§ 6-14. Animals that create a public nuisance.

All owners of animals shall exercise proper care and control of their animals to prevent them from becoming a public nuisance. Animals that are not properly cared for or controlled shall constitute a public nuisance when they unreasonably interfere with the peaceful enjoyment of property or when they create unsafe conditions.

A public nuisance shall include, but is not limited to, the following acts:

(1)

Chasing, threatening, harassing or otherwise acting in an aggressive manner toward persons, bicyclists or pedestrians on any public or private property not owned or controlled by the owner on two or more separate occasions.

(2)

Chasing, threatening, harassing or injuring livestock, poultry or other domestic, companion, wild or exotic animals on two or more occasions, unless such livestock, poultry or other domestic, companion, wild or exotic animal is trespassing.

(3)

Biting a person so as to cause physical injury on two or more separate occasions without provocation unless in response to an actual threat to the person or property of the owner.

(4)

Damaging real or personal property of a person other than the owner on two or more occasions.

(5)

Overturning trash containers and scattering trash on any property not owned or controlled by the owner on two or more occasions within a 12-month period.

(6)

Habitually running at large because the owner has allowed his animal to run at large on property not his own, three or more times within a 12-month period.

(7)

Producing conditions offensive or dangerous including but not limited to:

(a)

Keeping excessive numbers of animals or keeping animals in unsanitary living conditions.

(b)

Maintaining animal containers or cages attracting insects, rodents or other pests;

(c)

Harboring unvaccinated animals; and

(d)

Allowing odors created by animals to emanate beyond the owner's property.

This section shall not apply to: (1) livestock, poultry or other farm animals; or (2) any person engaged in law enforcement or search and rescue activities; (3) any person engaged in a supervised obedience training class or show; (4) any person engaged in formal sanctioned field trials; (5) any person engaged in lawful hunting with dogs; (6) any person engaged in bona fide hunting or field trial dog training; and (7) any person engaged in farming activities on a farm located in Prince George County. For the purposes of this section, "engaged" means the time that a person is actively conducting or participating in the named activity.

(Ord. No. O-12-19, § 1, 9-11-2012)

(Ord. No. O-12-19, § 1, 9-11-2012)