OPD reminds citizens of dog laws

December 15, 2005

In the wake of increasing complaints about unleashed dogs in the Town of Oneida, the Oneida Police Department is reminding citizens of the town’s laws regarding dog ownership.

Chapter 2 of the town’s municipal code, which lays out specifications and requirements for dog ownership within the town’s limits, states that dogs must wear tags, are required to be registered and vaccinated and are prohibited from running at large.

Section 10-201 of the town’s code requires any person who “owns, keeps or harbors any dog” to have the dog vaccinated against rabies and registered in accordance with the State of Tennessee’s “Anti-Rabies Law.” It is also unlawful for residents to own dogs that do not wear a tag as evidence of its rabies vaccination and registration.

Section 10-203 of the town’s code states that it is unlawful for persons to “knowingly permit any dog owned by him or under his control to run at large within the corporate limits.” The law also requires dogs that are “known to be vicious or dangerous” to be confined “or otherwise securely restrained as to provide reasonably for the protection of other animals and persons.”

Section 10-205 of the town’s law states that no person can own a dog “which, by frequent barking, whining or howling annoys, or disturbs the peace and quiet of any neighborhood.” Sections 10-206 and 10-207 of the town’s code spell out the right of authorities to seize dogs that are running in large or thought to be rabid.

According to the code, any dog that has bitten a person or is otherwise suspected of being rabid can be confined or isolated for such time as is deemed reasonably necessary by the chief of police.

The code also states that any dog found running at large may be seized by any police officer and placed in a pound. If the dog is wearing a tag, the owner of the dog will be notified to appear within five days and redeem his dog by paying a reasonable pound fee. If the dog is not redeemed, it can be humanely destroyed or sold.

If confiscated dogs are not wearing tags, they can be humanely destroyed or sold if they are not legally claimed by their owner within two days.

Dogs confiscated and placed in a pound will not be released until the dog has been vaccinated and has a tag evidencing the vaccination, the law states.

Finally, the law states that any person owning, harboring or keeping a dog, or any person who occupies the premises on wich a dog remains or to which it customarily returns for its meals, is presumed to be the dog’s owner.

newsroom@ihoneida.com

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