The Street Department has one animal control officer to address issues concerning lost pets or stray animals inside Jonesborough town limits. Animal control deals primarily with reuniting Town residents with their lost pets, as well as control of stray pets or animals. Code enforcement, noise and/or nuisance issues are primarily an enforcement issue and usually dealt with by the Jonesborough Police Department.
Contact
| Tim Banner | Animal Control Officer | 423.791.3817 |
| Malcolm Highsmith | Street Director | 423.753.1004 |
| General Contact | Town Hall | 423.753.1031 |
Tim Banner
Animal Control Officer
Town of Jonesborough, TennesseeJonesborough tries to balance its rural roots with the current reality that when a number of people live close together, individuals have the right not to be negatively impacted by their neighbors. On animal control issues, Jonesborough tries to balance the right to own animals and livestock with the right of neighbors not to be negatively impacted by them.
Jonesborough’s Animal Control Officer, Tim Banner is trained to try to capture animals running at large and creating a nuisance. The Town has a holding pen at 101 Britt Drive and any animal seized within the corporate limits will be taken initially to the Town’s holding pen. Tim can be reached at (423) 791-3815.
Animals In General
It is unlawful for any person owning or being in charge of any cows, swine, sheep, horses, mules, goats or any chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys, or other domestic fowl, cattle, or livestock knowingly or negligently to permit any of them to run at large in any street, alley, or unenclosed lot within the corporate limits.
When animals or fowl are kept within the corporate limits, the building, structure, corral, pen or enclosure in which they are kept shall be at all times in a clean and sanitary condition so that it will create no stench or cause annoyance or discomfort to the people of town.
No animal or fowl shall be kept or confined in any place where food, water, shelter, and ventilation are not adequate and sufficient for the preservation of its health and safety.
All feed shall be stored and kept in a rat-proof and fly-tight building, box, or receptacle.
Nuisance Animals
No person shall own, keep or harbor any dog, cat or any other animal which by loud frequent barking, whining, screaming, or howling, annoys or disturbs the peace and quiet of any neighbor. A nuisance animal is one that molests a passerby or passing vehicles, attacks other animals, repeatedly runs at large, damages private or public property, continuously excretes on property not in possession of the animal owner, or barks, whines, howls, in an excessive, continuous, or untimely fashion.
Vicious Dogs to be Securely Restrained
It shall be unlawful for any person to own or keep any dog known to be vicious or dangerous unless such dog is so confined within a building or secure enclosure, or otherwise securely restrained through muzzle or cage as to reasonably provide for the protection of other animals or persons.
Vaccination
Any dog or cat kept or harbored within the corporate limits must be vaccinated against rabies and registered in accordance with the provisions of the Tennessee Anti-Rabies Law. With the cooperation of the public health department and local veterinary offices, the Town of Jonesborough will hold at least one vaccination clinic each year.
A registered animal in Jonesborough, if seized, will be kept a maximum of three (3) days in Jonesborough’s holding pen before the animal is transported to the Washington County Animal Shelter. We make every effort to return registered animals to their owners. This effort to locate and communicate with the owner does not waive any possibility of being cited for an animal control ordinance violation.
Information related to the status of any animal held at the holding pen (at 101 Britt Drive) can be obtained by calling 423.753.1004.
Animals picked up that are not registered may be held in Jonesborough’s holding pen, usually 24 hours, but at the earliest convenience will be taken to the Washington County Animal Shelter.
Fines for Animal Control Violations
Owners reclaiming un-tagged animals from the Jonesborough Holding Pen are charged a $20.00 fine. Owners reclaiming a registered dog or cat are charged a $10.00 fine. Owners are responsible for any medical costs deemed necessary by the Animal Control Officer. Other violations of the Animal Control Ordinance are subject to be fined a minimum of $25.00.
