Animal Control

Sergeant Keith Youmans, Animal Control Supervisor
Animal Control Officer Jill Hart
Animal Control Officer Marty Potts

MT. JULIET CODE - TITLE 3 - ANIMALS AND FOWLS
Chapter 1 - In General

SECTION 3-1-101 RUNNING AT LARGE PROHIBITED.  It shall be unlawful for any person owning or being in charge of any cows, swine, sheep, horses, mules, goats, or any chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys, or other domestic fowl, animals, or livestock, knowingly or negligently to permit any of them to run at large in any street, alley, or unenclosed lot within the corporate limits.

SECTION 3-1-102 PEN OR ENCLOSURE TO BE KEPT CLEAN.
SECTION 3-1-103 ADEQUATE FOOD, WATER, AND SHELTER, ETC., TO BE PROVIDED.
SECTION 3-1-104 KEEPING IN SUCH MANNER AS TO BECOME A NUISANCE PROHIBITED.
SECTION 3-1-105 CRUEL TREATMENT PROHIBITED.
SECTION 3-1-106 SEIZURE AND DISPOSITION OF ANIMALS.

SECTION 3-1-107 SEIZURE AND DISPOSITION OF DOGS.  Any dog found running at large may be seized by any police officer or animal control officer and placed in a pound.  If the dog is wearing a tag, or the owner's identity is known to the officer, the owner shall be notified in person, by telephone, or by postcard addressed to his last-known mailing address to appear within five (5) days and redeem his dog by paying a reasonable pound fee, or the dog will be humanely destroyed or sold.  If the dog is not claimed by the owner within five (5) days of the date of notice, or if the owner is unknown within five (5) days of the date the dog is placed in the pound, it may be humanely destroyed or sold.

Alternatively, the police officer or animal control officer may cite the owner for violation of Section 3-1-101 with or without picking up the dog.

When, because of its viciousness or apparent infection with rabies, a dog found running at large cannot be safely impounded, it may be summarily destroyed by any policeman or animal control officer who has been approved by the Chief of Police following firearms training.

Chapter 2 - Dogs    

SECTION 3-2-101 RABIES VACCINATION AND REGISTRATION RETUIRED.  It shall be unlawful for any person to own, keep, or harbor any dog without having the same duly vaccinated against rabies and registered in accordance with the provisions of the "Tennessee Anti-Rabies Law".

SECTION 3-2-102 DOGS TO WEAR TAGS.  It shall be unlawful for any person to own, keep, or harbor any dog which does not wear a tag evidencing the vaccination and registration.

SECTION 3-2-103 RUNNING AT LARGE PROHIBITED.  It shall be unlawful for any person knowingly to permit any dog owned by him or under his control to run at large within the corporate limits.

SECTION 3-2-104 VICIOUS DOGS TO BE SECURELY RESTRAINED.  It shall be unlawful for any person to own or keep any dog known to be vicious or dangerous unless such dog is so confined or otherwise securely restrained as reasonably to provide for the protection of other animals and persons.

SECTION 3-2-105 NOISY DOGS PROHIBITED.  No person shall own, keep, or harbor any dog which, by loud and frequent barking, whining, or howling, annoys or disturbs the peace and quiet of any neighborhood.

SECTION 3-2-106 CONFINEMENT OF DOGS SUSPECTED OF BEING RABID.  If any dog has bitten any person or is suspected of having bitten any person or is for any reason suspected of being infected with rabies, the Chief of Police may cause such dog to be confined or isolated for such time as he deems reasonably necessary to determine if such dog is rabid.

SECTION 3-2-107 SEIZURE AND DISPOSITION OF DOGS.  Any dog found running at large may be seized by any police officer and placed in a pound.  If the dog is wearing a tag, the owner shall be notified in person, by telephone, or by a postcard addressed to his last-known mailing address to appear within five (5) days and redeem his dog by paying a reasonable pound fee, or the dog will be humanely destroyed or sold.  If the dog is not wearing a tag, it shall be humanely destroyed or sold unless legally claimed by the owner within (2) days.  No dog shall be released in any event from the pound unless or until such dog has been vaccinated and has a tag placed on its collar.

Alternatively, the police officer may cite the owner with or without picking up the dog.  When possible, officers shall call Wilson County Animal Control to pick up the dog.

When, because of its viciousness or apparent infection with rabies, a dog found running at large cannot be safely impounded, it may be summarily destroyed by any policeman.

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