Ordinance No. 141 Domestic Fowl and Pigeons

Home

6. Housing and Keeping of Animals. It shall be unlawful for any owners and harborer of animals to fail to provide and maintain suitable shelter and care for the animals as prescribed herein: 1. Shelter. Shelter for the keeping of animals shall include a moisture and wind proof structure of suitable size and construction to: accommodate the animal and appropriate bedding materials; and, protect against cold and to allow and promote retention of body heat; and, protect against moisture and dampness; and, provide shade from direct sunlight during the months from May through September. 2. Maintenance of Shelter. All shelters and other areas used by the animal shall be properly maintained in such a manner that the shelter and other areas do not posed a sanitation or other health problem or nuisance to the occupants of the premises, adjacent property owners, or the community. All animal waste shall be properly contained and disposed of on a regular basis and, where and when necessary, appropriate measures shall be taken to insure sanitation of the areas. 3. Care of Animals. All animals shall be properly cared for including, but not limited to, regular feeding of appropriate food for the animal and regular medical care by a licensed doctor of veterinary medicine. 7. Keeping of Pigeons. The keeping, breeding, maintenance and flying of pigeons may be permitted subject to the following: 1. A loft must be constructed and maintained to keep and confine the pigeons. The loft must provide at least nine cubic feet of space per bird. The loft must be enclosed with wire netting or equivalent material that will prevent pigeons from escaping the confines of the loft. Lofts must be elevated a minimum of six inches and a maximum of twelve inches above grade to ensure free -way beneath the loft. Lofts shall rest upon concrete footings, cement blocks, or other suitable foundation material. A loft may have a maximum height of nine feet. 2. The loft must be constructed and maintained so as to be rodent proof. 3. The owner may construct pigeon lofts up to a cumulative maximum floor area of 200 square feet. Any single loft with over 120 square feet in floor area requires a building permit, as with other accessory structures. 4. Pigeon lofts may be located in the rear yard only and shall be at least 50 feet from adjacent habitable structures. 5. Pigeons shall be confined to the loft except when they are released for exercise, performance, training, or to return from areas outside the City of Gem Lake for the purpose of engaging in a race or returning from training flights. 6. All pigeons shall be fed within the confines of the loft on the premises on which the pigeons are housed. 7. All grains and food stored for the use of the pigeons on a licensed premises shall be kept in a rodent -proof container. 8. Pigeons must be banded in a way to identify each pigeon as kept by its owner. 9. All premises on which pigeons are kept or maintained shall be kept reasonably clean from filth, garbage, and any substances which attract rodents. The loft and its surroundings must be cleaned daily. 10. No one shall release pigeons to fly for exercise, training or competition within the City of Gem Lake except an owner of pigeons who is a member in good standing of an organized pigeon club, such as the American Racing Pigeon Union, Inc., the International Federation of Racing Pigeon Fanciers, the National Pigeon Association, the American Tippler Society, the International Roller Association, the Rare Breeds Pigeon Club, or a local club which has rules that will help preserve the peace and tranquility of the neighborhood. 8. Keeping of Domestic Fowl. The keeping of domestic fowl may be permitted subject to the following: 1. A structure must be constructed and maintained to keep and confine the birds. The structure must provide at least five square feet of floor space per bird. The structure must provide shelter from the elements for all kept birds. The structure would be built of suitable foundation material or built in such a way that it allows for air flow and it is suitable for cleaning. A structure for domestic fowl shall have a minimum of four (4') feet of interior space from floor to ceiling, and may have a maximum height of nine (9') feet. 2. The Bird structure must be constructed and maintained so as to be rodent proof. 3. The owner may construct bird structures up to a cumulative maximum floor area of 200 square feet. Any single bird structure with over 120 square feet in foundation floor area requires a building permit, as with other accessory structures. 4. Bird structures may be located in the rear yard only and shall be at least 50 feet from adjacent habitable structures. Ordinance No. 141 Domestic Fowl and Pigeons Page 3 of 5