Pets & Animals

Dogs in Town

For all our dog-loving residents, here's what you need to know to ensure your furry friends are happy, healthy, and within the bounds of our local ordinances:

1. Dog Licensing: If your dog is over six months old, you'll need to secure a license for them annually between January 1 and April 15. Drop by the Animal Control Office with details about your dog (name, breed, color, and sex) and the vaccination certificate to get started. Remember to attach the provided metallic tag to your dog's collar—it's their ticket to a safe and lawful adventure around town!

2. Vaccination Is Key: Keeping our community safe starts with keeping our dogs healthy. All dogs six months and older must be vaccinated against rabies and other dangerous diseases, with boosters every two years. Make sure your pup wears their vaccination tag, especially when they're out and about.

3. Leash Laws: We love seeing dogs enjoying our beautiful town, but for everyone's safety, keep your dog on a leash and under control when they're not on your property.

4. Impoundment Rules: If your dog is found at large, unvaccinated, or unlicensed, they might be impounded. To reclaim your dog, you'll need to cover the license fee (if applicable), impounding fees, and any boarding or veterinary costs. Let's keep our pets safe at home to avoid this situation!

5. Public Nuisances and Responsibilities: As a dog owner, it's important to prevent your dog from becoming a public nuisance. This includes preventing unprovoked aggression, property damage, or excessive noise like barking. If your dog causes harm or disturbance, you may be held liable.

6. Confinement and Muzzling: In certain situations, such as health risks or aggressive behavior, specific dogs may need to be confined or muzzled for public safety. We'll communicate these requirements as needed to keep both pets and people safe.

Remember, these rules are here to ensure a harmonious coexistence between pet owners, their furry friends, and the wider community. If you have any questions or need assistance with licensing or other pet-related matters, our friendly Animal Control Office is here to help. Let's work together to keep Circle, Montana, a wonderful place for both two-legged and four-legged residents!

Town Ordinances Relating to Dogs

§ 91.20 DEFINITIONS.

   For the purpose of this subchapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.

   AT LARGE. Any animal, whether licensed or unlicensed, found off the premises of its owner and not under control of a competent person, restrained within a motor vehicle, or housed in a veterinary hospital or kennel.

   DOG. Both male and female animals of the canine species whether altered or not.

   HUMANE DESTRUCTION. A method of killing an animal which minimizes the pain and suffering of the animal.

   HUMANE TREATMENT. The provision of adequate food, water, shelter, and necessary veterinary attention for impounded animals.

   IMPOUND. The holding of an animal in a specific place pending claim by its owner or other disposition.

   OWNER. A person who keeps or holds an animal as personal property.

   VACCINATION. The injection of an approved vaccine by a licensed veterinarian for the purpose of immunizing a dog against rabies or other communicable and harmful diseases.

   WOLF HYBRID. Any animal which is wolf, or part wolf and domestic dog.

(Prior Code, § 8-2-1)

§ 91.21 LICENSE REQUIRED.

   (A)   All dogs kept, harbored, or maintained in the town shall be required to be licensed if over six months of age, between January 1 and April 15 of each year, and in the manner provided in this section.

   (B)   Application for a dog license shall be made to the Animal Control Office upon forms provided for such purpose, and such application shall state the name and address of the owner, and the name, breed, color, and sex of each dog sought to be licensed.

   (C)   Each application for a dog license shall be accompanied by a license fee to be set by resolution of the Town Council.

   (D)   Upon payment of the license fee, the Animal Control Office shall issue to the owner a license certificate and a metallic tag for each dog so licensed. The shape of the tag shall be changed every year and shall have stamped thereon the year for which it was issued and the number corresponding with the number of the certificate. Every owner shall be required to provide each dog with a collar, to which the license tag must be affixed, and shall see that the collar and tag are worn at all times.

