1651ORDINANCE NO. 1651 (H01- 2021)
AN ORDINANCE TO REPEAL AND REPLACE PORTIONS OF JACKSONVILLE
MUNICIPAL CODE §6.04.045, PIT BULL BAN, FOR THE CITY OF JACKSONVILLE,
ARKANSAS; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
WHEREAS, it is the intent of the City Council of the City of Jacksonville, Arkansas to amend
the Jacksonville Municipal Code and adopt the new Animal Control regulations set forth below in
an effort to encourage the humane treatment of animals.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF
JACKSONVILLE, ARKANSAS THAT:
SECTION ONE: Jacksonville Municipal Code 6.04.045, Paragraph D shall be amended and
replaced in its entirety as follows:
(D) Pit Bull, Bull Dogs, or Pit Bull Terrier Breeds
(a) General.
(1) There shall be a recognized category of dogs designated as potentially dangerous breed.
(2) It shall be unlawful for any person to keep within the city limits any potentially
dangerous breed, except in compliance with the provisions of this section.
(3) A potentially dangerous breed shall include the following:
(i) A pit bull, which is defined as any dog that is an American pit bull terrier, a
Staffordshire terrier, or American Staffordshire terrier, Bull Dog and any dog of mixed
breeding that has the primary characteristics of an American pit bull terrier, a Staffordshire
terrier, or an American Staffordshire terrier. The American Kennel Club and United Kennel
Club standards for the above breeds shall be on file for viewing at the city's animal shelter.
(ii) Any other breed that is so declared by ordinance.
(4) For purposes of this section an "owner" is defined as any person who owns, keeps,
exercises control over, maintains, or harbors a potentially dangerous breed.
(5) Notwithstanding the special provisions set forth below as to keeping a potentially
dangerous breed within the city limits:
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(i) Any such animal is also subject to the provisions for designation as a dangerous
dog or as a vicious dog.
(ii) Any such animal declared to be a vicious dog shall be subject to Jacksonville
Municipal Code §6.04.045.
(iii) The city's animal services division may temporarily harbor and transport any
potentially dangerous breed for purposes of enforcing the provisions of this section.
(iv) An owner may transport into the city limits a potentially dangerous breed for
the purpose of transporting the dog to a veterinarian or groomer for care, or to
participate in a contest or show sponsored by the American Kennel Club or the
United Kennel Club.
(b) Permit required.
(1) Permit. A potentially dangerous breed may be kept within the city limits only so long
as the registered owner or custodian complies with the requirements and conditions of the
potentially dangerous breed permit.
(2) Permit fee. The owner or custodian shall pay an annual permit fee established by the
city council, in addition to all other required fees, for each year that a potentially dangerous
breed is kept within the city limits.
(c) Registration requirements. The owner of any potentially dangerous breed shall be allowed to
keep such dog within the Jacksonville city limits only if the owner applies for registration of the
dog with the city's animal services division on an annual basis and obtains a potentially dangerous
breed permit and a window sticker with each annual registration. As a condition of registration,
the owner shall at the time of application provide sufficient evidence that the owner is in
compliance with all of the following requirements:
(1) Rabies vaccination. The dog must be vaccinated against rabies by a licensed
veterinarian as required by Arkansas Statutes.
(2) Current city license. The owner must purchase an annual city license for the dog, and
the dog must wear the city license tag on its collar at all times.
(3) Microchip. The dog must be identified by means of a microchip that is injected under
its skin by alicensed veterinarian and maintained as long as the animal is kept within the
city limits.
(4) Photo. The owner must bring their potentially dangerous breed to the city animal
shelter to have its photo taken with the owner.
(5) Sterilized. The owner must provide documentary proof from a licensed veterinarian
that their dog has been spayed or neutered. This requirement shall not apply if:
(i) Animal services receives a letter from the owner's veterinarian, to be confirmed
by the animal services veterinarian, stating that the dog is physically unable to
reproduce or that the dog is medically compromised to the extent that it cannot be
safely sterilized;
(ii) The potentially dangerous breed is a registered AKC or UKC show dog with
points or with documentation of training for show purposes, if the owner purchases
an annual show dog permit for a fee established by the city manager; or
(iii) The dog is a registered AKC or UKC dog with points, and the owner purchases
an annual breeder's permit for a fee established by the city with the restriction that
the dog shall be allowed to produce or sire no more than one (1) litter per calendar
year beginning on January 1 and ending on December 31. For any additional litter
produced in any calendar year, there shall be a fine, in addition to any other fine, of
five hundred dollars ($500.00) against both the sire and the bitch, and two hundred
fifty dollars ($250.00) for each live pup.
(6) Insurance. The owner must provide documentary proof from an insurance company,
licensed in the State of Arkansas, of Liability coverage of not less than $300,000.
(d) Permit conditions.
(1) Place of confinement. A potentially dangerous breed must reside at the owner's
residence or place of business.
(2) Window sticker. An annual window sticker, provided at the time of registration, must
be posted on the owner's property, visible from the street to indicate that a potentially
dangerous breed resides on the property.
