Pets and Animal Regulations
Barking, Howling Dogs
No person shall own, harbor, or keep any dog which, by loud or frequent habitual barking, yelping, or howling, causes serious annoyance in its neighborhood.
Dogs Running at Large/Impounding
If a pet is found wandering in the community, with or without identification tags, the animal will be picked up and brought to the station where it will be held for approximately two hours. The Public Safety Department will attempt to contact the owner of the pet if that information is available. If the owner is not located, the animal will be transported to the Grosse Pointe Animal Clinic in Grosse Pointe Park where it will be impounded for three days or more.
Reclaiming the animal from the Grosse Pointe Animal Clinic is easy. After paying the boarding fees at the Public Safety Department, present the receipt to the Grosse Pointe Animal Clinic to verify payment and retrieve the animal. Costs incurred by the City for impounding the pet must be paid before it will be returned to the owner. In addition, there is a $75 fine assessed by the Municipal Court.
Leash Law
Anytime your dog leaves your yard, you are responsible for it. The dog must be on a leash. You also must keep the pet off other people’s property. A fine may be imposed for failure to observe responsible pet handling.
Nuisances Committed by Animals
Anytime your dog relieves itself upon public or private property (other than your own property), it must be cleaned up. The person responsible for the custody of the dog shall be in possession of a trowel, shovel, or such device and a container for the purpose of removing any nuisance committed by the dog. Failure to observe this may result in a fine.
Vicious Dogs
No person shall own, harbor, or keep any dog commonly described as a pit bull terrier, or any other animal deemed to be vicious. “Vicious dog” is defined as any dog with a known propensity, tendency, or disposition to attack unprovoked, to cause injury to, or threaten the safety of human beings or domestic animals; or, any dog which, without provocation, attacks or bites or has attacked or bitten a human being.
