​ Munson Township

Township Ordinances

Vacation Rental Ordinance ​Click Here

MUNSON TOWNSHIP

STEARNS COUNTY
STATE OF MINNESOTA
ORDINANCE NO. __4__
DOG AND CAT ORDINANCE

 The Munson Township Board of Supervisors does hereby ordain as follows:

 SECTION  1.  DEFINITIONS.   The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this ordinance, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning.
Animal Control Authority.  Munson Township or any Law Enforcement agent or other public official acting under its direction and control.  Additionally, “Animal Control Authority” shall mean any individual, organization, partnership, or entity operating under contract to perform animal control operations pursuant to a written agreement authorized and approved by the Munson Town Board.
 Dog.  Any canine animal, male or female, altered or unaltered.
Cat.    Any animal, male or female, altered or unaltered that belongs to the felis catus or Felidae family.
Owner.  Any person or persons, firm, corporation, association, organization, or department possessing, harboring, keeping, having an interest in, or having care, custody, or control of a dog or cat.  Any person keeping or harboring a dog or cat for five (5) consecutive days shall, for the purposes of this Ordinance, be deemed to be an Owner thereof.
Town Board.  The Munson Township Board of Supervisors.

 SECTION 2.  NUISANCE.  
The owner of any animal shall prevent it from committing any act which constitutes a public nuisance.  It is a public nuisance for any animal to:
A. Bark, bay, cry, howl or make any other noise repeatedly over at least a five minute period of time, with a thirty second or less lapse of time between each animal noise during the five minute period.

 B. To frequent school grounds, parks or public beaches, to molest or any person away from the property of its owner or custodian, or to damage, defile, or destroy public or private property.

 C. Commit damage to the person or property of anyone other than the owner except as shall be committed in the defense of such owner, or in the defense of their family, or in the defense of their property.

 D. Snarl at persons, bite persons or other animals, or habitually exhibit vicious tendencies, molest or annoy any person away from the property of the owner, or to damage, defile or destroy public or private property.

 E. Run at large.An animal is considered to be at large if off the premises of the owner and is: (a) not on a leash held by a responsible person of sufficient age to adequately control the animal at all times, or (b) not accompanied by and under the direct control of such responsible person so as to be effectively restrained by command.An animalshall not be determined to be at large if:(a) lawfully engaged in wild game hunting and is under the control of its owner or other responsible person, or (b) when engaged in obedience training and is under the control of its owner or other responsible person.

 F. Animals that are on or directly adjacent to all athletic fields or parks must be leashed.Owners are required to clean up and dispose of their pet’s excrement.If any animal is running loose on the owner’s property and runs onto adjacent public or private properties and does not respond to a person, then the animal is considered “at large”.

 G. Chase vehicles or interfere with persons walking, horseback riding, or persons driving automobiles, bicycles, motorcycles, motorbikes, snowmobiles, or other vehicles on public grounds, streets or highways.

 SECTION 3.  CONFINMENT OF CERTAIN DOGS OR CATS.
Every female dog or cat in heat shall be confined in a building or other secure enclosure in such a manner that it cannot come into contact with another dog or cat except for breeding.  Upon capture and failure to reclaim animal, the Township may cause the dog or cat to be spayed prior to being transferred to a new owner.

SECTION 4.  INTERFERENCE.
It shall be unlawful for any unauthorized person to take or attempt to take from any Animal Control Authority any dog or cat taken up under this Ordinance.  It shall be unlawful for any person to interfere in any manner with or hinder any Animal Control Authority in the discharge of their duties under this ordinance. 

 SECTION 5.  PENALTY.
Any person who violates any provision of this Ordinance except Section 2 is guilty of a misdemeanor.  Any person who violates any provision of Section 2 of this Ordinance shall pay a fine in the amount of $50.

 SECTION 6. DATE OF EFFECT.
This Ordinance will be in force upon passage and publication as required by law.

 SECTION 6. REPEALER.
Section 6.30 of the Munson Township Land Use and Zoning Ordinance Number 4 is hereby repealed and replaced by this Ordinance.
Passed by the Munson Township Board of Supervisors this 17th day of January 2017.

                                                                                    ___________________________

                                                                                    Dan Holthaus, Chairman

ATTEST:
___________________________
Boni Behnen, Clerk

• Munson Township Ordinance #4
You may download the entire Munson Township Ordinance #4 document at the following link.
Copies are also available from the township clerk or at the County Environmental Office.  Click Here 

• You may download the Munson Township Driveway/Culvert Ordinance here.
Copies are also available from the township clerk or at the County Environmental Office.  Click Here 

• You may download the Munson Township Memorandium of Understanding here.
This is an agreement between Munson Township and Stearns County which allows Munson Township to be more restrictive than the county in certain areas. Copies are also available from the township clerk or at the County Environmental Office.  Click Here ​