Athens City Code

1. (1) A person commits a civil offense who intentionally or knowingly:
   1. (a) Tortures, maims or grossly overworks an animal;
   2. (b) Fails unreasonably to provide necessary food, water, care or shelter for an animal in the person's custody;
   3. (c) Abandons unreasonably an animal in the person's custody;
   4. (d) Transports or confines an animal in a cruel manner; or
   5. (e) Inflicts burns, cuts, lacerations, or other injuries or pain, by any method, including blistering compounds, to the legs or hooves of horses in order to make them sore for any purpose, including, but not limited to, competition in horse shows and similar events.
2. (2) A person commits a civil offense who knowingly ties, tethers, or restrains a dog in a manner that results in the dog suffering bodily injury in the form of a cut, abrasion, bruise, burn or disfigurement, and physical pain or temporary illness or impairment of the function of a bodily member, organ, or mental faculty.
3. (3) If the animal control officer has information that an animal or fowl is being so treated, then he may obtain a warrant and enter upon any premises where the animal or fowl is being kept and demand to examine such animal or fowl, to examine the license for such animal or fowl, and/or to take possession of such animal or fowl when such action is required to ensure its humane treatment. The animal control officer may dispose of such animal or fowl as provided in this chapter. If the animal requires a veterinarian's care, the owner of the animal shall be responsible for all medical expenses.

(Code 1972, § 3-106; Code 1995, § 10-106; Ord. No. 986, 3-16-2010)