[Code 1974 §§ 3-23(a), 3-24(a); Code 1985
§ 5-76; Code 2005 § 14-121]
It shall be the duty of the police officers of the City and
any person specifically appointed by the City Manager as animal control
officer, to take into custody and impound all dogs or cats found in
the City which are:
[Code 1974 § 3-24(b); Code 1985 § 5-77;
Code 2005 § 14-122]
Police officers or the animal control officer may enter upon
the premises of the owner or other private premises to take into custody
any animal running at large in violation of the provisions of this
chapter. If with reasonable effort a dog or cat illegally at large
cannot be caught, they may kill it, whether it is on or off private
premises.
[Code 1974 § 3-25(c); Code 1985 § 5-78;
Code 2005 § 14-123]
Rabid animals or animals which any officer of the City, including
the duly appointed animal control officer, may have reasonable grounds
for believing to be rabid, or any animals which were in such physical
condition because of injuries, wounds or sickness as to indicate that
such injuries or sickness would result in imminent death, may be humanely
disposed of without the necessity of impounding or attempting to impound
such animal and without giving the notice provided in this division
prior to disposition; however, if such destroyed animals wear current
registration tags issued by the City, the chief of police, upon receiving
notice of the disposition of any such animal, shall advise the registered
owner as reflected by registration records in the office of the City
Clerk.
[Code 1974 § 3-25(a), (b); Code 1985 § 5-79;
Code 2005 § 14-124]
A.
The chief of police shall maintain as soon after the impoundment
of any dog or cat as may be reasonably possible, a complete description
of each animal held in custody at the animal shelter, together with
information concerning the time and place of capture or impoundment
and the time limit within which such animal may be redeemed by the
owner.
B.
If the dog or cat which has been impounded shall have been registered
as required in this chapter, and is wearing a tag for the current
registration year, the owner of any such animal or the keeper or harborer
thereof, as shown by the records in the office of the City Clerk,
shall be notified of the impounding of such animal, furthermore the
owner, keeper or harborer of such animal shall be notified by the
person charged with the duty of destroying such animal of the intent
to destroy such animal at least 24 hours before such animal is destroyed.
The notice may be given personally by telephone or by letter, and
for such purpose, the depositing of a letter containing such notice
in the post office in the City addressed to the owner, keeper or harborer
thereof, at his last address as shown by the registration, records
in the office of the City Clerk, shall be deemed sufficient notice.
[Code 1974 §§ 3-23(d), 3-24(c); Code 1985
§ 5-80; Code 2005 § 14-125]
All impounded dogs or cats taken into custody shall be placed
in an animal shelter operated by the City or its licensee, and after
72 hours from the time of such taking up, if no person has appeared
to claim such animal and paid the costs as provided in connection
with the taking up and impounding of such animal, the City or its
licensee may destroy such animal in some humane manner, or find a
new home for such animal.
[Code 1974 § 3-26; Code 1985 § 5-81;
Code 2005 § 14-126; amended at adoption]
A.
Any person who desires to redeem a dog or cat which has been impounded
shall pay to the City Clerk the amount of the unpaid tax, if the tax
is owing and unpaid, or produce a receipt from the City Clerk showing
that the tax on such animal has been paid for the current year.
B.
In addition to the payment of the tax, such person shall pay to the City or its licensee a reasonable fee for the care and maintenance of any animal that has been impounded, such fee to be based upon the length of time the animal has been impounded plus any veterinarian care as provided in § 4-36 and all such impoundment fees shall be calculated on each twenty-four-hour period of impoundment or fraction thereof.
C.
Each unspayed female or unneutered male dog or cat to be released
to a new home or new owner at the expiration of the prescribed impoundment
period shall be spayed or neutered, at the expense of the new owner,
prior to release of the animal.
[Code 1974 § 3-27; Code 1985 § 5-82;
Code 2005 § 14-127]
The fees for impounding and keeping any dog or cat shall be
as established by resolution. Any person redeeming an impounded dog
or cat shall pay such fees to the City Clerk plus any veterinarian
care and present the receipt therefor to the person in charge of the
animal shelter before the latter releases the dog or cat.
