[Ord. No. 477 § 1, 1-12-2015]
A.
No person shall keep, harbor, own or knowingly allow to be in or
upon the person's premises any dangerous exotic animal, including
any lion, tiger, leopard, ocelot, jaguar, cheetah, margay, mountain
lion, Canada lynx, bobcat, jaguarundi, bear, hyena, wolf, coyote,
any deadly, dangerous or venomous reptile or any other exotic animal
declared by the Board of Aldermen to be dangerous; provided, that
the provisions of this Section shall not apply to a properly maintained
and licensed zoological park, circus, scientific or educational institution,
research laboratory or veterinary hospital.
B.
Any animal that is determined by an Animal Control Officer to be
a dangerous exotic animal shall be immediately impounded. Except for
exigent circumstances, if the owner of the dangerous exotic animal
does not consent to removal of the animal or if the owner of the property
on which the animal is located does not consent to entry onto the
property, the Animal Control Officer shall enter the property and
remove the animal only pursuant to a warrant issued by a judge. The
dangerous exotic animal shall remain impounded until:
1.
The Board of Aldermen determines that the animal is not an exotic
dangerous animal; or
2.
The owner satisfies an Animal Control Officer that the animal
will be kept in a lawful manner; or
3.
The owner relinquishes ownership of the animal and the animal
is either humanely destroyed or placed with a person who shall keep
the animal in a lawful manner; or
4.
A person charged with a violation of this Section has been found
not guilty and the judge orders the animal released; or
5.
A court determines that the animal is not a dangerous exotic
animal.
C.
The owner of the dangerous exotic animal shall pay the cost incurred
by the City in feeding and caring for the animal. The owner shall
be billed periodically by the City for such fees and expenses. If
the owner fails to pay such a bill within ten (10) days after it was
mailed, ownership of the animal shall be deemed relinquished and,
after the procedures of this Section have been followed, the animal
may either be humanely destroyed or placed with a person who shall
keep the animal in a lawful manner. Bills for fees and costs under
this Section shall notify the animal owner that if the bill is not
paid within ten (10) days, the animal will be destroyed or placed
with some person who shall keep the animal in a lawful manner. The
bill shall also State that the animal owner may meet with the Board
of Aldermen or the director's designee to dispute whether the animal
is a dangerous exotic animal or the amount of the bill before the
animal is destroyed or placed with another person. If the animal owner
wishes to meet, the owner must request a meeting in writing. The request
must be delivered to the Board of Aldermen at the address given for
this purpose on the bill. The request must be delivered before the
deadline for disposition of the animal indicated on the bill.
D.
Fines. Any violation of this Section will carry
a fine of not less than twenty-five dollars ($25.00) and not more
than two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00).
