In Selmer, Tennessee, it is unlawful to keep, harbor, own, exercise control over, maintain, transport, sell, or possess a pit bull dog. Any person owning such dogs at the time this chapter was adopted had 90 days to comply. The police may seize and impound any pit bull dog within the corporate limits of Selmer. A violation may result in a fine of $50.
CHAPTER 3 PIT BULLS
10-301 . Definitions.
10-302 . Pit bull restrictions.
10-303 . Enforcement.
10-304 . Court proceedings against the owner.
10-305 . Courtfindings.
10-306 . Penalties, repealer and severability.
The words, terms, and phrases, and their derivations as used in this chapter, except where the context clearly indicates otherwise, shall have the following meanings: "Pit bulls" means and includes any of the following dogs:
(1) The bull terrier breed of dog;
(2) The Staffordshire bull terrier breed of dog;
(3) The American pit bull terrier breed of dog;
(4) The American Staffordshire breed of dog;
(5) Dogs of mixed breed or of other breeds than above listed, which
breed or mixed breed is known as pit bull, pit bull dogs, or pit bull terriers; and
(6) Any dog, which has the appearance and characteristics of being predominantly of the breeds of dogs known as bull terrier, Staffordshire bull terrier, American pit bull terrier, American Staffordshire terrier, and any other breed commonly known as pit bulls, pit bull dogs or pit bull terriers; or a combination of any of these breeds.
(as added by Ord. #574, May 2008)
10-302. Pit bull restrictions.
It shall be unlawful to keep, harbor, own, exercise control over, maintain, transport, sell, or in any way possess a pit bull dog within the corporate limits of the Town of Selmer. Any persons owning such dogs at the time this chapter is adopted shall have ninety (90) days to comply with this chapter.
(as added by Ord. #574, May 2008)
The Selmer Police Department, or its designees, shall have the authority to seize and impound any pit bull dog which is kept within the corporate limits of the Town of Selmer in violation of § 10-302 above. As an additional enforcement measure, the Town of Selmer shall have the right and option to initiate proceedings in chancery court to enforce any of the provisions of this chapter. The Selmer Police Department will enforce the provisions of this chapter.
(as added by Ord. #574, May 2008)
10-304. Court proceedings against the owner.
If any vicious dog is impounded, the Town of Selmer may institute proceedings in municipal court charging the owner with violation of this chapter. Nothing in this section, however, shall be construed as preventing the town or any citizen from instituting a proceeding for violation of this chapter where there has been no impoundment.
(as added by Ord. #574, May 2008)
If a complaint has been filed in municipal court against the owner of a dog for violation of this chapter, the dog shall not be released from impoundment or disposed of except on order of the court and payment of all charges and costs incurred under this chapter, including penalties for violating this chapter. The court may, pursuant to this chapter, order the dog to be destroyed in a humane manner.
(as added by Ord. #574, May 2008)
10-306. Penalties, repealer, and severability.
(1) Penalties. Any person found violating the provisions of this chapter upon conviction shall be fined fifty dollars ($50.00) and each day of violation shall be deemed a separate violation.
(2) Repealer. All ordinances, or parts of ordinances, found to be in conflict with theprovisions of this chapter are hereby repealed to the extent of such inconsistency.
(3) Severability. Should any court of competent jurisdiction declare any section, clause, or provision of this chapter to be unconstitutional, such decision shall affect only such section, clause, or provision so declared unconstitutional, and shall not affect the validity of any other section, clause, or provision of this chapter.
(as added by Ord. #574, May 2008)