ARTICLE 17
REGULATION OF DOGS
SECTION 1. Licenses shall be required in accordance with Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 140, Section 139 and are valid for a one year period commencing on January 1st and expiring on December 31st of each year.The annual fee for every dog license, except as otherwise provided by the law, shall be $20 for a male dog and $20 for a female dog, unless a certificate of registered veterinarian has been shown to the Town Clerk indicating that such male or female dog has been spayed or neutered, in which case the fees shall be $15.
SECTION 1A. The fee for kennel licenses shall be thirty-five dollars ($35.00) if no more than four dogs over the age of three months are kept in said kennel; sixty dollars ($60.00) if more than four but no more than ten dogs over the age of three months are kept therein; and one hundred and twenty-five dollars ($125.00) if more than ten dogs over the age of three months are kept therein.
SECTION 2. Disturbing the peace: No person shall own or keep in the town any dog which by biting, excessive barking, howling or in any other manner disturbs the quiet of the public.
SECTION 2A. Mandatory Leash Law: No person shall permit a dog owned or kept by him beyond the confines of the property of the owner or keeper unless the dog is held firmly on a leash or is under the control of its owner or keeper or the agent of either. As used in this section the term "control" shall include but not be limited to oral or visual commands to which the dog is obedient. Dogs running at large and not under restraint will be caught and confined for a period of up to ten days, and the owner or keeper will be forthwith notified. Said dog shall not be released to that owner or keeper, until a pick-up charge of twenty dollars ($20.00) per dog shall have been paid to the Town of Sharon for services rendered in addition to a per day boarding fee which is determined by the shelter for the care and keep of each dog impounded.
SECTION 3. Complaint of nuisance: If any person shall make a complaint in writing to the Animal Control Officer that any dog owned or harbored within his/her jurisdiction is a nuisance by reason of vicious disposition or excessive barking or other disturbance, the Animal Control Officer shall investigate such complaint, which may include an examination under oath of the complainant, and submit a written report to the Selectmen of his/her findings and recommendations, together with the written complaint. Upon receipt of such report and examination of the complainant under oath, the Selectmen may make such order concerning the restraint, muzzling or disposal of such dog as may be deemed necessary. The Animal Control Officer, after investigation, may issue an interim order that such dog be restrained or muzzled for a period not to exceed fourteen (14) days to enable the Selectmen to issue their order following receipt of the report of the Animal Control Officer. If the Selectmen fail to act during the period of the interim order, upon expiration of the period the interim order automatically is vacated.
SECTION 4. The Animal Control Officer may restrain or muzzle, or issue an interim order to restrain or muzzle, for a period not to exceed fourteen (14) days, any dog for any of the following reasons:
a. for having bitten any person;
b. if found at large or unmuzzled, as the case may be, while an order for the restraint of such dog is in effect;
c. if found in a school, schoolyard or public recreational area;
d. for having killed or maimed or otherwise damaged any other domesticated animal;
e. for chasing any vehicle upon any public way or way open to public travel in the town;
f. for any violation of Section 2.
Upon restraining or muzzling, or issuing an interim order to restrain or muzzle, the Animal Control Officer shall submit in writing to the Selectmen a report of his/her action and the reasons therefore. Upon receipt of such report, the Selectmen may make such order concerning the restraint, muzzling or disposal of such dog as may be deemed necessary. If the Selectmen fail to act upon the report during the period the dog is restrained or muzzled, upon expiration of the period, the interim order automatically is vacated.
SECTION 5. Appeal of restraint or muzzling: The owner or keeper of any dog that has been ordered to be restrained or muzzled or has been restrained under this article, may file a request in writing with the Animal Control Officer that the restraining order be vacated, or that the dog be released, and after investigation by the Animal Control Officer such Officer may vacate such order or release such dog, if the order or restraint was imposed by him/her. If the order was imposed by the Selectmen, the Animal Control Officer shall submit a written report of his/her investigation, with his/her recommendations, to the Selectmen, who may vacate the order.
SECTION 6. Any owner or keeper of a dog who shall fail to comply with any order of the Animal Control Officer or Selectmen issued pursuant to this article shall be punishable by a fine of one hundred dollars ($100.00).
SECTION 7. Vaccination: It shall be unlawful for the owner of any dog over the age of six months to keep or maintain such dog unless it shall have been vaccinated by a licensed veterinarian with antirabies vaccine within two years, or within the period of immunity as certified by said veterinarian, preceding the date on which such dog is kept or maintained.
SECTION 8. Violation of this by-law other than is provided in Section 6 shall be punished by a fine of twenty-five dollars ($25.) for a first offense, fifty dollars ($50.) for a second offense, and one hundred dollars ($100) for a third and subsequent offense.
SECTION 9. In addition to the requirement that a dog shall be duly licensed as required by law, the owner of a dog which is not licensed on or before May 31st in any year shall be subject to a "late fee" so-called, of twenty-five ($25.), said fee to be paid in addition to the license fee for all dogs licensed on or after May 31st of any year. The owner of any unspayed and unleashed female dog found by the Animal Control Officer roaming at large in season (heat) off the premises of the owner or keeper shall be subject to a fine of twenty-five dollars ($25.). In accordance with Article 11 of the General By-Laws of the Town of Sharon, a non-criminal disposition penalty will be imposed in the amount of twenty-five dollars ($25) for any owner of a dog who fails to comply with the licensing of their dog on or before June 30th of any year; said fee is to be paid in addition to the late fee and license fee.
Amended