      (1)   In case a dog tag is lost or destroyed, a duplicate will be issued by the Animal Control Office upon presentation of a receipt of the license fee for the current year, and the payment of a fee as set by resolution of the Town Council.

      (2)   Any dog found running at large without the license tag attached to its collar shall be deemed unlicensed. Dog tags shall not be transferable from one dog to another, and no refunds shall be made on any dog license fee because of the death of the dog or the owner’s leaving the town before expiration of the license period.

   (E)   Before issuance of the license, the owner shall furnish a veterinarian’s certificate showing that the dog for which the license is sought has been vaccinated, as required in § 91.22, and that the vaccination does not expire within six months from the effective date of the dog license.

(Prior Code, § 8-2-2) (Ord. passed 11-28-2005; Ord. passed 7-25-2011)

§ 91.22 VACCINATION REQUIRED.

   All dogs six months or older shall be vaccinated against rabies and other diseases which may be transmitted to humans, or which may pose a threat to public health, and all such dogs shall be so vaccinated once every two years thereafter. The vaccination required by this section shall be made by any veterinarian licensed to practice veterinarian medicine in the state. A tag showing proper vaccination shall be worn by every dog when not confined.

(Prior Code, § 8-2-3)

§ 91.23 AT LARGE.

   No owner of any dog shall permit such dog to run at large, whether the dog is licensed or unlicensed. Dogs shall be permitted off the premises of their owner only when on a leash beside a competent person.

(Prior Code, § 8-2-4) Penalty, see § 10.99

§ 91.24 IMPOUNDING.

   (A)   Seizure. It is lawful for the Animal Control Officer, his or her representative, and all law enforcement officers to seize and impound any unlicensed or unvaccinated dogs found at large, or any licensed dog found at large which they reasonably feel to be in violation of the provisions of §§ 91.20 through 91.31, or at the direction of the law enforcement, the owner may be served a summons to appear before the Town Court to answer charges made thereunder.

   (B)   Licensed dogs. Owners of impounded licensed dogs shall be notified by the Animal Control Officer, or his or her representative, that upon payment of impounding fees to be set by resolution, plus veterinary fees and animal shelter charges, the dog will be turned over to said owner. If the impounded licensed dog is not recovered by its owner within 72 hours of impoundment, the dog will be destroyed in a humane manner.

   (C)   Unlicensed dogs. Impounded, unlicensed dogs may be recovered by their owner, upon proper identification, by payment of the license fee, fees as set by resolution and boarding costs, and the cost of vaccination, if vaccination is required by § 91.22.

   (D)   Subsequent violation. Any subsequent occasion a dog is impounded in violation of this subchapter, the owner or keeper of such impounded dog shall pay a fine as set by resolution, plus boarding costs as provided in division (B) above for the release of such dog.

   (E)   Sale of unclaimed dogs. If any dog, whether licensed or unlicensed, is not claimed within 72 hours of impoundment, the Animal Control Officer, or the Chief of Police, shall offer the dog for sale. If no bid to the amount of $9, plus impounding fees, is received for said dog, the dog shall be destroyed in a humane manner.

   (F)   Adoption. The Mayor, with the advice and consent of the Town Council, may provide for the establishment of adoption services for unclaimed dogs. In such case, the Animal Control Officer, or his or her representative, may turn any unclaimed dogs over to the Humane Officer of the county who shall agree to find a home for the dogs. Such person must follow the provisions set forth in §§ 91.21 and 91.22 of this subchapter, except that no license fee need be paid for a dog to be removed from the town.

(Prior Code, § 8-2-5) (Ord. passed 8-8-2005; Ord. passed 7-25-2011)

§ 91.25 DOG FIGHTS; PROHIBITED.

   No person shall cause, instigate, or encourage, by words, sign, or otherwise, any dog fight within the town.

(Prior Code, § 8-2-11) Penalty, see § 10.99

§ 91.26 KENNEL.

   No dog kennels are permitted within the town limits.

