OSAGE BEACH, Mo. — The City of Osage Beach Board of Aldermen will consider a new law defining what counts as a “Dangerous Animal” and what the city can do about a resident who has one.

The proposed addition to the city’s municipal code would include the following definition: “A person commits the offense of keeping a dangerous dog or other animal if he or she owns or possesses a dog or other animal that has previously bitten a person or a domestic animal without provocation and that dog or other animal bites any person on a subsequent occasion.”

Additionally, a dog or other animal that attacks and seriously injures or kills another person will be considered dangerous, even if it has not bitten a person. 

If an animal is deemed dangerous, it would be seized immediately by an animal control authority or Osage Beach Police, under the new ordinance. The Public Health Official or Law Enforcement Official seizing the animal would have to obtain a warrant from the 26th Circuit or Osage Beach Municipal Court beforehand.

Once the animal is impounded, he owner/possessor of the animal would be given written notice, and after that 10-day period, the animal may be destroyed. However, the owner/possessor of the animal would be able to file a written appeal to the 26th Circuit Court or to the Osage Beach Municipal Court to contest the animal’s impoundment and pending destruction. If the owner/possessor files notice of that appeal with the city, within the 10-day window after they receive notice that the animal has been impounded, then the city would delay the animal’s destruction until a judge has ruled on the matter. A court would have to hold a disposition within 30 days of filing the appeal.

The proposed ordinance states the court may order the animal’s owner/possessor to pay the costs associated with the animal’s keeping/care during the appeal. That person would also be liable for costs of care associated with keeping the animal during the 10-day period after notice of impoundment has been given.

The city’s Board of Aldermen will conduct a first-reading of the bill, 19-91, on Thursday, Dec. 19 at their regular meeting.

The full ordinance language is below:

Download PDF Dangerous Animal Ordinance - Osage Beach

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