(a) 
The city manager or his designated representative shall take up and impound any animal found running at large in the city.
(b) 
If any animal is found upon the premises of anyone not the owner of such animal, the owner or occupant of such premises shall have the right to confine such animal. He shall notify the city manager or his designated representatives within a reasonable length of time to come and impound such animal. When so notified, it shall be the duty of such officers to at once cause such animal to be impounded.
(1977 Code, sec. 4-25)
Upon the impoundment of an animal under this article, the city manager or his authorized representative shall immediately notify the owner, by telephone and in writing, that the animal has been seized and impounded while at large within the city. Such notice shall state the amount of fees and costs which have accrued because of impoundment at the time of such notice, the rate at which additional fees and costs shall accrue and the time at which disposition of the animal will be made unless redeemed.
(1977 Code, sec. 4-26)
For each animal impounded under this article, fees shall be charged as adopted by resolution of the city council.
(1977 Code, sec. 4-27;Ordinanceadopting Code)
The owner of any animal which is impounded under this article may redeem the animal by paying all expenses of impoundment and keeping, together with the cost of advertising, microchipping and fines, at any time prior to the disposition of such animal in accordance with section 5.03.006.
(Ordinance 05-2018 adopted 3/5/18)
(a) 
The owner of any dog or cat impounded under the terms of this article may redeem such dog or cat within seventy-two (72) hours after impoundment by paying the fees described in section 5.03.003 and, if the dog or cat is not currently microchipped, by microchipping the animal and paying the registration fee prescribed by section 5.01.013; provided, however, in order for the owner of a dog or cat not vaccinated and microchipped under the provisions of this chapter to obtain its release, such owner must sign a statement giving the name of the owner and the address where such dog or cat shall be immediately confined, and stating that he will have the dog or cat vaccinated and microchipped immediately in accordance with the provisions of section 5.01.014. Failure to have such dog or cat immediately vaccinated and confined shall be grounds for the immediate return of the dog or cat to the city pound and such dog or cat may be destroyed or otherwise disposed of in accordance with this article.
(b) 
After the owner has failed to redeem the dog or cat within seventy-two (72) hours after impoundment, the dog or cat shall become the property of the city. The city manager or his designated representative shall retain sole authority to determine the final disposition of each animal in its custody once that animal becomes the property of the city.
(Ordinance 05-2018 adopted 3/5/18)
(a) 
After the owner has failed to redeem the animal within seventy-two (72) hours after impoundment, the animal shall become the property of the city. The city manager or his designated representative shall retain sole authority to determine the final disposition of each animal in its custody once that animal becomes the property of the city.
(b) 
If any animal impounded under this article is not redeemed by the owner and cannot be sold it may be given away; if an animal cannot be sold and has not been given away or redeemed, it shall be forthwith humanely destroyed.
(c) 
This section shall not apply to unredeemed dogs and cats, which shall be disposed of in accord with section 5.03.007.
(d) 
The redemption of wild animals or animals of known vicious propensity shall not be required nor shall it be permitted. If the animal cannot be sold to a party who will keep it outside the city limits or given away to an institution suitable for the keeping and care of wild animals, it shall forthwith be humanely destroyed.
(Ordinance 05-2018 adopted 3/5/18)
(a) 
Adoption.
(1) 
The animal services department shall be authorized to place for adoption dogs or cats impounded by city under the following conditions:
(A) 
The animal services director or his designee shall evaluate all animals to determine if it is an adoption candidate, based on its health, temperament, and appropriateness for vaccination. However, authorization to place a dog or cat for adoption shall not constitute a warranty of the health, temperament, or age of the animal.
(B) 
There will be an adoption fee for all dogs and cats at an amount set by the director of the animal services department or his designee. The fee will include the cost of sterilization, vaccination, and implantation of a microchip.
(C) 
All animals adopted from the animal services facility shall be implanted with a microchip, vaccinated against rabies according to state guidelines, and sterilized.
(D) 
If, in the opinion of a licensed veterinarian, there is a legitimate health risk justifying the delay of sterilization, the person adopting the animal must provide a signed statement from the veterinarian stating why the sterilization should be delayed and when the procedure may be performed. A legitimate health risk cannot be based solely on the age of the animal if the animal is at least eight (8) weeks old. The owner shall provide written proof to the animal services of the completed sterilization within forty-eight (48) hours of the procedure.