(Prior Code, § 8-2-6) (Ord. passed 7-25-2011)

§ 91.27 PUBLIC NUISANCE; OWNER LIABLE.

   The following actions committed by a dog constitute a public nuisance for which the owner of such dog shall be held liable:

   (A)   It shall be unlawful for an owner of a dog to allow, or permit such dog, to unprovokedly bite or attack human beings or other animals, either on public or private property, or in a vicious or terrorizing manner approach any person in apparent attitude of attack upon the streets, sidewalks, or any public ground or place;

   (B)   It shall be unlawful for any owner of a dog to allow, or permit such dog, to pass upon the premises of another thereby defiling, causing damage, or otherwise interfering with the premises; and

   (C)   It shall be unlawful for an owner of a dog to allow, or permit such dog, to cause serious annoyance or disturbance to any person or persons by frequent and habitual howling, yelping, barking, or otherwise, or by running after or chasing persons, bicycles, automobiles, or other vehicles.

(Prior Code, § 8-2-7) Penalty, see § 10.99

§ 91.28 RESPONSIBILITY OF OWNER.

   (A)   The owner or keeper of any dog which has, to the knowledge of the owner or by notification of the owner by a complaining party, bitten a human being, shall immediately confine the dog in some structure from which it cannot make exit by its own power and volition, and said owner shall immediately notify the Animal Control Officer, or any law officer, of such fact.

   (B)   The owner or keeper of any dog which has, to the knowledge of the owner or by notification to the owner by a complaining party, damaged, defaced, or destroyed the property of another, or caused serious annoyance or disturbance to any person or persons, shall be deemed in violation of the provisions of this section and shall be subject to the penalties herein provided.

   (C)   Whenever an affidavit is made before the Town Judge that the owner of a dog has violated the provisions of this subchapter, the Town Judge shall issue an order to show cause to such owner of the dog to be returnable on a certain day, for the purpose of hearing the allegations in such affidavit, and if found to be true, then the Town Judge may issue an order directing the owner of the dog to destroy it in a humane manner within 24 hours after receiving such order, and/or make suitable and reasonable restitution to the complaining party. The owner who refuses or neglects to destroy the dog within 24 hours after receiving such order shall be guilty of violating this section, and it shall be the duty of the Animal Control Officer, his or her representative, or any law enforcement officer to forthwith humanely destroy such dog without notice to the owner thereof.

(Prior Code, § 8-2-8) (Ord. passed 7-25-2011)

§ 91.29 CONFINEMENT OF CERTAIN DOGS.

   Any dog which has bitten, or which is suspected to have bitten, a person, or which is believed to have rabies or other diseases which may pose a threat to public health, or to have been exposed to the same, be confined upon order of the Animal Control Officer, or any law enforcement officer, Town Judge, County Health Department, or his or her agent, and shall not be sold, destroyed, or otherwise disposed of or released to its owner until authority to do so is given by the responsible County Health Officer, or his or her agent. It is unlawful for any owner or person responsible for the keeping of such dog to permit such dog during confinement to come into contact with the public.

(Prior Code, § 8-2-9) (Ord. passed 8-8-2005) Penalty, see § 10.99

§ 91.30 MUZZLING.

   The Mayor may, when the public health and safety requires, issue a proclamation for a limited period, ordering every person owning or keeping a dog within the town to confine such dog with a muzzle of sufficient strength to prevent its biting any person. During the period prescribed by the Mayor’s proclamation, any unmuzzled dog found running at large upon any public place in the town shall be summarily disposed of.

(Prior Code, § 8-2-10) Penalty, see § 10.99

§ 91.31 INTERFERENCE WITH ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER; POLICE OFFICER.

   It is unlawful for any person to interfere with, molest, hinder or obstruct the Animal Control Officer, his or her representative, or law enforcement in the discharge of his or her official duties under §§ 91.20 through 91.30.

(Prior Code, § 8-2-12) Penalty, see § 10.99