§ 118-41. Housing of guard dogs.

A. 

It is conducive to the promotion of the health and general welfare of the inhabitants of this City to establish regulations for the proper and safe use of guard dogs used for protecting commercial property.

B. 

Whenever there is a guard dog on the premises, the standards of this section, in addition to the other requirements of law and regulations, shall be complied with as follows:

(1) 

Housing shall have antiescape building sufficient to house guard dogs.

(2) 

All gates and entrances to the area where the guard dog is housed, used or trained shall be locked when not in use.

(3) 

Additional measures found necessary by the City shall be taken to protect the public from accidental contact with any guard dogs.

(4) 

Where guard dogs are used outside buildings, the area must be enclosed by at least a six-foot chain link fence or other fence of equal security, wall or adequate wood fence, to which antiescape devices have been added. The adequacy of the fencing shall be subject to the approval of the City.

(5) 

In order to control noise, the City may require a sight barrier which breaks the dogs line-of-sight.

(6) 

In buildings where guard dogs are housed, exterior glass must be adequate, or additional protective measures taken by the owner as required by the City, to prevent the dog from jumping through it.

(7) 

The building and yard in which a guard dog is housed must be posted with bilingual (English and Spanish) or visual guard dog signs, shall not be more than 200 feet apart, and shall be at all property corners and at every entrance into the area.

(8) 

For guard dogs either transported or utilized in vehicles, measures prescribed by rule and regulation of the City must be taken to protect the public from accidental contact with a guard dog.

(9) 

A handler is required to be physically present while guard dogs are being utilized at temporary sites which do not comply with this section of this chapter.

C. 

Exclusions. Dogs which are used as private guard dogs on the property of their owner's private residence shall be excluded from the provisions of this section unless the residence is located on premises utilized for commercial purposes. Guard dogs kept in a kennel with a valid professional animal permit are also excluded.