Dog Ordinance to be enforced Seymour, Missouri

[Rene Allegrini]

City: Dog ordinance enforced
Fred Spriggs

Mayor says dog owners who violate law will face $500 fine, 15 days in jail

Seymour’s city government is sending a message to owners of vicious dogs — they can’t be kept in town unless penned, properly confined or kept indoors, per city ordinance No. 205.040.

Even when properly confined, the ordinance also calls for owners of vicious dogs to post a prominent “Beware Of Dog” sign on their premises, as well as on the animal’s pen.

Seymour Mayor Jerry Miller said although the ordinance hadn’t been strictly enforced in the past, a renewed emphasis is being placed on the problem.

“We’ve got too many (vicious dogs) in town,” he said. “There are too darn many pit bulls in this town ... and it’s becoming a real danger, especially for kids.”

Why enforce the rules now?

The mayor said the main reason is to protect kids.

“This week, kids are going to be headed to school; lots of them walking on our streets,” Miller explained.

“And all it takes is one mean dog not in a pen getting loose then biting a child to cause a real bad accident.”

The bottom line, according to Miller, is that unless action is taken to control vicious dogs, “Sooner or later, we’re going to get a kid bit or eat up.”

For people who don’t follow the rules, Miller wants owners to know the Seymour Police Department’s officers now will focus on the vicious-dog ordinance.

The penalty for a first offense is a hefty $500 fine.

Added to the fine, per city codes, is a potential 15-day sentence at the Webster County Jail in Marshfield.

Here are the rules, per city ordinance titled “Vicious Dogs Prohibited — Exceptions-Impoundment.”

The ordinance reads:
“It shall be unlawful to own, keep or harbor a vicious dog in the city of Seymour except in accordance with the following provisions:

• “Leash and muzzle. No person shall permit a vicious dog to go outside its kennel or pen unless such dog is securely leased with a leash no longer than four feet in length.

“No person shall permit a vicious dog to be kept on a chain, rope or other type of leash outside its kennel or pen unless a person is in physical control of the leash.

“Such dogs may not be leashed to inanimate objects such as trees, posts or buildings.

“In addition, all vicious dogs on a leash outside its kennel or pen must be muzzled by a muzzling device sufficient to prevent such dog from biting persons or other animals.

• “Confinement: All vicious dogs shall be securely confined indoors or in a securely enclosed and locked pen or kennel, except when leashed and muzzled as above provided.

“Such pen, kennel or structure must have secure sides and a secure top attached to the sides.

“All structures used to confine vicious dogs must be locked with a key or combination lock when such dogs are within the structure.

“Said structure must have a secure bottom or floor attached to the sides of the pen or the sides of the pen must be imbedded in the ground no less than two feet.

“Also, such structures must be adequately lighted and ventilated, and kept in a clean and sanitary condition.

• “Confinement indoors: No vicious dog may be kept on a porch, patio or any part of a house or structure that would allow the dog to exit such building on its own volition.

“In addition, no such animal may be kept in a house or structure when the windows are open or when screen windows or screen doors are the only obstacle preventing the dog from exiting the structure.

• “Signs: All owners, keepers or harborers of vicious dogs with the City shall display in a prominent place on their premises a sign easily readable by the public using the words “Beware of Dog.”

“In addition, a similar sign is required to be posted on the kennel or pen or such dog.”

City ordinance No. 205.010 defines a pit bull as:
• “Pit Bull Dog. Any and all of the following dogs:

“Straffordshire Bull Terrier breed of dogs.
“American Straffordshire Terrier breed of dogs.
“American Pit Bull Terrier breed of dogs.
“Dogs which have the appearance and characteristics of being predominately of the breeds of dogs known as Straffordshire Bull Terrier, American Pit Bull Terrier or American Straffordshire Terrier.”

The aforementioned city ordinance also defines what constitutes a vicious dog:
• “Vicious dog. Any of the following:

“Any dog, whether or not running at large, and whether or not unrestrained, that without provocation has bitten any person not a trespasser causing serious physical injury to that person.
“Any unrestrained go, whether or not running at large, that without provocation has attempted to bite any person not a trespasser which would cause serious physical injury to that person.
“Any unrestrained dog, whether or not running at large, that without provocation has placed any person not a trespasser in apprehension of immediate serious physical injury.
“Any dog that has killed another dog, cat or other domestic animal without provocation.
“Any pit bull dog.”

To report a vicious dog in violation of city ordinances, call Seymour City Hall at 417-935-4401; after 5 p.m. call the Seymour Police Department at 935-4200 or contact a city officer through the Webster County Sheriff’s Department by calling their non-emergency number at 417-468-2222.

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