Animals and Fowl
Animals at Large
Most of us have had a pet at one time in our lives and know how an animal can be an important member of the family. The problem is if your “family friend” gets loose. A stray animal may be a nuisance, cause fear, get hit by a vehicle, or worse, bite or injure someone.
The City of Fort Morgan Municipal Code Section 7-2-20 does not allow animals to run at large. Not only does this Code cover dogs and cats but also fowl such as chickens, geese, and other birds. These Codes are enacted to protect animals and people alike.
For a first-time offense of having an animal running loose, a summons is issued and the owner is given the option of admitting guilt and paying a fine or going to court. A second offense results in a summons with a mandatory court appearance.
Vaccinating Your Pet
In addition to having the responsibility of keeping pets safe by keeping them contained, owners are also required to vaccinate their dogs and cats against the rabies virus (Section 7-2-410). Rabies can be passed between animals and to humans usually through scratches or bites that puncture the skin.
Animals infected with rabies may show various symptoms. They may become aggressive, combative, constant growling and barking, irritable, have seizures and other erratic behaviors. In the final stage, the animal may be lethargic, weak in one or more limbs, and unable to raise its head or make sounds because its throat and neck muscles are paralyzed.
Death typically occurs within a few days after symptoms appear, usually from respiratory failure. These horrible symptoms and consequences can be prevented by having your pet vaccinated. The benefit of having your pet inoculated against rabies is that it usually includes vaccination against other serious diseases like parvo and distemper.
There are several organizations in Fort Morgan that host vaccination clinics throughout the year and can vaccinate your pet at a greatly reduced cost.
Contact
To Report an Animal at Large or a Vicious Animal call the Fort Morgan Police Department at (970) 867-5678. To see if your pet is at the Animal Shelter, contact the Fort Morgan Humane Society at (970) 542-6416. For an Emergency, Dial 9-1-1Hours
24 Hours a Day7 Days a Week