Whenever it becomes necessary, in order to protect any animal from
neglect or cruelty, any police officer or animal control officer may
take possession of said animal. If an animal is impounded, yarded
or confined and continues without adequate food, housing, water or
care, or is cruelly treated or neglected, any police officer or animal
control officer may enter into and upon any place in which the animal
is impounded, yarded or confined and supply it with necessary food,
housing, water and care so long as it there remains, or, if necessary
for the health of the animal, may remove the animal, and not be liable
to any action for that entry or for taking possession of the animal.
In all cases the owner or custodian of the animal shall be notified
of that action and of any administrative remedies that may be available
to the owner or custodian. The owner or custodian may file within
ten (10) days a request in writing with the City Chief of Police for
the return of the animal. If the owner or custodian is not notified
and fails to file the petition within the time prescribed, or if the
owner or custodian is unknown and cannot within reasonable effort
be ascertained for a period of twenty (20) days, the animal shall
be held to be abandoned and be dealt with as such. Nothing in this
section shall be construed as permitting the entry into a private
dwelling without appropriate permission or court order.