Beachwood Civic Association

Truth About Cats And Dogs

Jan 30, 2007

It?’s time again to talk about the city laws that apply to cats and dogs as pets. Both the pet owner and those who may be bothered by other people?’s pets have specific city codes that apply to them. Let?’s make Beachwood a great place for everyone, both two- and four-legged, by following these simple, considerate rules:

If you own a dog or cat:

You must have it licensed, inoculated & tagged
City codes 462.302 &303. Every owner of a dog or cat over the age of four months is required to annually have it inoculated against rabies, registered with the vet who administered the shot, and licensed by the city. Evidence of the inoculation shall consist of a city license tag bearing the registration number of the dog or cat. The tag shall be affixed to a collar that shall be worn at all times. Violation of this section shall constitute a Class B ($40 fine) offense.

You must keep it from running loose, City codes 462.301 & 306. No person responsible for the care, custody, or control of any dog or cat shall permit the animal to run at large, as defined as off the premises of the owner of the dog or cat and upon public property or another?’s private property, and not under the control of the owner or other person responsible for the animal by either leash, cord, or chain. First violation $100, second violation $250, third ore more violations $500 each.

You must clean up after and keep it from disturbing neighbors by its noise, City codes 462.310 ff. Other city codes require that owners or those responsible for dogs and cats clean up after them by removing fecal matter deposited by the animal.

City health codes require that fecal matter in your own yard be cleaned up so as to not be a health hazard.

City codes with regard to barking state that dogs must not be allowed to bark for more than one hour. Owners of dogs barking continuously are subject to fines.

If you are being bothered by a dog or cat:

Call the city?’s animal control office at
387-8846.

You must not harm or poison it -- City Code 462.104. It shall be a class C ($80 fine) offense for any person to maliciously harm or kill any domestic animal owned by another. It shall be unlawful and a class C ($80 fine) offense for any person maliciously to place poisonous substances injurious to domestic animals in any place accessible to domestic animals.