Dog Ordinance

An ordinance to provide for the control of dogs on the property of the owner and the disposition of stray, dangerous or annoying dogs, and for penalties for the violation hereof, and for the repeal of all ordinances inconsistent herewith.

By the authority granted to the Township Board of the Township of Genoa, County of Livingston, Michigan, by Act 246 of the Public Acts of Michigan of 1945, as amended, the Township Board of the Township of Genoa ordains:

Section I

No person allowing, possessing, or harboring any dog shall permit such dog to run at large at any time.

Section II

Any dog found at large in violation of this Ordinance may be caught and taken in charge by any person or persons designated by the Township Board for such work. Any dog running at large in violation of this Ordinance, which the officers, charged with the enforcement hereof, are unable to apprehend by reasonable and convenient means and efforts, may be destroyed by such officers.

Section III

Any dog apprehended pursuant to Section II shall be confined in the Livingston County Dog Pound, and shall be thereafter disposed of in accordance with the rules and regulations of the County of Livingston.

Section IV

No person shall harbor or keep any dog which by barking, yelping or howling shall disturb the quiet of the neighborhood or any person.

Section V

Any person harboring or keeping a fierce or vicious dog, or a dog that annoys people passing to and fro upon public places, by barking, by chasing, or biting them or following them in a threatening manner, shall keep such dog confined upon his own premises, unless accompanied by said person, with a leash securely fastened to its collar.

Section VI

Any person allowing any dog to remain and be lodged or fed within his or her house, store, building, enclosure, or premises, shall be considered to be harboring or keeping the same within the meaning of this Ordinance.

Section VII

No person or persons shall harbor or keep more than three (3) dogs upon any one premises within the Township of Genoa, unless such person is lawfully operating a kennel duly licensed in accordance with Act 339 of the Public Acts of Michigan of 1919, as amended, and in conformance with all other ordinances and regulations of the Township of Genoa.

Section VIII

For the purpose of this Ordinance, the term "running at large" shall be construed to include any dog which shall be loose on any public area or on the property of another in the Township of Genoa. A dog shall not be considered to be running at large if under the reasonably control of some person, or when engaged in lawful hunting, accompanied by his owner or custodian.

Section IX

For the purpose of this Ordinance, the term "person" shall include an individual, firm or corporation.

Section X

If any part of this Ordinance shall be held invalid by a Court of competent jurisdiction, the remaining parts shall be servable and shall continue to be in full force and effect.

Section XI

All ordinances or parts of ordinance conflicting with the provisions of this Ordinance are hereby repealed insofar as the same affect of this Ordinance.

Section XII

The violation of any provision of this Ordinance shall be a misdemeanor and shall be punishably by a fine not to exceed One Hundred Dollars ($100.00), or imprisonment for not to exceed ninety (90) days, or by both such fine and imprisonment in the discretion of the court. Each day a violation of this ordinance continues shall be considered a separate offense.

Section XIII

This Ordinance is hereby declared adopted by the Township Board of the Township of Genoa, at a meeting thereof, held on the 10^th day of July, 1968, and ordered to be given publication in accordance with the statue made and provided. This ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after August 16^th, 1968.

Adopted: July 10^th, 1968

Published: July 17^th, 1968

Effective: August 16^th, 1968