(a) Unrestrained
dogs, cats, and nuisance animals may be taken by the animal control
officers or law enforcement officers and impounded in an animal shelter
and there confined in a humane manner. Any animal that poses a threat
to public health and safety, any wild animal kept illegally, or any
animal that has been cruelly treated or abused shall be impounded.
For purposes of discharging the duties imposed by the provisions of
this chapter or other applicable laws, and to enforce the same, duly
authorized representatives or employees may enter upon private property
to the full extent permitted by law, which shall include but not be
limited to entry upon private unfenced property when in pursuit of
any animal which he/she has reason to believe is subject to impoundment
pursuant to the provisions of this chapter or other applicable laws.
(b) Impounded
dogs, cats, other domestic animals, and livestock shall be kept for
not fewer than 72 hours unless claimed by the owner.
(c) Wild
cats, dogs, or other animals may be kept 0 to 72 hours at the discretion
of the animal control officer and animal shelter staff.
(d) Sick
or injured animals wearing no apparent identification through which
ownership can be determined may be kept 0 to 72 hours at the discretion
of the animal control officer and animal shelter staff after consultation
with a licensed veterinarian.
(e) If,
by a license tag or other means, the owner of an impounded animal
can be identified, the animal control officer shall immediately upon
impoundment notify the owner by direct contact, telephone, mail, or
other reasonable means that the animal has been impounded, who to
contact to obtain the animal’s release and a general statement
describing the conditions that must be met to obtain the animal’s
release.
(f) An
owner reclaiming an impounded dog or cat shall pay all impounding
fees and licensing fees according to the fee schedule and boarding
fees as set by the custodian of the animal, which fees shall be reasonable
and not clearly excessive. If no proof of a current rabies vaccination
can be produced, the owner will be charged for a rabies vaccination
and given a coupon to obtain a rabies vaccination from any veterinarian.
Impoundment and boarding fees for all other animals shall be according
to the fee schedule. Subsequent impounds occurring within twelve months
shall be charged double the scheduled fees.
(g) No
sick impounded animal shall be released to the owner until the animal
control officer shall be satisfied that arrangements have been made
for proper treatment of the sick animal.
(h) Any dog or cat not reclaimed by its owner within 72 hours shall become the property of the local government authority or humane society and shall be placed for adoption in a suitable home or humanely euthanized. Other impounded animals not reclaimed by an owner within 72 hours shall become the property of the local government authority or humane society and shall be humanely euthanized or sold at public auction following the procedure outlined in section
4.05.002 of this chapter.
(i) In addition to, or in lieu of, impounding an animal found at large, the animal control officer or law enforcement officer may issue to the known owner of such animal a notice of ordinance violation. A person who is convicted of owning an animal at large shall pay a fine as listed in the penalty schedule of this chapter (section
4.01.002). Subsequent convictions of this subsection within a 12-month period shall double the minimum applicable fine.
(j) The licensing authority shall review automatically all licenses issued to animal owners against whom three or more ordinance violations have been assessed in a twelve-month period. Appropriate legal action may be taken against the owner as specified in section
4.01.002 of this chapter.
(k) The
shelter director shall keep complete records of the care, feeding,
veterinary treatment, and disposition of all animals impounded at
the shelter.
(Ordinance 900605-1, sec. 3.02,
adopted 6/5/90)
(a) For
any unredeemed impounded animal except a dog or cat, the animal control
officer or shelter director shall, within seventy-two (72) hours after
such animal has been impounded, post two notices, one at city hall
and one in some other public place, giving therein a full description
of such animal, which date of sale shall not be less than ten (10)
calendar days from the date of posting notice, and said animal shall
be sold at a public auction to the highest bidder for cash.
(b) The
owner of any animal impounded may reclaim the same from the animal
shelter at any time before the sale by paying all fees, fines, and
expenses of taking up and keeping such animal.
(c) The
animal control officer or shelter director shall keep a well-bound
book in which shall be recorded a description of all animals impounded,
the date and time of impoundment, the date of sale, the amount realized
from the sale, the fees and expenses due for impounding and keeping
same, the name of the owner, if known, and the name of the purchaser.
(d) At
any time within fourteen (14) calendar days from the date of the sale,
the owner of any animal impounded and sold under the provisions of
this chapter shall have the right to redeem the same by paying to
the purchaser thereof double the amount paid by said purchaser for
such animal in addition to reasonable expenses incurred by the purchaser
in keeping the same.
(Ordinance 900605-1, sec. 3.04,
adopted 6/5/90)