§ 11-31-301  Public nuisance; notice; penalties; rules and regulations; animal control districts and officers

(a) A board of county commissioners may declare the running at large of any specified animals in unincorporated areas within the county limits a public nuisance.

(b) Notice of such a declaration shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation within the county and notices may be placed in appropriate locations. The notice shall specify any regulations necessary and convenient for animal control and shall state that:

(i) It is a public nuisance for one (1) or more specified animals to be running at large in unincorporated areas;

(ii) A fine shall be imposed on the owner of such animal and restitution for any damages to person or property caused by the animal shall be made by the owner;

(iii) Dogs or other animals, whose ownership cannot be determined, may be destroyed.

(c) Upon the filing of any complaint, the county sheriff may arrest or issue a summons to the owner of any animal which is running at large or has attacked a person. A first conviction is punishable by a fine of not more than fifty dollars ($50.00). Each subsequent conviction is punishable by a fine of not more than one hundred dollars ($100.00).

(d) A dog injuring or killing livestock may be killed by the owner of the livestock or his agent or any peace officer.

(e) Any dog attacking any person in a vicious manner may be impounded by the county sheriff or animal control officer and held in quarantine for at least fifteen (15) days and not more than twenty (20) days after the attack to determine whether the dog has any disease which may be communicated to humans, except that no dog shall be quarantined if the dog's owner or custodian presents a valid rabies vaccination certificate showing the dog has been vaccinated against rabies by a licensed veterinarian. The costs of impoundment, quarantine and testing shall be paid by the owner or custodian of the dog. Any dog which attacks any person in a vicious manner may be destroyed or the owner or custodian of the dog may be fined not more than two hundred dollars ($200.00), or both. Proof of the fact that the dog has bitten or attacked any person at any place where a person is legally entitled to be is evidence that the dog is vicious within the meaning of this section.

(f) Upon the declaration of a public nuisance, the county sheriff may dispose of any unlicensed animals, the ownership of which cannot be determined.

(g) A board of county commissioners may enact regulations relative to dogs running at large, vicious dogs, dogs running wild game or livestock or acts by other animals which shall carry out the purposes of this section. The county sheriff shall and a county animal control officer or any other peace officer may enforce these regulations to protect persons and property.

(h) A board of county commissioners may require an annual county license or tag for dogs within their jurisdiction upon payment of a fee of not more than five dollars ($5.00). Funds collected pursuant to this subsection may be used for dog control or for the maintenance of dog control centers for either purpose.

(j) A board of county commissioners may establish and provide for the operation of animal control districts which may encompass all or parts of the unincorporated area of the county and may cooperate with municipalities in a joint animal control program. Joint animal control programs may employ joint animal control officers who have the authority to enforce the animal control regulations and ordinances of each of the participating entities.

(k) As used in W.S. 11-31-301 "animal" means a dog or cat.