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[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Board of the Township of Grosse Ile as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
[Adopted 8-11-1980 by Ord. No. 137 as Ch. 4 of the 1989 Code; amended in its entirety 9-11-2023 by Ord. No. 23-03]
The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this article, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context indicates a different meaning.
ADEQUATE CARE
The provision of sufficient food, water, shelter, sanitary conditions, exercise, and veterinary medical attention in order to maintain an animal in a state of good health.
SANITARY CONDITIONS
A space free from health hazards, including excessive animal waste, overcrowding of animals, or other conditions that endanger the animals' health. This definition does not include any conditions resulting from a customary and reasonable practice pursuant to farming or animal husbandry.
SHELTER
Adequate protection from the elements and weather conditions suitable for the age, species, and physical condition of the animal so as to maintain the animal in a state of good health. Shelter, for livestock, includes structures or natural features such as trees or topography. Shelter, for a dog, includes one or more of the following:
A. 
The residence of the dog's owner or other individual.
B. 
A doghouse that is an enclosed structure with a roof and of appropriate dimensions for the breed and size of the dog. The doghouse must have dry bedding when the outdoor temperature is or is predicted to drop below freezing.
C. 
A structure, including a garage, barn, or shed, that is sufficiently insulated and ventilated to protect the dog from exposure to extreme temperatures or, if not sufficiently insulated and ventilated, contains a doghouse as provided under Subsection B that is accessible to the dog.
STATE OF GOOD HEALTH
The freedom from disease and illness, and in a condition of proper body weight and temperature for the age and species of the animal, unless the animal is undergoing appropriate treatment.
Any person allowing a dog or other animal habitually to remain and be lodged or fed within his house or on premises owned by him or which are under his control shall be presumed to be harboring or keeping the same within the meaning of this article.
A. 
It shall be a municipal civil infraction for any person to own, keep or harbor any dog, cat, or ferret four months of age or older within the Township without having a current license therefor.
B. 
Application for a dog, cat, or ferret license shall be made to the Township and shall contain a description of the dog, cat, or ferret to be licensed, and the name and address of the owner thereof. The application shall be accompanied by a current certificate signed by an accredited veterinarian showing that the dog, cat, or ferret has been vaccinated against rabies with a vaccine licensed by the United States Department of Agriculture.
C. 
The Township shall issue a license with a tag to each applicant. The license shall contain a number of the license, the year when issued, and the date of expiration thereof. Any person keeping or harboring any dog, cat, or ferret shall provide the dog, cat, or ferret with a durable collar to which shall be securely attached its current tag. No person shall remove any tag without the consent of its owner.
D. 
Fees for licenses shall be as established by the Township Board.
No person keeping or harboring any dog or other animal shall permit the same to run at large. A dog or other animal shall be presumed to be running at large under the provisions of this section when, while off the premises owned by or under the control of the person keeping or harboring said dog or animal, it is not under leash, or securely tied, or confined within an enclosure. (Note: Riding of horses on private property of others is covered by Chapter 255, Trespassing, of this Code.)
No person shall harbor or keep any dog or other animal which by loud, frequent or habitual barking, yelping or howling shall cause annoyance to the surrounding neighborhood or to people passing by on the roadways.
Every person owning, keeping or harboring any dog or animal that has been attacked or bitten by any other dog or animal known to be affected with or having the symptoms of rabies, or which has bitten any person, or which is suspected to have contacted rabies shall immediately notify the Township's Police Department and, upon the demand of such Department, shall immediately produce and surrender such dog or animal for observation for a period of 10 days; however, in the discretion of such Department, such dog or animal may be quarantined for a like period of time on the premises of the owner or person who is keeping or harboring such dog or animal.
It shall be unlawful for any person owning, keeping or harboring any dog or animal that has been quarantined under the provisions of this article to allow the same to be on the streets or roads of the Township or away from the quarantined premises during the time during which such dog or animal is quarantined.
Members of the Police Department and any other person who may be appointed by the Chief of Police for that purpose shall have the authority to promptly seize or impound all dogs or any other animals that may be found to be running at large or are found to be kept, harbored or owned contrary to the provisions of this article.
No dog or other animal shall be released from impoundment until the owner or person entitled to the same shall pay to the Township an impoundment fee established by action of the Township for the care, custody, and feeding of such dog or animal while in custody. No such dog shall be released unless a proper license for such dog has been procured prior to release in the event that such dog has not already been duly licensed under provisions of this article, or unless the Township is satisfied that a proper dog license will be procured for the impounded dog within a reasonable time after release thereof.
All dogs or other animals not claimed and released within four days after being impounded shall be placed for adoption. However, if any such dog or other animal has a collar, is licensed under the provisions of this article, or has other evidence of ownership, written notice shall be given to the owner informing such owner of the intended disposition of such dog or other animal and giving such owner seven days from the date of mailing of the notice to claim the dog or other animal as provided for in this article prior to the dog or other animal being placed for adoption. Any dog or other animal that is sick or injured to the extent that the holding period would cause undue suffering may be destroyed as authorized by law.
A. 
It shall be unlawful to:
(1) 
Fail to provide adequate care for an animal; or
(2) 
Torture, torment, beat, mutilate, maim, disfigure, or kill any animal within the Township.
B. 
