Dangerous Animals

Dangerous Dogs

According to the Kent City Ordinances, dangerous dogs are defined as:

• Any dog with a known propensity, tendency or disposition to attack unprovoked, to cause injury or to otherwise endanger the safety of human beings or domestic animals
• Any dog which attacks a human being or domestic animal without provocation
• Any dog owned or harbored primarily or in part for the purpose of dog fighting or any dog trained for dog fighting

Restrictions

• No dog shall be deemed dangerous if it bites or menaces a trespasser on the property of its owner, if the owner has taken reasonable steps to protect the general public or lawful entrants on the property from attacks by the animal. Nor shall any dog be deemed dangerous if it harms or menaces anyone who has tormented or abused it.
• No person owning or harboring or having the care or custody of a dangerous dog shall suffer or permit such dog to go unconfined. A dangerous dog is "unconfined," as the term is used in this section, if such dog is not securely confined or confined in a securely enclosed and locked pen or a dog run area on the premises. Such pen or dog run area shall also have sides of at least six feet in height and a secure top. The structure shall also have a foundation of either concrete or asphalt.
• No person knowing of or harboring or having the care of a dangerous dog shall permit such dog to go beyond the premises of such person unless the dog is securely muzzled and restrained with a chain having a minimum tensile strength of 300 pounds and not exceeding three feet in length.
• No person shall own or harbor any dog for the purpose of dog fighting, or train, torment, badger, bait or use any dog for the purpose of causing or encouraging such dog to unprovoked attacks upon human beings or domestic animals.
• No person shall possess with intent to sell or offer for sale, breed or buy or attempt to buy within the city any dangerous dog.