City overhauls animal law

Ordinance deals with dangerous dogs, harm to other pets

Last year, some Kirtland residents complained to city leaders about a dog that had injured other pets and appeared to pose a threat to people when it escaped its home.

In response, officials weighed the community’s animal law and found it wanting.

“We found that our ordinance made us wait for adjudication by a judge to declare a dog dangerous or vicious, and that was essentially reactive and delayed,” Mayor Doug Davidson said. “With the amended ordinance, the (police) chief or his designee can decide the dog is a risk and have the latitude to take action immediately to protect residents.”

On May 3, City Council adopted legislation extensively addressing not only dog dangers and disturbances, but also

“This is a huge win for animals and the citizens of Kirtland, who are trying to be humane and assist abandoned animals.” — David Sickles of Willoughby

animal cruelty and abandonment.

The 22-page ordinance will take effect within 30 days.

Provisions include penalties for allowing dogs to bark continuously, domesticated animals to run at large, harming pets and birds, harboring animals determined to be a nuisance, and coloring rabbits and baby poultry as well as selling or displaying them.

“No person shall keep or harbor any animal or fowl in the municipality so as to create noxious or offensive odors or unsanitary conditions which are a menace to the health, comfort or safety of the public,” the law reads.

In addition, it prohibits tethering an animal when no one is home, among numerous other regulations in the “Cruelty to Animals” section.

Violations would be misdemeanors of varying degrees.

One subject not broached in the ordinance is feral cats, unlike the nuisance animal laws in some nearby cities. It was removed following feedback from people such as David Sickles of Willoughby.

“This is a huge win for animals and the citizens of Kirtland, who are trying to be humane and assist abandoned animals,” he said. “I know the mayor, police chief, safety committee and safety committee chair Councilman Joe Smolik worked very hard and spent many hours on it, so I deeply appreciate their hard work, and that they listened to the many people and organizations like the Lake Humane Society and Community Cats that spoke up and gave them input on this bill.”

The law allows for limited bowhunting on at least 10 contiguous acres with a permit from the police department, permission from a property owner and proof of proficiency. Other restrictions apply.

There are exemptions in the law for hunting dogs accompanied by a licensed hunter, service animals and police dogs in the line of duty.

If a dog is classified a nuisance, the owner or keeper of the dog has the right to an administrative hearing to object to the designation.

Meanwhile, Mentoron-the-Lake leaders are eyeing a potential feral cat law similar to the city of Mentor’s. The Mentor-on-the-Lake proposal could be on City Council’s agenda May 9.

The Kirtland ordinance will be posted next week in the city hall lobby, the community center and Kirtland Public Library. To receive an electronic copy, email Council Clerk Denise A. Roelle at droelle@kirtlandohio.com. For more information, call the clerk at 440-256-3332 ext. 3.

“No person shall keep or harbor any animal or fowl in the municipality so as to create noxious or offensive odors or unsanitary conditions which are a menace to the health, comfort or safety of the public.” — An excerpt from the ordinance