The lawful practice of veterinary medicine, fishing, hunting, trapping or wildlife control authorized under state law, pest or rodent control regulated under state law, lawful killing or use of any animal for scientific research under state law, the lawful killing or use of an animal under state law, or the lawful killing of livestock or customary animal husbandry or farming practice involving livestock shall not be considered cruelty to animals.
If any person is bitten by a dog or any other animal, it shall be the duty of that person, or the owner or custodian of the animal having knowledge of same, to report same to the Police Department as soon as possible.
No person shall abandon any dog or animal or allow any animal owned by him or under his control which has escaped or strayed to remain at large within the Township without taking reasonable steps to recover possession of same.
It shall be unlawful for any person to deposit, throw or place any dead or fatally sick or injured animal or part thereof onto any public or private place, or into or on the banks of any stream, pond, sewer, or other body of water in or adjacent to the Township.
It shall be unlawful to throw or deposit poisoned meat, or any poison or harmful substances, in any street, public place, or on any private premises within the Township for the purpose of destroying any dog, fowl, or other animal, except vermin.
A. 
Judicial proceedings (show cause) in the District Court may be commenced by the Township to have an animal or dog destroyed if any of the following exist:
(1) 
Whenever a dog or animal has bitten or attacked any person without provocation;
(2) 
The dog or animal has shown vicious habits or tendencies;
(3) 
The animal or dog has been found to have been running at large more than two times in the last year;
(4) 
The dog or the animal habitually (more than two times) causes damage by trespassing on the property of a person who is not the owner.
B. 
After a hearing, the District Court Magistrate or Judge may either order the dog or animal to be destroyed or strictly confined to the premises of the owner. If, after the court orders the dog or animal strictly confined to the premises of the owner, the dog or animal again gets loose, the Court shall order the dog or animal destroyed. Costs for any of these proceedings shall be borne by the owner of the dog or animal.
C. 
A summons may be personally served on the dog or animal owner at least seven days before the show cause referred to in Subsection A. If the owner may not be served personally, the Township may obtain a court order for substituted service in the manner allowed by the Michigan Court Rules.
No person shall hinder, obstruct or delay the Animal Control Officer or any member of the Police Department or any other person who is engaged in lawfully taking into custody or impounding any animal pursuant to this article.
No person owning, harboring, keeping or in charge of any dog, cat or ferret shall cause, suffer or allow such dog, cat or ferret to soil, defile, defecate or to commit any nuisance on any public thoroughfare, sidewalk, passageway, bypass, play area, park or any place where people congregate or walk or upon any public property whatsoever or upon any private property without permission of the owner of said property unless:
A. 
The person who so owns, harbors, keeps or is in charge of such dog, cat or ferret shall immediately remove all droppings deposited by such dog, cat or ferret by any sanitary method. The person shall possess a container of sufficient size to collect and remove the above-mentioned droppings and exhibit the container if requested by any official empowered to enforce this article.
B. 
The droppings removed from the aforementioned areas shall be disposed of by the person owning, harboring, keeping or in charge of such dog, cat or ferret in a sanitary method on the property of the person owning, harboring or in charge of said dog, cat or ferret.
It shall be unlawful for any person to possess, maintain, or keep within Grosse Ile Township any of the following described animals:
A. 
All animals and reptiles, including snakes and spiders, whose bite or venom is poisonous;
B. 
Wolves, wolf hybrids or coyotes;
C. 
Any animal that is used or has been bred or trained for fighting, including but not limited to gamecocks, fighting birds or dogs;
D. 
Crocodiles, alligators, sharks or piranha;
E. 
Any types of apes;
F. 
Lions, tigers, constrictor snakes, bears, elephants or similar types of wild game;
G. 
Raccoons or skunks;
H. 
Any other type of exotic or wild animal which poses a threat or danger to the public health, welfare, or safety if such animal was able to run loose;
I. 
Farm animals such as chickens, roosters, hogs, pigs, cows, goats or sheep (horses not included) if the farm animal poses a nuisance by running at large, disturbing the quiet of a neighborhood, or causing an offensive odor to the surrounding property owners.
Any person who currently may possess or maintain an animal prohibited by this article shall remove said animal from the Township of Grosse Ile within six months of the adoption of this section, unless it is determined by the Animal Control Officer that it presents an immediate danger to the public health, safety or welfare, in which case the animal shall be removed immediately.
The penalty for violation of § 20-13A(2) shall be a felony as set forth in MCLA § 750.50b. The penalty for violations of the remaining provisions of this article shall be as provided in Chapter 1, General Provisions, § 1-3. The provisions of Chapter 1, Article II, Municipal Civil Infractions, also apply to violations of this article.
[Adopted 6-28-1993 by Ord. No. 198]
It shall be unlawful for any person to feed any bird, waterfowl, wildlife or vermin on any public or private property if such feeding shall cause any of the following conditions to occur:
A. 
Cause any bird, waterfowl, wildlife or vermin to congregate on someone else's property other than the person who is doing the feeding.
B. 
Cause or result in damage to public property or the private property of others.
C. 
Create a danger to or interfere with the public health or welfare, including but not limited to the accumulation of waste products or excrement on any property.
[Amended 7-22-2002
Penalties for violation of this article shall be punishable as provided in Chapter 1, General Provisions, § 1-3. The provisions of Chapter 1, Article II, Municipal Civil Infractions, also apply to violations of this article.