9. Wild or Vicious Animals

SECTION

10-901.Keeping of wild and vicious animals.
10-902. Definitions.

10-901. Keeping of wild and vicious animals.
(1) It shall be unlawful for any person to keep or permit to be kept on his premises any wild or vicious animal for display or for exhibition purposes, whether gratuitously or for a fee. This section shall not be construed to apply to zoological parks, performing animal exhibitions, or circuses.
(2) It shall be unlawful for any person to keep or permit to be kept any wild animal as a pet, unless a permit is granted by the department of natural resources of the state.
(3) It shall be unlawful for any person to harbor or keep a vicious animal within the City. Any animal which is found off the premises of its owner may be seized by any Police Officer or Humane Officer and upon establishment, to the satisfaction of any court of competent jurisdiction, of the vicious character of said animal, it may be killed by a Police Officer or Humane Officer; provided however, that this section shall not apply to animals under the control of a law enforcement or military agency, nor to animals which are kept for the protection of property, provided that such animals are restrained by a leash or chain, cage, fence, or other adequate means, from contact with the general public or with persons who enter the premises with the actual or implied permission of the owner or occupant.
(4) The Police Department may issue a temporary permit for the keeping, care and protection of an infant animal native to this area which has been deemed to be homeless. (1996 Code, § 10-1101)

10-902. Definitions.
(1) "Vicious animal" shall mean any animal which has previously attacked or bitten any person or which has behaved in such a manner that the person who harbors said animal knows or should reasonably know that the animal is possessed of tendencies to attack or bite persons.
(2) "Wild animal" shall mean any live monkey or ape, raccoon, skunk, fox, snake, other reptile, leopard, panther, tiger, lion, lynx or any other animal or any bird of prey which can normally be found in the wild state. (1996 Code, § 10-1102)