(a)
Any
animal running at large or violating any provision of this chapter
in the city limits shall be impounded by an animal control officer
or any police officer.
(b)
If
any of the animals named in this chapter are found upon the premises
of any person, the owner or occupant of the premises shall have the
right to confine the animal until he can notify the chief of police
or an animal control officer to come and impound the animal, provided
the same is done in a reasonable time. When so notified, it shall
be the duty of such officers to at once cause the animal to be impounded
as provided in this section.
(c)
The
city manager shall select and establish a place for impounding all
animals impounded under any provision of this article.
(1987 Code, sec. 4-41)
The fees charged for the impoundment of animals under this article
shall be the actual costs incurred by the impounding facility.
(1987 Code, sec. 4-42)
(a)
Generally.
The owner of any animal, other than a dog
or cat, impounded under this article may redeem the same as follows:
(1)
Before sale:
By paying the poundage fees, together with
the cost of advertising, if any;
(2)
After sale:
By paying to the purchaser double the amount
bid by him for the animal and his reasonable expenses for keeping
the same, provided the owner so redeems the animal within thirty (30)
days after the date of sale; otherwise, the animal shall become the
absolute property of the purchaser.
(b)
Dogs and cats.
All impounded dogs and cats shall be
redeemed within seventy-two (72) hours after their capture and impoundment,
or they shall become subject to sale or destruction or disposition
under the terms of this article.
(1987 Code, sec. 4-43; Ordinance
adopting Code)
The chief of police may sell impounded animals at public auction
for cash, after giving three (3) days’ public notice of the
time, terms and place of sale, describing the animals impounded and
stating that the same will be sold to defray costs if not reclaimed
and the costs paid before the day of sale. “Public notice,”
for the purpose of this section, shall mean posting the notice at
the police station and giving a copy of the notice to each newspaper
published in the city. If not reclaimed by such day, he shall, between
the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. on such day, sell the animal
at public auction to the highest bidder, and, after deducting all
the expenses of sale and taking up and keeping such animal, shall
return the balance of the proceeds, if any, to the owner of the animal.
If no owner shall call for the animal within thirty (30) days from
the day of sale, such balance shall be paid into the city treasury.
At any time within six (6) months after the sale, the owner may apply
to the city council and, upon satisfactory proof of his ownership,
he shall be entitled to receive the amount paid into the city treasury
on account of the sale. All moneys not so claimed shall escheat to
the city.
(1987 Code, sec. 4-44)
Any animal impounded under any section of this article may be
killed by an animal control officer, city-appointed veterinarian or
police officer after it has been impounded for a period of three (3)
days. In lieu of destruction, an animal control officer or police
officer may make available such impounded animals to any state-accredited
school of veterinary medicine or to any institution, corporation,
laboratory or individual engaged in bona fide research in the health
sciences in which the animal can serve a beneficial and useful purpose
in such research. Such disposition shall be without cost to the city
and any monies received for the animals shall be applied as in the
case of the sale of the animal as provided for in this article.
(1987 Code, sec. 4-45)
