In addition to any other remedies provided in this chapter,
an animal control officer or a police officer, or any designated employee
of the city if an animal control officer is not available, may seize,
impound and humanely confine to an animal shelter or hospital any
of the following animals:
(1)
Any
animal at large;
(2)
Any
animal constituting a danger to the public;
(3)
Any
animal not wearing a collar to which a metal vaccination tag is clearly
attached;
(4)
Any
animal that is in violation of any quarantine or confinement order
of the city;
(5)
Any
unattended animal that is ill, injured, or otherwise in need of care;
(6)
Any
animal that is reasonably believed to have been abused or neglected;
(7)
Any
animal that is reasonably suspected of having rabies;
(8)
Any
animal that is charged with being potentially dangerous where an animal
control officer, a police officer, or other designated city employee
determines that there is a threat to public health and safety;
(9)
Any
animal that a court of competent jurisdiction has ordered impounded
or destroyed; or
(10)
Any animal that is considered unattended or abandoned, as in situations
where the owner is deceased, has been arrested or has been evicted
from his regular place of residence.
(Ordinance 2006-06-05-013, sec.
2-6(a), adopted 6/5/06)
In the event of actual or immediate danger of injury to any
person because of an animal’s vicious nature or actions, or
in the event that an animal which constitutes a threat to the health
or safety of people or other animals is about to elude capture, the
officer shall be justified in immediately destroying the animal by
the use of any reasonable means available, without liability to the
owner for the death of the animal.
(Ordinance 2006-06-05-013, sec.
2-6(b), adopted 6/5/06)
An animal control officer or police officer is authorized to
issue a citation to any person who violates a provision of this chapter.
The citation shall set forth the general nature of the violation charged,
and direct the violator to appear in the municipal court of the city
on or before a day certain. When the violator is not present, the
citation may be issued, a complaint filed, and procedure followed
as permitted by law.
(Ordinance 2006-06-05-013, sec.
2-6(c), adopted 6/5/06)
Any vicious animal or wild animal, other than an endangered
species, that has been impounded may be immediately disposed of as
deemed appropriate by the city. Wild animals trapped because they
have become a nuisance may be transported to less populated areas
and released.
(Ordinance 2006-06-05-013, sec.
2-6(d), adopted 6/5/06)
Any person finding an animal at large upon his property may
hold the animal in his own possession and shall notify the city. It
shall be the duty of the city to impound the animal.
(Ordinance 2006-06-05-013, sec.
2-6(e), adopted 6/5/06)
If a dog or cat wearing a vaccination tag is impounded, an animal
service officer shall request the name and address of the owner from
the veterinarian who issued the tag. If the owner cannot be reached
readily by telephone, written notification shall be mailed to the
address furnished by the veterinarian.
(Ordinance 2006-06-05-013, sec.
2-6(f), adopted 6/5/06)
An impounded dog or cat shall be released to its owner during
regular hours of operation upon payment of the fee as established
by city council, and upon proof of ownership. Possession of a vaccination
certificate describing the dog or cat or bearing the same serial number
that appears on a metal tag worn by the dog or cat shall be accepted
as prima facie proof of ownership.
(Ordinance 2006-06-05-013, sec.
2-6(g), adopted 6/5/06)
(a)
Disposition and Redemption.
The city shall keep any
stray dog or cat a minimum of three (3) days prior to release for
adoption, and a minimum of five (5) days prior to humane destruction,
not counting the day of impoundment.
(b)
Unadoptable
animals or animals selected because of overcrowding may be humanely
destroyed after a three-day period.
(Ordinance 2008-07-21-008 adopted 7/21/08)
(a)
Impoundment
fees are set out by resolution adopted by the city council.
(b)
No
animal shall be released to an owner until all impoundment fees have
been paid.
(c)
Any
animal impounded more than four (4) times in a twelve-month period
shall not be released to its owner or custodian without the written
approval of the city. Impoundment fees shall be double the highest
listed fee.
(Ordinance 2006-06-05-013, sec.
2-7, adopted 6/5/06)
An impounded dog or cat which is not claimed and redeemed by
an owner within three (3) days following the day of its impoundment
may be released to any person for a fee established by the city council.
The decision to place an animal for adoption is in the sole discretion
of the city. No person seeking to adopt an animal shall be discriminated
against on the basis of race, sex, religion or national origin. No
person convicted of the offense of dog fighting and/or cruelty to
an animal shall be permitted to adopt any animal.
(Ordinance 2006-06-05-013, sec.
2-8, adopted 6/5/06)
All adopted animals are required to be spayed or neutered within
fourteen (14) days of adoption unless the animal is less than four
(4) months of age. All pets reaching that age shall be spayed or neutered.
(Ordinance 2006-06-05-013, sec.
2-10, adopted 6/5/06)
