Animal Ordinance

Chapter 11, Article 3, Section 11.15-11.18

Animals

Section 11.15 Animals at large.

No horse, goat, cattle or other animals, except a domestic house cat with a current rabies inoculation tag, shall be permitted to run at large within the Town Limits.

Running at large means to be off the premises of the owner and not under the reasonable control of the owner or an authorized person, either by leash or otherwise, but an animal within the automobile or other vehicle of its owner shall be deemed to be upon the owner's premises. All animals caught running at large shall be reported to the Caldwell County Animal Control Department by the Hudson Police Department. (Amended by Ord. of 8/4/81 and Ord. of 3/17/97)

Section 11.16 Nuisance.

It shall be unlawful for any animal owner or keeper to harbor, maintain, or permit on any lot, parcel of land, or premises under his control, any dog or other animal which by any sound or cry shall disturb the peace and comfort of the inhabitants of the neighborhood or interfere with any person in the reasonable and comfortable enjoyment of life or property. (Ord. of 8/4/8 1)

Section 11.16-1 Running on owner's premises.

The provisions of this Article do not prohibit animals from running at large on the premises of the owner or person having charge of the animal. (Ord. of 8/4/81)

Section 11.16-2 Control and penalty.

(a) It shall be unlawful for any person owning or having charge of any animal to permit the animal to run at large, unless the animal is under reasonable control as set forth in Section 11.15 of this Article.

For the purpose of this Article, an animal shall be deemed not under control when:

(1) The animal inflicts damage or injury (by biting, jumping upon, pollution of vegetation, or by any other means whatsoever) to the person or property of anyone other than the owner, except in the defense of the owner, his family, or property.

(2) In the case of any unspayed female animal, when the animal is not securely confined in the owner's yard, pen or other enclosure.

(b) Any animal found running at large in the Town of Hudson shall be impounded. It shall be the duty of the Hudson Police Department, in cooperation with the Caldwell County Animal Control Department, to capture and impound said animal(s) in the Caldwell County Animal Shelter. Any person owning, keeping, or having charge or control of any animal and allowing the animal to run at large in violation of the provisions of this Article shall pay a civil penalty in accordance with the Town of Hudson Schedule of Fees. Any subsequent violations may be punished as a misdemeanor in accordance with Section 14-4 of the General Statutes. (Ord. of 8/4/8 1; amended by Ord. of 3/17/97)

Section 11.17 Bird sanctuary.

The entire area embraced within the corporate limits of the Town of Hudson is hereby designated as a bird sanctuary. It shall be unlawful to trap, hunt, shoot or attempt to shoot or molest in any manner any bird or wild fowl or to rob bird nests or wild fowl nests. Provided, however, if starlings or similar birds are found to be congregating in such numbers in a particular locality that they constitute a nuisance or menace to health or property in the opinion of the proper health authorities of the Town of Hudson, then in such event said health authorities shall meet with representatives of the Audubon Society, Bird Club, Garden Club or Humane Society, or as many of said clubs as are found to exist in the Town of Hudson, after having given said clubs at least three days actual notice of the time and place of said meeting to the representatives of said clubs. If, as a result of said meeting, no satisfactory alternative is found to abate such nuisance, then said birds may be destroyed in such numbers and in such manner as is deemed advisable by said health authorities under supervision of Chief of Police of the Town of Hudson.

Anyone violating the provisions of this Section shall be punished by a fine of not more than two hundred dollars ($200.00) or imprisoned for a period not to exceed thirty days. (Ord. of 2/6/73, as amended by Ord. of 8/4/81 and Ord. of 3/17/97)

Section 11.18 Caldwell County Animal Control Ordinance.

The Caldwell County Animal Control Ordinance, adopted by the Caldwell County Board of Commissioners on March 17, 1997, was adopted in its entirety by the Town of Hudson Board of Commissioners. The Caldwell County Board of Commissioners amended the Ordinance as a Caldwell County Animal Care Enforcement Ordinance on October 10, 2022.  

Click Here     for a copy of the Caldwell County Animal Care Enforcement Ordinance