The animal control officer is authorized to take up all animals found not to be restrained and impound such animals in the animal shelter. All such animals shall be confined in a humane manner.
(1986 Municipal Code, Title 9, Chapter 1, Section 9-1-17)
Where the ownership of an animal, found not to be restrained, is known, a notice of such violation may be issued by the animal control officer or his designee to such owner. Upon issuance of any such notice, the animal control officer or his designee shall file a complaint with the municipal court and request that the violator be summoned to appear in municipal court and answer such charges.
(1986 Municipal Code, Title 9, Chapter 1, Section 9-1-18)
Upon impounding animals found with current vaccination, city, or other identifying tags, the animal control officer shall make a reasonable effort to notify the owners of such animals so impounded, and of the conditions whereby they may regain possession of such animals.
(1986 Municipal Code, Title 9, Chapter 1, Section 9-1-19)
(a) 
Payment of Impounded Fees.
Any animal impounded under the provisions of this article may be reclaimed by the owner upon the payment of all impoundment fees.
(b) 
Unvaccinated Animals.
Any animal over the age of four (4) months which does not have a current rabies vaccination may not be redeemed, transferred, or adopted until it has been vaccinated as required by this article. An animal may be released for redemption, transfer or adoption upon presentation of evidence that the impounded animal has a current vaccination, or upon presentation of evidence that the owner has prepaid a licensed veterinarian for the vaccination of the impounded animal, in which case the animal must be vaccinated within three (3) business days after the animal’s release for redemption, transfer or adoption.
(1986 Municipal Code, Title 9, Chapter 1, Section 9-1-20; Ordinance 447, sec. 4, adopted 11/8/05)
(a) 
After the requirements of notice as set forth in Sections 2.303 and 2.304 and the expiration of three (3) days, any impounded animal that is unclaimed or unredeemed shall become the property of the City of Sundown which shall have the following powers:
(1) 
Authority to Ownership.
The animal control officer may transfer ownership of any impounded animal that is unclaimed or unredeemed. In the event of such transfer of ownership, the person or agency to whom ownership is transferred shall pay for such animal’s food and care while in the animal shelter and shall comply with the applicable vaccination requirements.
(2) 
Transfer of Ownership to Humane Society.
The animal control officer may transfer ownership of any impounded animal that is unclaimed or unredeemed.
(3) 
Destruction of Animal.
The animal control officer may destroy by a lawful and humane method any impounded animal that is unclaimed or unredeemed within the three (3) day period provided for in Subsection 2.305(a).
(b) 
Donated, Sick, Weaned or Injured Animals.
(1) 
The animal control officer may destroy any animal by a humane method if the animal is unwearied, so sick or injured that its cure is considered by the animal control officer to be impracticable, or, if death is imminent; and in any of such events, such destruction may be done immediately without notice of any waiting period.
(2) 
In the case of donated animals, immediate destruction of the animal is permitted.
(1986 Municipal Code, Title 9, Chapter 1, Section 9-1-21; Ordinance 447, sec. 5, adopted 11/8/05)
(a) 
It shall be the duty of every physician or other practitioner to report to the local health authority the names and addresses of persons treated for bites inflicted by animals, together with such other information as will be helpful in rabies control.
(b) 
It shall be the duty of every person owning or having possession of an animal which has bitten a person to report the same to the local health authority and to confine it in an enclosure, or to securely hold the animal in a closed, padlocked cage for observation and examination by the local health authority. No person having the custody or possession of such animal shall fail, refuse or neglect to allow the local health authority to make an inspection or examination of such animal for the purpose of determining whether such animal has rabies.
(1986 Municipal Code, Title 9, Chapter 1, Section 9-1-22)
(a) 
Animal Which Bites; Observation Period.
Every animal which bites a person or which is suspected of having bitten a person shall be promptly reported to the local health authority, and shall thereupon be securely quarantined for a period of ten (10) days.
(b) 
Quarantine Places.
Quarantining shall be at the following:
(1) 
State approved rabies quarantine facility in which case the owner of the animal suspected of having rabies, shall pay the usual impoundment fees.
