§ 6-16. Animal waste; sanitation standards.

(a)

All animals shall be kept in a sanitary manner. Animal owners shall collect and dispose of animal waste by flushing it down a commode, by burial at least six (6) inches below the surface of the ground, or by placing it in a disposable container, sealing the container, and disposing of it as household garbage. Livestock standings shall be constructed of concrete, compacted caliche or other equally impervious material that can be easily cleaned where bovines, equines, swine, goats or sheep are kept; or any other livestock when kept for commercial purposes. Such standings shall be located under the roofed areas and shall be the size of the roofed areas. All manure and other animal wastes from livestock shall be removed from pens, corrals or standings at least once each day. This material shall be deposited in a manure storage bin of concrete or metal construction and shall be provided with a fly-tight lid. Such manure and other animal wastes shall be removed from this bin at least once each week to a disposal site approved by the director of public works or his designee.

(b)

No animal owner shall allow the accumulation of animal waste on any premises in a quantity sufficient to create an odor offensive to a person of normal sensibilities standing on any adjacent property not owned or controlled by the subject animal's owner, or which creates a condition conducive to the breeding of flies or other pests. It shall be unlawful to permit or allow fly breeding on premises on which livestock are kept, and permitting or allowing such shall authorize the denial, suspension or revocation of a permit by the director of public works. Livestock owners shall have and maintain a fly control program.

(c)

The accumulation of animal waste on any premises so as to create a stench or harborage for flies or other pests is hereby declared to be a public nuisance. Upon delivery of a written "Notice to Clean" by the director of public works, animal control officers, peace officers, or code enforcement officers, an animal owner or any adult occupant of the premises identified in said notice shall abate the therein described public nuisance on the premises within twenty-four (24) hours. Delivery shall be accomplished either by hand to the animal owner or keeper or any adult occupant of the residence, or by posting in a conspicuous place on the main entrance fence gate of the premises or main entrance door of the structure on the premises, or by certified mail, return receipt requested.

(d)

The director of public works, animal control officers, peace officers, and code enforcement officers are separately authorized and empowered to enforce the provisions of this section, and may summarily abate and remove any immediate public health and safety hazard due to the presence of animals by declaring the conditions to be an immediate public health hazard and public nuisance, and shall execute an administrative order that the premises be cleaned in accordance with these standards by the city or its contractor within twenty-four (24) hours. If the officer believes the public health hazard and public nuisance constitutes animal cruelty, the director or officer is authorized to petition a justice or municipal court for a warrant to seize and impound all animals kept on the subject premises pending a hearing before the court in accordance state law.

(Ord. No. 2018-20, § 1, 8-13-2018)