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| Attention Dog Owners |
Most dog owners are very responsible about looking out for their pets, but for the few who either ignore or are ignorant of the Laws the following are a couple of important statutes that have been violated around the neighborhood in recent months. For the sake of the health and safety of your pets and your neighbors please comply with the Chatham County Leash Laws and Cleaning up behind your pet.
§22-203 Restrictions on Dogs Running at Large.
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1. It shall be unlawful for any dog to be on the streets, lanes,
highways, roads or squares of unincorporated Chatham County or
loose on vacant lots or unenclosed lots, so that it may freely
have access to the streets, lanes, highways or squares of
unincorporated Chatham County unless such dog is held firmly
on a leash, by a person capable of maintaining control. It
shall be the duty of any owner or possessor or any person who
harbors or keeps any dog to confine securely by means of
fence, kennel, leash or other device so as to ensure
confinement within the limits of their own premise, the same
within the limits of his own premises and not to permit such
dog to run or have access to run the streets, lanes, highways,
roads or squares or parks of unincorporated Chatham County
except as above set forth or for hunting, field trials and the
working of said dogs.
2. Puppies and kittens are not to run at large. Dogs or cats
less than three months of age shall be confined to their
owner’s premises and not allowed to run at large.
3. Where any animal, dog or cat, whose owner or custodian is
found to be in violation of any provision of this ordinance,
the Animal Control officer shall have a duty and authority to
issue a citation and a subpoena to owner or custodian for the
violation of said article.
§22-210 Disposal of Dog Excrement. It shall be unlawful for any
person who possesses, harbors or is in charge of any dog not
to immediately remove excrement deposited by any dog upon the
common thoroughfares, streets, sidewalks, trees, lawns,
playground areas, parks, squares, and upon other public
premises and the failure to remove said excrement shall be
deemed a public nuisance and is prohibited.
§22-211 Equipment for Removal of Dog Excrement. It shall be the
duty of any person having custody of any dog on public
property to have in such person’s possession a device or
equipment for the picking up and removal of dog excrement. An
acceptable device shall include any plastic or metal
mechanized or non-mechanized device constructed for scooping
pet excrement; a hand shovel or trowel; a plastic or paper
bag; a Styrofoam, plastic or paper cup; or any similar device
that can contain and remove the excrement. The use of sheet
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paper, newspaper, paper napkins, or handkerchief is deemed
unacceptable and unsanitary for removing excrement and shall
not be used. The provisions of this section shall not apply
to a dog aiding the handicapped (i.e., guide dog) or to a dog
when in police or rescue activities.
Failure of the person having custody of the dog to remove the
dog excrement by acceptable device shall constitute a
violation of this ordinance and be subject to a fine of not
less than fifty ($50.00) or greater than two-hundred ($200.00)
dollars.
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