ATTENTION CAT AND DOG OWNERS IN THE VILLAGE OF ANTWERP

Due to complaints about at large cats and dogs in the village, the village is publishing excerpts from the following ordinance.

The Village passed Ordinance 2008-45 on October 27, 2008 which established rules and guidelines for the confinement of animals within the Village of Antwerp.  No person, being the owner of any dog, cat or other animal shall permit such animal to run at large within the limits of the Village of Antwerp, Ohio.  Any entry by either a cat or dog on another person’s private property, or public street or land, constitutes an animal running at large.

Owners or keepers of dogs or cats shall at all times keep the animal either physically confined or restrained upon the premises of the owner either by leash, chain, fence or secure enclosure.

Anyone who knowingly feeds an at-large dog or cat food or water on a regular basis for more than 24 hours will be presumed to be the owner or keeper of the animal.

As a part of this ordinance, any person having control or charge of a dog, cat or other animal, while away from such person’s premises, shall have on their person an appropriate container for removing animal waste.  Not doing so creates an unsanitary and unhealthy condition and constitutes a nuisance.

Further, the penalty for violating any section of Ordinance 2008-45 shall be guilty of a minor misdemeanor for the first offense, a misdemeanor of the fourth degree for a second or third offense, and a misdemeanor of the third degree for more than a third time offense.

A copy of this ordinance can be obtained from the Village Administrator at 503 W. River Street, Antwerp, OH.