CITY OF COON RAPIDS, MINNESOTA
CHAPTER 6-400
CAT CONTROL

6-401 Registration. All cats six (6) months or older, kept, harbored, or maintained in the City of Coon Rapids shall be registered. Applicants for registration shall be made to the City Clerk upon forms provided by the Clerk. Among other information the application shall include the name and a description of the cat, the name and address of the owner, and the date of compliance with the terms and provisions of City Code Section 6-403.

6-402 Tags. The owner of each cat kept, harbored, or maintained in the City of Coon Rapids shall affix to a collar to be worn by the cat an identification tag which shall contain the name and address of the owner of the cat.

6-403 Rabies Vaccination. Every owner or keeper of a cat shall cause the same to be vaccinated by a licensed veterinary surgeon with anti-rabies vaccine at least once in every 12-month period and prior to the time such animal shall reach the age of six (6) months.

6-404 Running at Large. It shall be unlawful for the owner, keeper, or harborer of any cat to permit the same to run at large in the City of Coon Rapids. Except when in a motor vehicle, all cats when off the premises of the owner or keeper must be on a leash of not more than six (6) feet in length and in custody of and under the control of a person of sufficient age to adequately control the cat at all times. The Animal Control Officer, appointed pursuant to City Code Section 6-109 shall pick up and hold, at a designated pound, any cat running at large within the City in violation of the terms of this Chapter. [Revised 12/17/96, Ordinance 1589]

6-405 Impoundment. Any cats picked up by the Animal Control Officer shall be immediately transported to the designated pound. If the owner is known, he or she shall be immediately notified by telephone or personal contact and by written notice to its last known address. If the owner is unknown, written notice containing a description of the animal shall be posted at the pound and the City Hall. The notice shall advise the owner that he or she has five (5) regular business days to claim the animal. “Regular business day” means any day during which the pound is open to the public not less than four (4) consecutive hours between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.

6-406 Reclaiming. An owner may reclaim an impounded cat by first registering the cat in accordance with the terms of this Chapter and paying to the pound master the boarding fees for each day the animal is confined.

6-407 Unclaimed Animals. Any animal not claimed within the allotted time shall be disposed of in accordance with the provisions of Minnesota Statutes Section 35.71, Subdivision 3, as amended.

6-408 Report of Cat Bites. Any person knowing of a human being bit by a cat shall immediately notify the Animal Control Officer or the Police Department and said cat shall then be confined and kept under observation for a period of 14 days before being disposed of, if necessary.

6-409 Destroying a Cat. It shall be unlawful for any person other than the Animal Control Officer or a peace officer to kill or destroy any cat found running at large in the City or that has been known to bite a person within a period of 14 days.

6-410 Community Service Officer May Issue Citations. Community service officers may issue citations for violations of this chapter, provided, that no community service officer may require a person served to sign a promise to appear with respect to any such citation.

6-411 Nuisances. The keeping, maintaining, and harboring of a cat that has bitten a person or persons other than the owner thereof and members of the owners household on three (3) or more occasions within a period of twelve consecutive months is declared to be a public nuisance.

6-412 Abatement. Such nuisance shall be abated by the owner or keeper of such animal by the disposition of the animal within fourteen (14) days after receipt of notice to the owner or keeper thereof. “Disposition” shall mean the destruction of the animal or its permanent removal from the City. Said notice shall be sent by the Chief of Police or his designee by registered mail. If the owner or keeper of the animal fails to comply within the above-specified period, the animal control officer is authorized and directed to capture and immediately dispose of such animal. The owner or keeper of the cat shall immediately make the animal available to the animal control officer.

6-413 Appeals. Any owner who feels aggrieved by the order of the Chief of Police may request a hearing before the City Council by filing an appeal with the City Manager within fourteen (14) days after receipt of the notice. The appeal shall be filed in such form as the City shall provide. On the filing of such appeal, no further action shall be taken until the matter has been heard. Upon receipt of the request, the City Manager shall place the matter before the Council at its next regular meeting. The owner may appear, with counsel if the owner chooses, and present evidence in opposition to the order. Following such hearing the Council shall make a determination of facts and shall, based on such determination, affirm, repeal, or modify the Chief’s order. The Council shall also establish a date for compliance with the order as affirmed or modified, which shall be not less than five (5) days thereafter. Upon expiration of the time limit, the animal control officer shall abate the nuisance. [Revised 02/05/91, Ordinance 1365.]