City License Required:

All dogs and cats must be vaccinated for rabies and licensed each year once they have reached 6 months of age. A license cannot be issued without proof of the rabies vaccination. The cost is $7.50 for altered cats and dogs and $20.00 for unaltered cats and dogs.

The Leash Law:

Any person owning, possessing or keeping dog or dogs shall confine them within an adequate fence or enclosure, house, garage or other building or shall confine them by a chain or leash affixed to the dog's collar and attached to some substantial stationary object adequate to PREVENT THE DOG OR DOGS FROM RUNNING AT LARGE. No person owning, possessing or keeping a dog or dogs shall allow them to run at large within in the City of Berryville.

Barking and Howling:

It is unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to keep on his/her premises, or under his/her control, any dog which by loud and frequent barking and howling shall disturb the peace and quiet of any person who may reside within reasonable proximity of the place where such dog is kept.

Impoundment and Release Procedures and Cruelty:

The Animal Control Department shall take into custody any dog found at large in the city and shall impound the dog in the city animal shelter or another place designated by the animal control officer. Impounded animals will be held for a period of three days. If not claimed, they will then be made available for adoption.

When dogs are found running at large and their ownership is known, the dogs need not be impounded but the animal control officer may, in his discretion, cite the owners of such dogs to appear in court and to answer to charges in violation of this ordinance. No unaltered, female dog which has been impounded for running at large will be allowed to be adopted unless the prospective owner agrees to have the female altered. Proof of alteration will need to be furnished to the animal control officer within 15 days after adoption.

Any animal unwanted or unclaimed by the owner may be adopted by payment of the following fees:
Dogs: Not less than Five Dollars ($5.00) nor more than Twenty-Five Dollars ($25.00)
Cats: Not less than Three Dollars ($3.00) nor more than Fifteen Dollars ($15.00)

If any person shall drive, overload, torture, torment, deprive of necessary sustenance or cruelly beat or needlessly mutilate or kill any animal, he shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

Reclamation Procedures and Fees:

Any person claiming unvaccinated and/or unlicensed dogs shall, after payment of the fee, and prior to the release of the dog, sign a promise in writing to the Animal Control Officer that the dog will immediately be vaccinated and licensed when the animal is released and shall provide proof within one week after release. $7.50 will be due before the animal is released and an additional $5.00 per day for each day the animal(s) are kept after the expiration of the legal detention period. Any dog, cat or other animal impounded for being a public nuisance may not be redeemed unless such redemption is authorized buy a court having jurisdiction.

Abandonment and Conditions of Enclosures:

It is unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to abandon any dog, cat or other animal within the corporate limits of the City of Berryville.

It is unlawful for any person, firm or corporation keeping or harboring dogs or other animals to fail to keep the premises where such dogs or animals are kept free from offensive odors and contagious diseases to the extend that such odors or contagious diseases are disturbing or a health threat to any person residing within reasonable proximity of the said premises; and it shall be unlawful to allow premises where such dogs or other animals are kept to become unclean and a threat to the public health by failing to diligently and systematically remove all waste from the premises.

Vicious Animals:

It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to keep within the city limits any vicious animal which poses a threat to the public health or safety. Any vicious animal may be immediately seized and impounded. Any person found guilty of a violation of this ordinance shall be punished by a fine of not less than $25.00 nor in excess of $200.00 plus victim restitution and court costs.

Criminal Penalty for Violations

Any person violating any portion of this chapter shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction, will be punished by a fine of not less than Ten Dollars ($10.00) nor in excess of Two Hundred Dollars ($200.00), and if the violation continues each day shall be considered a separate offense.

The keeping of horses or cows within the corporate limits of the city is permitted where they are maintained on an enclosed pasture containing one (1) acre for each animal.

Keeping or maintaining goats, swine or sheep within the city limits is prohibited. If in transit, they may be kept for a period not to exceed 24 hours in an established stockyard.

It shall be unlawful for any person to knowingly release any animal in any public place within the corporate limits of the city.

It shall be unlawful for any person owning or having control of any chickens, turkeys or other fowl to allow the same to run at large within the city. No animal or fowl of any kind shall be kept confined in any place where the water, shelter, ventilation a and food are not sufficient and wholesome for the preservation of their health, safe condition and wholesomeness.