Leash Law Keeps Dogs & People Safe

By Staff

Monday, September 14, 2009

Leash Law Keeps Dogs & People Safe

In the City of Oklahoma City, dogs must be kept on a leash at all times outside of their home. This ordinance is in effect not only for the safety of the dogs, but the safety of other citizens as well. All dogs are also required to wear their rabies tags at all times, and the ordinance requires owners to dispose of pet waste when the pet is off their own property. If you would like to report a loose dog, call the Action Center at 297-2535. Please give the address where the dog lives, where it is roaming loose and what type of dog it is.

If you have a problem with a pet owner that habitually lets their dog roam off-leash and voicing your concern to them has not fixed the problem, you can go to the Animal Welfare Shelter at 2811 SE 29th Street (405) 297-3100 and issue a ticket against the owner.

Below are the City of Oklahoma City municipal ordinances that pertain to pet ownership. All pet owners should be aware of these ordinances.

§ 8-37. Number of dogs and cats permitted.

1. No person shall harbor or keep dogs or cats totaling more than four of each over the age of six months in any household. The owner or occupant shall be held responsible for any violation of this section by any member of such household.
2. Exception. Households that obtain a kennel license as provided in Article V of this Chapter may harbor or keep dogs or cats totaling more than four over the age of six months.

§ 8-38. Animals running at large prohibited; exceptions It shall be unlawful for the owner, keeper or other person in control of any dog, livestock or domesticated fowl other than homing pigeons to permit the same to be at large, or to trespass upon the property of any other person. Provided, however, this section shall not apply to:

1. any person who takes a dog upon private property with the consent of the owner or person in control of the property, or upon a street or other public place when the dog is under direct control.
2. any person utilizing a designated City-approved dog park in accordance with the provisions of Section 38-107 of this Code.
3. any person riding or leading a horse along a street or right-of-way provided the horse is under the control of the person riding or leading the same and in compliance with any other provisions of this Code.
4. any livestock ridden or driven in compliance with the provisions of Section 8-70 of the Chapter.

§ 8-39. Confinement of dogs required.

1. Confinement of dogs required. It shall be unlawful for any person who owns, harbors or possesses any dog to fail to confine such dog as required by the provisions of this section.
2. Confinement required; means of confinement. Every person who owns, possesses, or harbors any dog within the City shall confine the dog to property owned or controlled by him. Confinement shall be accomplished by means of a substantial fence or similar enclosure of sufficient strength and height to prevent the dog from escaping therefrom, or from extending its head through the enclosure so as to constitute a threat to any person or animal in the area adjoining the enclosure; or by keeping the dog inside a house or other building. Dogs not confined in enclosures may be confined by a tether. Such tether shall consist of a metal chain or other material of sufficient strength to prevent the dog from escaping from the property. The tether shall be long enough to permit the dog to have reasonable exercise, but shall not allow the dog access to public property or to sidewalks or rights-of-way or to property owned or leased by persons other than the owner of the animal.

§ 8-40. Confinement of dogs and cats in heat required.

1. It shall be unlawful for the owner of any female dog or cat in heat to fail to confine such dog or cat in accordance with the provisions of this section.
2. The owner of any female dog or cat in heat shall keep such dog or cat confined in a building or secure enclosure, veterinary hospital, or boarding kennel in such manner that such female dog or cat cannot come in contact with a male dog or cat, except for intentional breeding purposes.

§ 8-46. Rabies vaccination required for dogs and cats. There shall be a requirement for vaccination of dogs and cats against rabies. Such requirement shall be as stated in Article IV of the Chapter. (Ord. No. 23145, § 2, 10-3-06)

§ 8-47. Prohibited acts.

• It shall be unlawful and an offense for any person to allow any animal to:
  • chase vehicles, or
  • molest passersby; or
  • allow any animal to continuously bark, howl or otherwise disturb the peace.
• It shall be unlawful for any person to allow animal fecal matter to accumulate in a yard or a run or other enclosure so that such matter causes unsanitary or unhealthy conditions to exist.
• The Superintendent or his/her designee may issue a citation for committing or allowing an animal to commit any of the prohibited acts and/or may specify the terms and conditions under which the owner may maintain custody of the animal that is in violation this section, which terms and conditions shall be signed by the owner or keeper of the animal. The violation of the terms and conditions set by the Superintendent or his/her designee shall be an offense against the City and shall be cause for the issuance of a citation and may result in the impoundment of the animal.

§ 8-48. Defecating on sidewalks, public parks, alleys, other places open to the public or on certain private property prohibited; possession of waste removal equipment required; prohibition of similar acts.

1. It shall be unlawful for the owner, keeper, or person having control of any animal to fail to immediately remove and dispose of in a sanitary manner any solid waste deposited by such animal upon any sidewalk, public park, alley, other place open to the public, or from private property before the owner leaves the immediate area where the solid waste was deposited.
2. It shall be unlawful for the owner, keeper, or person having control of any animal to fail to have in his/her possession the equipment necessary to remove his/her animal's solid waste when accompanied by said animal on public property or public easement.
3. It shall be unlawful for the owner, keeper or person having control of any animal to permit such animal to destroy or damage property of any kind or to deposit solid waste or to commit a similar prohibited act on the private property of a person or the property of the City, including its parks and playgrounds, or any property other than that of the owner of the animal.