Animals owned or harbored in violation of this chapter or any other ordinance or law of the state shall be taken into custody by an animal control officer or other designated official and impounded under the provisions of this chapter.
(Code 1974, § 3-3)
(a) 
Reasonable efforts shall be made by the animal control officer to contact the owner of any animal impounded that is wearing a current vaccination tag or is fitted with a microchip; however, final responsibility for location of an impounded animal rests with the owner. Any impounded animal may be redeemed upon payment of the impoundment fee, care and feeding charges, veterinary charges, rabies vaccination charges, and other such costs as set by the animal control officer. Where the owner is known, if such animal is not redeemed within two days after notification to the owner it shall be deemed abandoned, the city shall be deemed the owner, and the animal may be placed for adoption (subject to payment of the adoption fee, rabies vaccination charges, and such other costs as set by the animal control officer) or disposed of by means approved by the animal control officer. An owner paying a vaccination fee shall be given a receipt for the vaccination payment which can be redeemed by his veterinarian by submitting the receipt. Failure to obtain the vaccination within 72 hours of reclaiming the animal shall authorize reimpoundment of the animal and/or the issuance of a citation.
(b) 
Where the owner is unknown or cannot be located, any impounded animal that has been impounded for a period of 72 hours and has not been redeemed by the owner shall be deemed abandoned, and the city shall be deemed the owner of the animal. The city may then place the animal for adoption or sale, turn the animal over to the department of parks and recreation for display in public zoos, or dispose of by means approved by the animal control officer.
(c) 
If an animal is placed for sale, the animal control officer shall publish in a newspaper of general circulation:
(1) 
The description of the animal;
(2) 
The name of the owner (if known);
(3) 
That the sale will be for the purpose of defraying the costs of impoundment; and
(4) 
The location, date and time of the sale.
If the animal is not sold at the sale, the animal control officer may otherwise dispose of it or offer it for sale again.
(Code 1974, § 3-3(a); Ordinance 2147, § 1, 1-24-17)
If a complaint has been filed in the municipal court of the city against the owner of an impounded animal for a violation of this chapter, the animal shall not be released except on the order of the court, which may also direct the owner to pay any penalties for violation of this chapter, in addition to all impounded fees. Surrender of an animal by the owner thereof to the animal control officer does not relieve or render the owner immune from the decision of the court, nor to the fees and fines which may result from a violation of this chapter.
(Code 1974, § 3-3(b))
It shall be unlawful for any person to remove from any place of confinement or quarantine any dog, cat or other animal which has been confined or quarantined as authorized by this chapter, without the consent of the animal control officer.
(Code 1974, § 3-3(c))
If any animal is found upon the premises of any person, the owner or occupant of such premises shall have the right to confine such animal in a humane manner pending notification and impoundment by the animal control officer. When so notified, it shall be the duty of the animal control officer to impound such animal as provided in this article.
(Code 1974, § 3-3(d))
Any nursing baby animal impounded without the mother, or where the mother cannot or refuses to provide nutritious milk, may be disposed of by an animal control officer to prevent suffering.
(Code 1974, § 3-20)
Any impounded animal that appears to be suffering from extreme injury or illness may be disposed of or given to a nonprofit humane organization for the purpose of veterinary medical care, as determined by an animal control officer.
(Code 1974, § 3-21)
The animal control officer shall be authorized to place for adoption dogs or cats impounded by the city under the following conditions:
(1) 
The animal control officer shall be the sole judge as to whether a cat or dog is healthy enough for adoption, and its health and age adequate for vaccination. However, such decision by the animal control officer shall not constitute a warranty of the health or age of the animal.
(2) 
The adoption fee will be as set forth in section 30-4(f). All dogs and cats which are adopted through the city animal shelter shall be surgically altered to prevent reproduction in that animal. Immature dogs and cats shall be altered by the date designated in the adoption agreement or a citation will be issued.
(3) 
Should a person wanting to adopt an animal desire to take the adopted animal to a veterinarian of their choice for rabies vaccination or spay and neutering, the name, address and phone number of the veterinarian shall be provided to the animal control officer prior to adoption. Proof of rabies vaccination, spay and neutering must be returned to the city animal shelter within 30 days. Failure to provide proof of surgical alteration can and will result in the issuance of a citation.
(4) 
Failure to comply with this section or failure to comply with the terms of the agreements provided for in this article shall give the animal control officer the right to recover and impound the adopted animal in question and to render the vaccination receipt and the adoption contract null and void. Such failure shall also constitute a violation of this chapter.
(5) 
Confidentiality.
It is expressly provided that the personal information about any individual that executes a sterilization and vaccination agreement and/or adoption agreement with the city shall remain confidential and shall not be subject to public disclosure to the extent allowed by law. This personal information shall include the identity of the adopting person or new owner, that person’s address, telephone number, driver’s license number, or other personally identifying information. Further, such other information as may be declared confidential by state or federal law including the provisions of V.T.C.A., Health and Safety Code chapter 826 as amended, shall not be subject to public disclosure.
(Code 1974, § 3-7; Ordinance 1098, § I, 10-13-92; Ordinance 1878, § VIII, 6-8-10; Ordinance 2260, § 1, 9-8-20)