A Reminder About Responsible Pet Ownership

Many residents of Lake Saint Louis enjoy the companionship of dogs and cats, but along with the benefits of pet ownership come many responsibilities for the appropriate care and management of animals.

The City of Lake Saint Louis has ordinances in place prohibiting and restricting conduct pertaining to animal waste. Pet owners should be cognizant of the damage or nuisance that can occur due to animal waste and must be courteous when exercising their animals on public grounds and private property.

Leashing and Containment Requirements

It is unlawful for any person or persons owning or controlling a dog, cat or other animal to permit the creature to run at large. When on any street or any other public place in the City of Lake Saint Louis, all animals must be attached to a leash, which is securely held by a competent person.

On private property, pets must be leashed and under the control of a competent person or confined in such a manner as to prevent them from straying from the premises. The only time leashing is not required is when the animal remains in an enclosure on the owner’s property.

Animal Waste and Public Nuisance

Pet owners are required to maintain proper care and control of their animals and prevent them from becoming a public nuisance. The term “public nuisance” is defined by such behaviors as molesting passersby or passing vehicles, attacking other animals or people, damaging private or public property in any way, causing unsanitary or dangerous conditions, barking, whining, howling, or making other loud audible noises in a continuous or untimely manner.

It is unlawful for a pet owner to allow the animal to defecate on any public or private property owned by others unless the custodian of the pet immediately removes all the feces the animal deposits. Any person walking a pet is required by ordinance to carry on his or her person a device or container sufficient to clean up after the animal.

Animals that frequently or habitually yelp or howl or present immediate threat of attacking or biting are prohibited. Any animal that causes fear or annoyance to persons in the immediate area will be considered a public nuisance.

Additional Information Available

Municipal ordinances regulating the responsibilities of pet owners can be viewed in their entirety by visiting city’s official website at www.lakesaintlouis.com. The pertinent ordinances are found in Section 210, which may be accessed directly from the table of contents at the left side of the page, or by performing a search on the word “animal.”

“Common courtesy dictates that we treat others and their property with the same consideration that we would hope to be afforded,” Lake Saint Louis Police Chief Michael Force said. “Polite pet owners keep in mind the nuisance and damage their animals’ waste can cause and manage their animals accordingly.”