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DIVISION 1. Generally
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[Ord. No. 452, Art. I, § 1, 3-18-1969; Ord. No. 1081, 8-28-2018]
The Board of City Commissioners shall designate a pound area,
with buildings, for the impounding of animals as provided by this
chapter. Such facility shall be listed as a separate budget item but
will be under the direction and control of the Chief of Police.
[Ord. No. 452, Art. I, § 4.2, 3-18-1969; Ord. No. 1081, 8-28-2018]
The Chief of Police shall designate an Animal Control Officer
who shall exercise the powers and perform the duties provided for
in this chapter. In the absence of the Animal Control Officer or in
the event of their inability to act, the Chief of Police or any police
officer designated by the Chief of Police shall exercise the powers
and perform the duties conferred on the Animal Control Officer.
[Ord. No. 452, Art. I, § 4.3, 3-18-1969; Ord. No. 1081, 8-28-2018]
The Animal Control Officer shall have charge of the City pound
and shall cause the provisions of this chapter to be enforced, under
the direction of the Chief of Police.
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DIVISION 2. Dogs and Cats
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[Ord. No. 452, Art. III, § 4.13, 3-18-1969; Ord. No. 1081, 8-28-2018]
It is the duty of every police officer to apprehend any dog
or cat found at large or found to be a public nuisance as provided
in this article, and to impound such dog or cat in the City pound
or other suitable place. Upon receiving any dog or cat, the Animal
Control Officer shall make a complete registry, entering the breed,
color and sex of such dog and, if licensed, the tag number, and the
name and address of the owner.
[Ord. No. 452, Art. III, § 4.14, 3-18-1969; Ord. No. 1081, 8-28-2018]
(a)
Whenever any person makes a complaint in writing and verified under
oath before the municipal judge that any person is keeping, harboring
or sheltering a vicious animal within the City limits, the judge shall
issue a warrant of arrest or a summons directed to the owner of the
animal who shall be brought or appear before the judge for trial upon
such charges. If the person accused is found guilty, the judge, in
addition to other penalties provided in this Code, shall issue an
order directing the owner to forthwith surrender the animal to the
police department, and failure to do so constitutes a violation of
this Code. In the event the owner fails to surrender the animal, the
animal shall be seized by the police.
(b)
When an animal is seized, it shall be impounded in the City pound
for a period of 10 days, at the end of which time the owner of the
animal may, if the animal is found not to be rabid, make arrangements
to permanently remove it from the City, and if the owner fails to
do so within such time, the animal may be destroyed by the police
or given to any person who will permanently remove it from the City.
[Ord. No. 452, Art. III, § 4.15, 3-18-1969; Ord. No. 518, 4-13-1976; Ord. No.
530, 3-22-1977; Ord. No. 642, 5-28-1985; Ord. No. 1081, 8-28-2018; amended 2-11-2020 by Ord. No. 1110]
Not later than the day after the impounding of any animal, the owner shall be notified of the taking of the animal(s). If the owner is unknown, written notice shall be posted at the police headquarters or on the City of Williston website, describing the animal and the place and time of taking. Except as provided in § 4-68, the owner of any animal so impounded may reclaim it upon payment of the license fee, if unpaid, and all costs and charges incurred by the City in impounding and maintenance of the dog, including any required veterinary care.
[Ord. No. 452, Art. III, § 4.16, 3-18-1969; Ord. No. 518, 4-13-1976; Ord. No.
642, 5-28-1985; Ord. No. 1081, 8-28-2018]
It is the duty of the Animal Control Officer or any other person designated by the Chief of Police to keep all seized animals impounded for a period of five days from the date of notice to the owner or first posting of notice as provided by § 4-69. If, at the expiration of five days from the date of notice to the owner or the first posting of notice, the animal has not been claimed, it may be destroyed by the police or given to any person who will permanently remove it from the City or who is willing to continue to register and license it.
