Ada County animal laws promote the safety of animals and residents alike.
Ada County's pet laws promote the creation of humane environments for pets while protecting the public from vicious or nuisance-causing animals. Ada County's laws are enforced by the county's Sheriff's Office and the local Humane Society, both empowered to impound pets that are allowed to run loose and to remove pets from environments that are deemed inhumane or unsafe.
Animal Cruelty
Title 25, Chapter 35 of Idaho's statutes define animal cruelty is the intentional infliction of pain and suffering to an animal. The statute also defines depriving a pet of food and sanitary shelter and killing an animal with no justifiable cause as acts of animal cruelty. Idaho's courts can sentence first-time offenders with a fine of between $100 and $5,000 dollars, a prison term of up to six months, or both.
Dog Licenses
Dog owners must purchase a dog license from Ada County within six months of acquiring their dog. Dog owners can purchase licenses from the Idaho Humane Society as well as participating veterinarians and pet stores, and the license is valid for one year. License costs are $43.60 for dogs that haven't been spayed or neutered and $17.40 for dogs that have. Ada County charges senior citizens $9.75 for a dog license and owners of service dogs are exempt from having to buy a license.
Leash Law
No animal is permitted to roam free in Ada County. Animals must be leashed in public on a leash that's no longer than 10 feet unless they're in a car or under the control of a competent attendant. Animals running free are subject to impoundment.
Nuisance Animals
The Ada County Code defines a nuisance animal as one that roams free, trespasses on residents' properties, harasses vehicle and passers-by, causes property damage or creates noise that's disruptive to the community. The Humane Society or the Sheriff's office will impound animals the county determines to be a nuisance and an animal's owner may reclaim it within five days by paying a fee. Unclaimed animals will be offered to the public for adoption.
Vicious Animals
The Ada County Code defines a vicious animal as one that attacks a person or another animal without provocation or one used strictly for a violent activity such as dog fighting. Ada County doesn't define an animal as vicious if it attacks a person or another animal while protecting itself, its owner or its owner's premises. It's illegal for Ada County residents to own or shelter a vicious animal and such animals are subject to impoundment and humane euthanasia.
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