(2) 
If an adopted animal dies on or before the sterilization completion date, the adopting person must provide written documentation to the animal services that the animal has died.
(3) 
If an adopted animal is lost or stolen before the sterilization date, the adopting person must provide written documentation to the animal services department stating that the animal is lost or stolen and a copy of the police report, if any, of the theft. In order to be sufficient, the letter shall be delivered to the animal services department not later than the seventh (7th) business day after the date of the animal’s disappearance and shall describe the circumstances surrounding the disappearance and the date of disappearance.
(b) 
Transfer to releasing agency or foster care.
(1) 
The animal services director or his designee may transfer ownership of the animal to a releasing agency that has a signed transfer agreement for dogs and cats on file with the animal services department provided that the group sterilizes and microchips the animal prior to placing it into an adoptive home.
(2) 
The animal services director or designee may temporarily place the animal in a foster home that has a signed foster agreement for dogs and cats on file with the animal services.
(c) 
Euthanasia.
The animal services department may euthanize the animal due to the animal’s health or temperament, space limitations, or as otherwise deemed necessary by the animal services director or designee.
(Ordinance 05-2018 adopted 3/5/18)
The city manager or his designated representative shall cause to be kept a record, giving the description of all animals impounded by him, the date of impounding, the date of sale or release to the owner, the amount realized for such animals, if sold, and the name and address of the purchaser or person obtaining the release of the animal.
(1977 Code, sec. 4-32)
(a) 
The local animal control authority may issue a live trap to any person(s) requesting a trap within the corporate limits of the city. Each person shall sign an animal trap agreement and pay a fee prior to receiving the trap. The fee will be as adopted by resolution of the city council and will be charged per business week; however, in the event said trap is returned prior to the end of such business week the fee shall be based on a per day rate and a refund provided. Lease of a live animal trap shall not exceed a period of two (2) weeks. Any person requesting a trap will be responsible for keeping the trap in proper working order, and for the cost to repair or replace a damaged, destroyed, or lost trap.
(b) 
Humane traps shall be used to trap animals within the city, whether on public or private property. The person who places the trap, or who requests its placement by the city, shall be responsible for checking the trap, the care of the animal while it is in the trap, and the notification to the city of any captured animal. All traps shall be checked at least daily. No traps shall be placed upon public property without written authorization from the city. It shall be the responsibility of the person setting the trap to properly label the trap indicating the owner and the date permission was obtained from the city.
(c) 
All captured domesticated animals shall be turned over to the city. All captured wild animals shall be turned over to the city, a wildlife educational center, or state-licensed wildlife rehabilitator as soon as possible.
(d) 
Offenses.
A person commits an offense if he:
(1) 
Places, or places and baits, or permits the placing or placing and baiting of any steel jawed trap (commonly known as a “bear trap,” “wolf trap,” “leg hold trap,” or “coyote trap”), any body hold trap (commonly known as “conibear trap”), or any other trap designed to be lethal;
(2) 
Places any substance, article, or bait that has in any manner been treated with any poisonous or toxic substance, including antifreeze, or any drug in any place accessible to human beings, birds, dogs, cats or other animals with the intent to kill or harm animals;
(3) 
Places, or places and baits a trap or permits the placing or placing and baiting of any trap designed for trapping animals in any highway, street, alley or other public place within the corporate limits of the city unless specific written authorization by the city has been granted. This subsection shall not apply to a city enforcement agent or an agency working with written permission from the city from placing the traps on public property;
(4) 
Removes, alters, damages, or otherwise tampers with a trap or equipment belonging to or set out at the request of the city.
(e) 
This section shall not be interpreted to restrict the extermination of rats, mice, insects, other vermin, or any animal deemed a nuisance by state law, through the use of traps, poisons, or other commercially available means when used in that person’s residence, property, accessory structure, or commercial establishment and in accordance with the manufacturer’s directions as long as reasonable precautions are taken to ensure that no human, pet, or wild animal, other than the targeted species, comes into contact with the traps, poisons, or other means and that does not violate any other section of this chapter.
(Ordinance 28-15 adopted 12/14/15)