HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrdinance 6271 07/18/2011ORDINANCE NO. 6271
(General)
AN ORDINANCE OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SPRINGFIELD AMENDING
SECTION 5.416, "PIGS" AND SECTION 5.426 "LICENSES, FEES AND EXCEPTIONS" OF THE
SPRINGFIELD MUNICIPAL CODE TO PERMIT POT BELLIED PIGS.
WHEREAS, Section 5.416, "Pigs", prohibits all pigs within the city limits of the City of
Springfield; and
WHEREAS, the Common Council has received a proposal to allow pot bellied pigs within the City
of Springfield as an exception to said prohibition; and
WHEREAS, the Common Council has considered the proposal and wishes to make an exception
to the prohibition against pigs to allow specifically for pot bellied pigs; and
WHEREAS, the Common Council finds that the literature regarding pot bellied pigs defines them
to be clean, intelligent, and affectionate animals, and when properly cared for are desirable to
some persons as household pets.
NOW, THEREFORE, based on the foregoing recitals, the Common Council of the City of
Springfield does ordain as follows:
1. Section 5.416, "Pigs", of the Springfield Municipal Code is hereby amended to read as
follows:
"Section 5.416. Pigs.
(1) Except as hereinafter provided in Subsection (2) no pigs shall be permitted inside the
city limits. The above offense is also punishable as a violation and may include a fine not
exceeding $720.00 pursuant to SMC Section 1.205.
(2) The having or keeping of swine commonly referred to as Miniature Vietnamese, Chinese,
or Oriental Pot-Bellied Pigs (sus scrofa vittatus) is allowed subject to the following:
(a) If the pig is spayed or neutered, its maximum height is no greater than 18 inches
at the shoulder and weighs no more than 95 pounds.
(b) The owner or keeper obtains a certificate from a veterinarian certifying the pig is
spayed or neutered and a License in accordance with Springfield Municipal Code, Section 5.426,
from the City of Springfield."
(c) No pig keeper shall permit a pig to be "At Large" as defined in SMC Section
5.402.
(d) No more than one (1) pig shall be kept at any one address.
(e) Prior to the issuance of a license, the keeper shall submit a written statement
signed by an individual or veterinarian with the name, address, and telephone number of that
individual residing or veterinarian with office within 20 miles of Springfield stating the individual
or veterinarian has agreed to retrieve the pig from police and secure the pig in the event the
pig is found to be At Large and the keeper is unavailable. Keeper shall also be responsible for
all costs associated with, or arising out of, the capture and holding of a pig found to be At
Large.
. (f) The pig keeper shall trim and maintain all tusks in a manner that no tusk appears
outside of the mouth of the pig when the mouth is closed.
„r
2. Section 5.426 "Licenses, Fees and Exceptions" of the Springfield Municipal Code is
hereby amended by adding subjection (6) "License Vietnamese Pig" as follows:
"(6) License Vietnamese Pig.
(a). Every keeper of a Vietnamese Pig as.set forth in Section 5.416 shall obtain a license
for.the pig. In order to obtain the license, the owner or keeper shall submit to the City the
veterinarian's certificate specified in Section 5.416(2)(b). The license fee shall be the same as a
license fee for a dog as specified in Section.5.426(3).
(b) Licenses shall be valid for one year from the date of issuance or until the sale or gift
of the pig, whichever first occurs.
(c) Pig keepers shall renew the pig license before it becomes delinquent for as long as
they keep or harbor the pig.
(d) A license tag issued to a pig keeper shall be attached securely to a collar or harness
of the pig for which it was issued. In addition to a collar or license, a microchip identification
shall be utilized. If a license tag is lost, the keeper may obtain a duplicate license tag upon
satisfactory proof of loss and payment of the required fee.
(e) Failure to comply with any term or requirement of Section 5.416 or Section 5.426 by
a pig keeper is punishable as a violation and may include a fine not exceeding $720.00 pursuant
to SMC Section 1.205.
(f) In the event that the keeper or the individual designated in Section 5.416(2)(e) is
unavailable and short term housing for the pig is required, the keeper shall be responsible for
such short term housing and food costs and shall,reimburse the City or City's designee for all
costs expended."
This Ordinance adopted by the. Common Council of the City of Springfield this 18th day of
July , 2011, by a vote of 6 for and O- against.
Christine L. Lundberg, Mayo
Z*W
Amy So , City Recorder
& APPROVED
OFFICE OF ICiTY ATTORNEY
ORDINANCE.-;NO , 6271