Any animals violating any provision of this chapter may be impounded as follows:
(1) 
Cats and dogs not exhibiting registration tags;
(2) 
Any animal infected with a zoonotic disease, including, but not limited to, any animal suspected of having been infected by rabies or exposed to rabies;
(3) 
Any animal that creates a nuisance;
(4) 
Any animal running at large (other than a cat);
(5) 
Any animal kept under conditions or treated in a manner which an animal control officer has reasonable cause to believe is cruel or inhumane;
(6) 
Any animal that has bitten a person; or
(7) 
Any animal violating any provision of this article.
(2006 Code, sec. 14-84; Ordinance 09-02-786, sec. 2, adopted 2/16/09)
If any of the animals named in this article are found upon the premises of any person, the owner or occupant of the premises shall have the right to confine such animal in a humane manner until he can notify an animal control officer to come and impound such animal. When so notified, it shall be the duty of the animal control officer to have such animal impounded as provided in this article. The use of steel jaw traps, a spring trap with teeth, or any type of trap designed to reasonably ensure cutting, slicing, or tearing to capture animals is prohibited.
(2006 Code, sec. 14-85; Ordinance 09-02-786, sec. 2, adopted 2/16/09)
A person commits an offense if the person interferes, removes, alters, damages or otherwise tampers with equipment belonging to or set out by the animal control division.
(2006 Code, sec. 14-86; Ordinance 09-02-786, sec. 2, adopted 2/16/09)
The animal control division shall make reasonable effort to contact the owner of any impounded animal that is wearing a current registration tag; however, final responsibility for locating and reclaiming an impounded animal is that of the owner.
(2006 Code, sec. 14-87; Ordinance 09-02-786, sec. 2, adopted 2/16/09)
An owner can regain possession of any impounded animal upon payment of impoundment fees, handling fees and any veterinarian bills incurred by the animal control Division for the welfare of the animal and upon compliance with vaccination and registration provisions of this chapter. Any person owning any animal impounded under this article shall be allowed to take such animal from the animal shelter or other place where impounded upon the following conditions:
(1) 
Payment to the city of an impoundment fee as described in the fee schedule in appendix A of this code, plus an amount established in the adopted fee schedule in appendix A of this code per day or fractional part thereof for handling fees for each day impounded.
(2) 
If the owner cannot provide proof of a current rabies vaccination, the animal must be revaccinated or vaccinated for rabies within five days of being reclaimed by the owner of the impounded animal. Animals less than 12 weeks of age will not require a rabies vaccination in order to be released.
(2006 Code, sec. 14-88; Ordinance 09-02-786, sec. 2, adopted 2/16/09; Ordinance adopting 2015 Code; Ordinance 16-08-1015, sec. 2.19, adopted 8/16/16)
If the owner has not redeemed such impounded animal within three (3) days from its capture and impoundment, the animal shall become the property of the city and may be given to a nonprofit humane organization, placed for adoption, or humanely destroyed as deemed appropriate by the animal control officer. Animals wearing a current city license tag will be held for six days prior to their disposition.
(2006 Code, sec. 14-89; Ordinance 09-02-786, sec. 2, adopted 2/16/09; Ordinance 16-08-1015, sec. 2.20, adopted 8/16/16)
An owner who no longer wishes responsibility for an animal, or does not desire to regain possession of an impounded animal, may, upon signing a waiver in a form provided by the animal control division, allow the animal to be placed for adoption, given to a humane nonprofit organization, or humanely destroyed as deemed appropriate by the animal control officer; provided, however, that the animal has not bitten a human within the last ten days of the owner wanting to relinquish his responsibility of ownership.
(2006 Code, sec. 14-90; Ordinance 09-02-786, sec. 2, adopted 2/16/09; Ordinance 16-08-1015, sec. 2.21, adopted 8/16/16)
Any impounded animal which has been seriously injured or is seriously ill may be euthanized immediately to prevent suffering, or given to a nonprofit humane organization for the purpose of veterinary medical care, as deemed appropriate by an animal control officer. The animal shelter shall not be responsible for providing veterinary care for any sick or injured animal nor shall the city be liable for any property damage as a result of euthanization or conveyance of such animal.
(2006 Code, sec. 14-91; Ordinance 09-02-786, sec. 2, adopted 2/16/09; Ordinance 16-08-1015, sec. 2.22, adopted 8/16/16)
Any impounded wild animal, unless there is a reason to believe that it has an owner, may be immediately disposed of as may be deemed appropriate by an animal control officer.
(2006 Code, sec. 14-92; Ordinance 09-02-786, sec. 2, adopted 2/16/09)
Any nursing baby animal impounded without the mother or where the mother cannot or refuses to provide nutritious meals may be immediately euthanized to prevent suffering or given to an individual or to a nonprofit humane organization for the purpose of caring for such animal as determined appropriate by the animal control officer.
(2006 Code, sec. 14-93; Ordinance 09-02-786, sec. 2, adopted 2/16/09; Ordinance 16-08-1015, sec. 2.23, adopted 8/16/16)
(a) 
Impoundment fee.
Impoundment fees shall be as provided in the fee schedule in appendix A of this code.
(b) 
Daily handling fee.
A daily handling fee shall be charged for each and every day, or fraction thereof, that an animal is confined at the animal shelter. The daily handling fee shall be as provided in the fee schedule in appendix A of this code.
(c) 
Quarantine fee.
The owner of any cat or dog held in quarantine for observation purposes shall also be charged a daily impoundment fee for each and every day or fraction of a day an animal is at the animal shelter, as specified in the fee schedule in appendix A of this code.
(2006 Code, sec. 14-94; Ordinance 09-02-786, sec. 2, adopted 2/16/09)
(a) 
A person may adopt an animal from the animal shelter under the following conditions:
(1) 
The animal to be adopted must be classified as adoptable by the animal control division.
(2) 
The prospective adopter has the proper facilities to care for the animal.
(3) 
The prospective adopter completes the animal adoption agreement form.
(4) 
The prospective adopter pays an adoption fee.
(b) 
The adoption fee includes sterilization, rabies vaccine, microchipping, and first combo vaccinations. Persons who adopt an animal under four (4) months of age will be provided with a date to return the animal to the animal shelter for sterilization and rabies vaccination.
(c) 
The adoption fee may be waived for nonprofit humane animal rescue organizations in good standing with the city animal shelter. When the fee is waived for such organizations, no rabies vaccination or sterilization services will be provided. Nonprofit organizations that have the fee waived must present proof of rabies vaccination and sterilization within ten days from the date the animal is received from the city animal shelter. Additional time shall be allowed for animals less than four months of age.
(2006 Code, sec. 14-95; Ordinance 09-02-786, sec. 2, adopted 2/16/09; Ordinance 16-08-1015, sec. 2.24, adopted 8/16/16)