(a) 
Impoundment authorized; authority to destroy certain animals.
Animals which are at large may be captured by animal control personnel, or other designated employees of the city if animal control personnel are not available, impounded in an animal shelter and there confined in a reasonably humane manner with necessary food and shelter. In the event of actual and immediate danger of bodily injury to any person because of an animal’s vicious nature or actions, or in the event an animal which constitutes a threat to the health of people or other animals is about to elude capture by animal control personnel, the personnel shall be justified in immediately destroying the animal by the use of any reasonable means available to them without liability of any nature to the owner for the death of the animal.
(b) 
Notification of owner.
If an animal wearing a metal vaccination tag is impounded, the operator of the animal shelter where the animal is impounded 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 placed on the door of the address furnished by the veterinarian.
(c) 
Holding period.
The director of animal control shall operate an animal shelter [which] shall keep an impounded animal at least three days prior to release for adoption, and at least three days prior to humane destruction, not counting the day of impoundment.
(d) 
Release of animal to owner.
An impounded animal shall be released to its owner during regular hours of operation upon payment of the appropriate fees and upon proof of ownership. In the case of dogs and cats, 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. Impounded dogs and cats for which the owner cannot show proof of current vaccination and registration will be released only if and when the owner signs an agreement to show proof of same within 72 hours. Failure to show proof of such within the 72-hour period will constitute a violation of this chapter.
(e) 
Duty of chief of police or designee.
It shall be the duty of the chief of police or his designee, and in compliance with any procedural requirements of this chapter, to seize and deliver to the city animal shelter any and all animals found in violation of the provisions of this chapter.
(f) 
Seizure due to animal cruelty.
In the instance of seizure due to animal cruelty, owner must provide proof of corrective action within 72 hours to satisfy the hearing officer (police chief or animal control officer) that the safe return of the animal is possible. Appeals to the hearing officer’s decision must be filed within 10 days after the decision is delivered.
(Ordinance 2009-10-05 601, sec. 5(A), adopted 10/5/09; Ordinance adopting Code)
(a) 
Impoundment fees shall be set in the city council’s budget ordinance and are set forth in the fee schedule in appendix A of this code.
(b) 
Classification:
(1) 
Class A.
Each dog or cat or juvenile of same.
(2) 
Class B.
Goat, sheep, lamb, pig, sow, shoat, and animals of the same approximate size and weight.
(3) 
Class C.
Cattle, horses, ponies, mules, foals, calves, and animals of the same approximate size and weight.
(4) 
Class D.
Exotic or wild animals.
(5) 
Class E.
Birds and fowl.
(c) 
All fees will be determined by the animal control officer and will be placed on the fee schedule and may be found at the city hall.
(Ordinance 2009-10-05 601, sec. 5(B), adopted 10/5/09)
(a) 
Posting of notice.
All notices of public sale of livestock by the division of animal control shall be posted in the city’s normal public notice location.
(b) 
Contents of notice.
All notices for the sale of impounded livestock shall state the following:
(1) 
When such animals are to be sold;
(2) 
Where such animals are to be sold;
(3) 
A full description of the animals; and (4) Statement of charges and cost.
(c) 
Illegally removing animals from impoundment.
It shall be unlawful for any person to take or attempt to take any animal out of city impoundment or release the same therefrom without the permission of the animal control personnel.
(Ordinance 2009-10-05 601, sec. 5(C), adopted 10/5/09)
(a) 
An impounded dog or cat which is not claimed and redeemed by an owner within the three days following the day of its impoundment may be released to any person for an adoption fee. The decision to place an animal for adoption is in the sole discretion of the director of animal control. 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 animal fighting shall be permitted to adopt an animal from an animal shelter.
(b) 
An impounded domestic animal or fowl may be given, without fee, to a nonprofit animal shelter, pound, organization, or society for the protection of animals, for the purpose of domestic adoption, providing that all other sections of this chapter or any other ordinances or applicable laws are met.
(c) 
Dogs or cats may not be released for adoption unless the animal has been vaccinated against rabies and sterilized or the new owner signs an agreement to have the animal sterilized, as follows:
(1) 
Animals must be vaccinated against rabies by a licensed veterinarian within 72 hours of adoption.
(2) 
Animals must be sterilized by a licensed veterinarian within 30 days of adoption in the case of an adult animal, or within 30 days after the estimated date the animal will become eight months old in the case of an infant animal. The director of animal control may extend the deadline for sterilization by 30 days on presentation of a written report from a licensed veterinarian stating that the life or health of the animal may be jeopardized by surgery. There is no limit on the number of extensions which may be granted.
