 1, Section 5-1 of the South Bend Municipal Code is amended by the addition of the certain definitions to be added in alphabetical order and relettering current defmitions as deemed necessary and clarification of current definitions as follows: Sec. 5-1. Definitions. (p) Breeder means any person or for-profit business or corporation which harbors dogs and/or cats and allows or causes those dogs and/or cats to procreate for the purpose of selling said offspring.