(3) Confinement. A potentially dangerous dog shall be confined indoors or by means of a
fence that is of adequate height and construction to prevent the dog's escape. Potentially
dangerous dogs shall not be confined by means of an electronic containment device, or
invisible fence. When outside of an area of confinement, a potentially dangerous breed
must be restrained by means of a secure leash held by an adult who has the ability to control
the dog.
(4) No transfer of permit. A potentially dangerous breed permit shall not transfer to a new
owner residing in the city limits. The new owner must meet all registration requirements
within ten (10) days of acquiring the dog.
(5) Relocation reported. The owner of a potentially dangerous breed may relocate the dog
to the owner's new Jacksonville residence if the owner contacts animal services prior
to the
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relocation in order to report the new address and obtain a new window sticker. The new
window sticker must be posted at the new residence within thirty (30) days of the move.
(6) Maximum number. The number of potentially dangerous breed dogs kept, maintained
or harbored at one residence shall not exceed two (2).
(e) Breed designation appeals. The owner of a dog that has been identified as a potentially
dangerous breed under this section shall have the right to an administrative appeal of the breed
designation to the Director of Animal Services. This appeal will require, at the expense of the
owner, DNA test results administered by a licensed veterinarian along with a veterinarian
statement of authenticity of the results within twenty-one (21) days of the date the "potentially
dangerous dog" designation was made by the animal service officer.
(f) Compliance period. Within ten (10) days after acquiring a potentially dangerous breed, or after
moving to the city with a potentially dangerous breed, or after a potentially dangerous breed
designation has been affirmed on appeal, or after noncompliance under this section has been
brought to the attention of animal services, the owner of a potentially dangerous breed must register
their dog and comply with all potentially dangerous breed regulations.
(g) Enforcement.
(1) Potentially dangerous breed regulation violations. Failure to comply with any
potentially dangerous breed registration requirement or permit condition within the allotted
ten (10) day time period shall constitute a violation of this chapter and may result in the
issuance of a citation and a warrant to seize the owner's dog if it is not removed from the
city limits pending adjudication of the citation.
(2) Non -Cruelty violations. Permits to keep a potentially dangerous breed within the city
may be revoked by the animal services division upon the owner's second plea of guilty,
plea of no contest, or conviction for violation of the city's Non -cruelty animal code
provisions. If the permit(s) is revoked, a warrant to seize the potentially dangerous breed
may be served on the owner if the dog is not removed from the city limits. In addition, the
owner shall lose their right to register any potentially dangerous breed within the city for a
period of two (2) years.
(3) Cruelty violations. Upon a plea of guilty, plea of no contest, or conviction for any
animal cruelty charge, the owner of a potentially dangerous breed shall lose their
potentially dangerous breed perrnit(s) and shall lose their right to register any potentially
dangerous breed within the city for a period of ten (10) years. A warrant may be obtained
to seize the owner's potentially dangerous breed dog(s) pending adjudication of the cruelty
violation citation. Upon plea of guilty, plea of no contest, or conviction for animal cruelty
and revocation of the potentially dangerous breed permit, the owner's potentially dangerous
breed dog(s) must be removed from the city limits or surrendered to the Jacksonville
Animal Services Division.
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(h) Adoption_
(1) Potentially dangerous breeds may be adopted out through the Jacksonville Animal
Shelter to citizens within the City of Jacksonville subject to the permit and licensing
requirements set forth in this section.
(2) Potentially dangerous breeds may be adopted out through the Jacksonville Animal
Shelter to citizens outside the corporate city limits of Jacksonville to areas where there are
no restrictions to their breed.
(i) Potentially Dangerous Dog Penalties.
(1) First Offense: Any person violating or permitting the violation of any provision of this section
shall upon a plea of guilty, a plea of no contest, or conviction in the Jacksonville District Court
be fined a sum not less than five hundred dollars ($500) and not more than one thousand dollars
($1,000). The court may also sentence the defendant to imprisonment in the county jail for a
period not to exceed thirty (30) days.
(2) Second Offense: Any person violating or permitting the violation of any provision of this
section a second time shall upon a plea of guilty, a plea of no contest, or conviction in the
Jacksonville District Court be fined a sum not less than Five hundred dollars ($500) and
not more than two thousand dollars ($2,000). The court may also sentence the defendant
to Imprisonment in the county jail for a period not to exceed thirty (30) days. Any such
second conviction shall include seizure of the animal by Jacksonville Animal Services
personnel to be euthanized, adopted, or sent to a suitable rescue.
0) Annual Pit Bull Permit Fee. The owner or custodian shall pay an annual permit fee of $150.00, in
addition to all other required fees, for each year that a potentially dangerous breed is kept within
the city limits.
SECTION TWO: All Ordinances and parts of Ordinances, in conflict herewith are hereby
repealed to the extent of the conflict; specifically, parts and sections delineated herein are hereby
repealed.
APPROVED AND ADOPTED THIS DAY OF JANUARY, 2021.
CITY OF JACKSONVILLE, ARKANSAS
BOB JOHNSON, MAYOR
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ATTEST:
Susan Davitt, City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Stephanie Friedman, City Attorney
Ordinance addressed at the January 7, 2021 meeting but was tabled to return at a later date.
Ordinance not readdressed.