(3) 
If a deadline specified in the adoption agreement falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, the deadline is extended to noon on the next day that is not a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday.
(4) 
Except as hereafter provided, each new owner who signs an agreement must deliver to the director of animal control a letter signed by a licensed veterinarian that briefly describes the animal, states that the animal has been sterilized or vaccinated, as applicable, and provides the date on which the animal was sterilized or vaccinated. The letter must be delivered to the director of animal control in person or by mail within seven days of the date of the procedure described in the letter.
(A) 
If the adopted animal dies before being sterilized or vaccinated, then in lieu of the confirmation letter described above the new owner shall deliver to the director of animal control a signed letter stating that the animal is dead and, if known, provide the date and circumstances of the death. The letter must be delivered in person or by mail within seven days of the animal’s death.
(B) 
If the adopted animal is lost or stolen before being sterilized or vaccinated, then in lieu of the confirmation letter described above the new owner shall deliver to the director of animal control a signed letter stating the animal is lost or stolen and, if known, provide the date and circumstances of the animal’s disappearance. The letter must be delivered in person or by mail within seven days of the animal’s disappearance.
(5) 
If the director of animal control does not receive a letter meeting the requirements of the city code within the seventh day after the due date specified in the adoption agreement, he shall cause a complaint to be filed against the new owner, and there shall be a rebuttable presumption that the owner’s failure to timely deliver the required letter is the result of the owner’s refusal to have the animal vaccinated or sterilized, as applicable.
(6) 
If the director of animal control does not receive a letter meeting the requirements of the city code within the seventh day after the due date specified in the adoption agreement, he may promptly reclaim the animal from the new owner. A person may not prevent, obstruct, or interfere with a reclamation under this subsection.
(d) 
A new owner who violates this chapter commits an offense.
(Ordinance 2009-10-05 601, sec. 5(G), adopted 10/5/09)
It shall be unlawful for any person to tamper with, destroy, damage, spring, or cause to malfunction any trap set by the department of animal control or any of its agents, or to release any dog or cat from any such trap.
(Ordinance 2009-10-05 601, sec. 5(H), adopted 10/5/09)
(a) 
An animal that has been severely injured may be destroyed in a humane manner by the animal control department or a police officer if the animal is suffering and is not expected to survive.
(b) 
An animal that exhibits symptoms of mange, distemper, parvo, or other communicable diseases may be destroyed in a humane manner by the animal control department or a police officer. Animals suspected of having a communicable disease shall not be confined with healthy animals in an animal shelter.
(c) 
If an injured or diseased animal in the custody of an animal shelter or animal control personnel is wearing a current vaccination tag or other identification, the custodian shall make every reasonable effort to notify the owner. Once notified, if the owner proceeds immediately to the location of the injured animal, it shall be released to the owner. Animals that are not wearing any type of identification may be destroyed immediately by the animal control department or a police officer.
(d) 
The city shall not be responsible for obtaining veterinary services for a diseased or injured animal. In the event a humane society obtains veterinary services for a diseased or injured animal, the person who subsequently claims ownership of the animal shall be liable for all expenses of treatment. A person or entity that obtains veterinary services for an animal may bring suit against the animal’s owner to collect expenses of treatment.
(e) 
The city, its officers, agents, and employees shall not be liable for any damages for the destruction of any animal accomplished in accordance with this chapter.
(Ordinance 2009-10-05 601, sec. 5(I), adopted 10/5/09)
A person commits an offense if the person knowingly interrupts, disrupts, impedes, or otherwise interferes with any animal control personnel while such personnel are performing a duty or exercising authority imposed or granted under this chapter. It is a defense to prosecution under this section that the interruption, disruption, impediment, or interference alleged consisted of speech only.
(Ordinance 2009-10-05 601, sec. 5(J), adopted 10/5/09)
A person commits an offense if the person violates a provision of this chapter, and no other penalty is prescribed for the violation.
(Ordinance 2009-10-05 601, sec. 5(K), adopted 10/5/09)
The animal control officer or police officers are 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 given date. The violator shall sign the citation to indicate his agreement to appear. In the event a violator refuses to sign the agreement to appear, a police officer may be called to the scene, and upon the continued refusal of such person to sign may arrest such person and require a bond be posted in the amount set by the municipal court. When the violator is not present, the citation may be issued, a complaint filed, and procedure followed as permitted by law.
(Ordinance 2009-10-05 601, sec. 5(L), adopted 10/5/09)