(2) 
A licensed veterinary hospital, upon the owner’s request and at his expense.
(3) 
Home quarantine is subject to the approval of the chief of police and the following requirements:
(A) 
The owner of the animal is a resident of the city and has proper confinement facilities at his residence in Sundown; and
(B) 
The owner of the suspect animal agrees that he will have the animal inspected by a licensed veterinarian immediately following the ten (10) day period and agrees to furnish the local health authority with a certificate of health showing the animal to be free of rabies; and
(C) 
The animal was not in violation of any laws or ordinances at the time of the possible exposure; and
(D) 
The animal is currently vaccinated; and
(E) 
The animal can be observed daily by the local health authority.
(4) 
An animal of unknown ownership will be quarantined at a state approved rabies quarantine facility.
(c) 
Surrender by Owner; Expense.
Upon demand made by the local health authority it shall be unlawful for the owner to fail to surrender any animal which has bitten a person or another animal, or which is suspected of having been exposed to rabies, for quarantine, the expense of which shall be borne by the owner.
(d) 
Release to Owner.
The quarantined animal may be reclaimed by the owner if adjudged free of rabies, upon payment of impoundment fees and upon compliance with the vaccination requirement of this article.
(e) 
Pathological Examination; Health Officer Notified.
When an animal under quarantine is diagnosed by a licensed veterinarian as being rabid or suspected of being rabid or dies while under observation, the local health authority shall immediately send the head of such animal to the State Health Department for pathological examination. The local health authority shall notify the proper public health official of reports of human contacts and the diagnosis made of the suspected animal from the pathological examination.
(f) 
Animals Bitten by Rabid Animals.
Any unvaccinated animal bitten by another animal suspected of being or known to be rabid shall be immediately destroyed, or shall be surrendered to the animal shelter or home quarantine for a period of six (6) months quarantine, and shall be vaccinated immediately, plus revaccinated at the end of five (5) months. Any vaccinated animal bitten by another animal suspected of being or known to be rabid shall be immediately vaccinated and surrendered to the animal shelter for a period of ninety (90) days quarantine. In the event the biting animal is found not to be rabid, the bitten animal shall be released. Said animal shall be quarantined at the owner’s expense and said expense shall be paid at the end of each months quarantine or the animal shall become the property of the City of Sundown and shall be forthwith disposed of; provided, however, that the chief of police may permit the quarantine of the bitten animal for the required period in a licensed veterinary facility at the owner’s option and expense.
(1986 Municipal Code, Title 9, Chapter 1, Section 9-1-23)
(a) 
Condition Warranting; Period.
A city-wide quarantine may be invoked for a period of thirty (30) days by the city council upon the recommendation of the chief of police after the council has been notified by the State Health Department of a positive diagnosis of rabies of an animal or after an investigation it has determined there exists an immediate threat of rabies.
(b) 
Extending Time.
In the event there are additional positive cases of rabies occurring during the thirty (30) day period of the city-wide quarantine, such period of quarantine may be extended for an additional reasonable period of time.
(c) 
Animals in Public.
It shall be unlawful for any person to take or permit any animal to be at large or in any other public place during the period of quarantine.
(1986 Municipal Code, Title 9, Chapter 1, Section 9-1-24)
It shall be unlawful for any person to kill, or cause to be killed, any rabid animal, any animal suspected of having been exposed to rabies or any animal which has bitten a person or is suspected to have bitten a person, except as herein provided, nor to remove same from the city limits without written permission from the chief of police.
(1) 
Exposed to Rabies.
The carcass of any dead animal suspected of having been exposed to rabies shall, upon demand, be surrendered to the local health authority.
(2) 
Determined Rabid.
The local health authority shall direct the disposition of any animal found to be infected with rabies.
(3) 
Surrender After Demand.
It shall be unlawful for any person to fail or refuse to surrender any animal for quarantine, destruction or disposal as required herein when demand is made therefore by the local health authority.
(1986 Municipal Code, Title 9, Chapter 1, Section 9-1-25)