In order to avoid an animal being a nuisance to citizens:
• Do not allow an animal to bark, whine, howl, crow or cause noise in an excessive, continuous or untimely fashion.
• Residents may not maintain an animal that habitually or repeatedly chases, snaps at, attacks or barks at pedestrians, joggers, dogs walked on a leash, bicycles or vehicles.
• A female dog in heat must be confined.
• Pet owners must remove feces deposited on any public street or private property.
The ordinance also states dogs off private property must be on a leash, and dogs on private property may be off leash, if controlled by an adult. No tethering is allowed. Dogs are allowed in a public park or area, as long as they are on a leash (six-foot maximum), are registered, and have been vaccinated against rabies. Dogs are permitted to run free at the town's only "off-leash park," The Preserve, located at 330 O'Henry Ave. in the St. Alban's neighborhood. Any bite incident in the Town of Davidson must be reported to the police.
Additionally, it is unlawful for any person to negligently or willfully:
• Fail to provide adequate food or water.
• Overwork or overdrive any animal causing pain, suffering or death.
• Beat, torture, injure, torment, poison or mutilate any animal.
• Fail to provide adequate medical attention.
• Keep an animal in unsanitary or inhumane conditions detrimental to the animal's health.
• Promote, stage, hold, manage, conduct, carry on or attend any game, exhibition, contest, fight or combat between one or more animals or between animals and humans.
• Convey an animal without an animal being reasonably secured.
• Fail to provide sufficient shade.
Pet owners living within the town limits are required to register all dogs, cats and ferrets at Town Hall. Proof of current rabies inoculation is required. For more information, visit www.townofdavidson.org or contact the Davidson Police Department at 704-892-5131.
