The city manager shall select and establish a place for impounding
all animals impounded under any provision of this article.
(Ordinance 689 adopted 9/22/04)
The animal control officer is authorized to impound animals
running at large, other than a cat or dog, and may impound a cat or
dog under conditions specified below or when he has received a complaint
that the cat or dog has caused a nuisance or hazard to the health
or welfare of the human or animal population. The following animals
may be impounded:
(1)
Dogs
not exhibiting evidence of being vaccinated as described in article
II;
(2)
Any animal
infected or kept under conditions which could endanger the public
or animal health;
(5)
Any animal
treated in a manner determined by the animal control officer to be
cruel or inhumane;
(6)
Any animal
that has bitten a human being or needs to be placed under observation
for rabies determination, as determined by the local health authority;
(7)
Any animal
violating any provision of this chapter.
(Ordinance 689 adopted 9/22/04)
(a)
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 the
animal control office 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 herein provided.
(b)
Reasonable
effort shall be made by the animal control office to contact the owner
of any animal impounded which is wearing a current vaccination tag;
however, final responsibility for location of an impounded animal
is that of the owner.
(Ordinance 689 adopted 9/22/04)
The owner can resume possession of any impounded animal upon payment of impoundment fees, handling fees and any veterinary bills incurred by animal control for the welfare of the animal, and upon compliance with the vaccination provisions of this chapter, except where prohibited in sections 4-50 and 4-51.
(Ordinance 689 adopted 9/22/04)
Disposition of animals impounded on the grounds of cruel or
inhumane treatment shall be determined by the court of jurisdiction.
(Ordinance 689 adopted 9/22/04)
If any animal is being held under quarantine or observation
for rabies, the owner shall not be entitled to possession until it
has been released from quarantine.
(Ordinance 689 adopted 9/22/04)
(a)
Any animal,
except vicious or wild animals, not reclaimed by the owner may be
humanely euthanized after being impounded for 72 hours, except that
any animal wearing a current vaccination tag shall be impounded for
six days.
(b)
Any impounded
vicious or wild animal, unless there is reason to believe that it
has an owner, may be immediately disposed of as may be deemed appropriate
by the animal control officer.
(c)
Any nursing
baby animal impounded without the mother, or where the mother cannot
or refuses to provide nutritious milk, may be immediately euthanized
to prevent further suffering.
(Ordinance 689 adopted 9/22/04)
Any owner who no longer wishes responsibility for an animal,
or believes the animal to be in an ill or injured condition, may sign
a written waiver supplied by the animal control allowing the animal
to be immediately euthanized in a humane manner. No dog or cat that
has bitten a human being shall be euthanized before expiration of
the ten-day quarantine period. The owner shall pay the cost of euthanasia.
(Ordinance 689 adopted 9/22/04)
Any impounded animal that appears to be suffering from extreme
injury or illness may be euthanized or given to a nonprofit humane
organization for the purpose of veterinary medical care, as determined
by the animal control officer.
(Ordinance 689 adopted 9/22/04)
Impoundment and handling fees shall be as established by the
city commission. See the city’s rate and fee schedule, section
400-1, handling fees, and section 400-2, impoundment fees.
(Ordinance 689 adopted 9/22/04)
