Sandy Batesel
Animal Control Officer
Phone: 816-903-4771
Email: sbatesel@kearneymo.us
Cats are not regulated by the City, nor does the City pick up or accept cats, feral or domestic.
Dogs: The City issues licenses and regulates the ownership of dogs within the City of Kearney. A printable copy of the City's Dog regulations may be found here.
No more than three dogs (over the age of 4 months) may be kept at any residence, and must maintain current Rabies vaccinations, which is a condition of licensing.
Dogs shall be kept under restraint by the owner at all times.
Barking dogs are a nuisance to our neighborhoods--dog owners should be considerate and prevent their dogs from habitually barking.
It is the responsibility of the dog owner to keep their dogs from becoming a nuisance for excessive barking. Enforcement must be initiated by the offended citizen, by calling 816-903-4771. The City will notify the dog owner to cause the dogs to cease barking. If voluntary cooperation of the dog owner does not resolve a barking dog complaint, the offended citizen will be encouraged to sign a nuisance complaint.
A nuisance complaint may be initiated by calling the Animal Control Officer at 816-903-4771, (or 816-407-3700 after hours, Non-emergency Dispatch number).
Nuisance complaints are prosecuted in Municipal Court, and will require the testimony of the offended citizen.
Dangerous Dogs and Pit Bulls: The City has both a Dangerous Dog Ordinance and a Pit Bull Ordinance.
It is illegal to harbor or keep within the City of Kearney an animal that is a "dangerous animal" or to own such an animal and allow it to be kept or harbored within the City of Kearney. Any animal having evidenced a disposition, propensity or tendency to attack or bite any person or other animal without provocation; or any animal which, without provocation, in a vicious or terrorizing manner approaches any person in apparent attitude of attack upon the streets, sidewalks, or any public grounds or places; or any animal which is wild by nature and of a species which, due to size, vicious nature or other characteristics, constitutes a danger to human life, physical well-being or property; or any animal which has been found to be vicious, dangerous, or a danger or menace to persons or other animals by a court of law of another jurisdiction after a hearing or upon a plea agreement is hereby deemed to be a dangerous animal.
That said, the determination of a dangerous dog must be made by the Kearney Municipal Judge after a Court hearing. If a citizen encounters a dangerous dog, or has been bitten by a dog, the Kearney Police should be notified at 816-628-3925, (or 816-407-3700 after hours).
Pit Bull Ownership Prohibited in Kearney Since 2006 the City of Kearney has prohibited pit bull ownership.
Pit Bull dogs are defined as:
- The bull terrier breed of dog;
- Staffordshire bull terrier breed of dog;
- The American pit bull terrier breed of dog;
- The American Staffordshire terrier breed of dog;
- Dogs of mixed breed or other breeds than above listed which breed or mixed breed is known as pit bulls, pit bull dogs or pit bull terriers;
- Any dog which has the appearance and characteristics of being predominantly of the breeds of bull terrier, Staffordshire bull terrier, American pit bull terrier, American Staffordshire terrier; any other breed commonly known as pit bulls, pit bull dogs or pit bull terriers or a combination of any of these breeds.
Pit Bull Ordinance
Pit Bull Identification Checklist