(a) 
Dogs or cats not vaccinated or registered pursuant to the provisions of this chapter and dogs or cats running at large may be seized and impounded at the shelter.
(b) 
Any animal found to be kept in violation of the provisions of this chapter, or infected with diseases, or kept under conditions which could endanger the public or animal health or create a nuisance, might be impounded by the department. Animals so impounded shall be released after the reason for causing the impoundment has been corrected and all fees have been paid.
(c) 
Reasonable effort shall be made by the division to promptly notify the owner of any impounded animal or the holder of the vaccination registration certificate of any currently vaccinated and registered animal by telephone or personal service at the place listed on the vaccination registration certificate.
(2003 Code, sec. 4.13; Ordinance adopting Code)
The animal control officer shall take into custody any cat found at large in the city, and shall impound the cat in the city animal shelter. Such impounded cat shall be held for a period of seventy-two (72) hours, and at the end of this time, if the animal has not been claimed, the proper fee paid and all proper paperwork obtained as prescribed in this section, the animal shall be properly disposed. All cats that are allowed to go outdoors at any time of the day or night will be spayed/neutered, vaccinated and licensed. This does not apply to those cats that are kept inside at all times. If a cat is picked up by the animal control officer and/or his authorized agent, and all three (3) of the criteria are not obtained, then the cat will be held three (3) days, giving the owner time to prepay the veterinarian of their choice for the services needed. If a cat is picked up and it does have a collar with tags, then the city will try to get in contact with the owner and the cat will be kept for ten (10) days before the cat is destroyed. If all three (3) criteria have satisfied the animal control officer, then the cat will be released after all applicable fees have been paid. Any cat showing excessive aggression or violence may be destroyed immediately. For the purposes of this section only, five days is defined as business days Monday through Friday.
(2003 Code, sec. 4.18; Ordinance 2016-0329-4 adopted 3/29/16)
The city council shall select and establish a place within the city for the operation and maintenance of an animal control facility.
(2003 Code, sec. 4.61)
The animal control supervisor and his or her designated representative shall be responsible for the general maintenance of the animal control facility as outlined in the general policy.
(2003 Code, sec. 4.62)
The animal control supervisor and his or her designated representative shall file such reports under oath as are required by the city treasurer, or the city council.
(Ordinance 2016-0329-1 adopted 3/29/16)
(a) 
The animal control supervisor and his or her designated representative shall be responsible for enforcement of this chapter and are authorized to utilize the resources of the division in its enforcement and the enforcement of the lawful rules and regulations adopted by the Code of Ordinances board that are relevant to the subject matter of this chapter, and in any public health emergency.
(b) 
For the purpose of discharging the duties imposed by this chapter and to enforce its provisions, any officer is empowered at all reasonable times, and upon presentation of appropriate credentials, to enter upon any premises upon which an animal is kept or harbored and to demand the exhibition by the owner of a dog or cat of the certificate of vaccination-registration for such dog or cat. It is further provided that any officer may enter, at all reasonable times and upon the presentation of the proper credentials, the premises where an animal is kept in an allegedly cruel or inhumane manner and demand to examine and impound such animal, when in his or her opinion it requires humane treatment. No officer shall, however, enter a private residence for the purpose of making an inspection under this chapter without first receiving written permission from a lawful adult occupant of such residence or being authorized to inspect such residence by a magistrate or by order of a court of competent jurisdiction upon showing of a probable violation of this chapter.
(c) 
No person shall interfere with, hinder, or molest any officer in the performance of his or her duty.
(d) 
The animal control supervisor and city policemen are hereby authorized to enter upon an unfenced lot, tract or parcel of land for the purpose of seizing and impounding any dog running at large thereon.
(2003 Code, sec. 4.64)
Any person who shall interfere with or attempt to prevent the animal control supervisor and his or her designated representative from catching or impounding any dog running at large, whether on public or private property, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.
(2003 Code, sec. 4.65)
(a) 
The owner shall be entitled to resume possession of any impounded dog or cat upon payment of the impoundment and daily handling fees and compliance with vaccination-registration and other legal requirements for keeping such dog or cat.
(b) 
Any other animal impounded may be reclaimed by the owner upon payment of impoundment and daily handling fees and compliance with other legal requirements for keeping such animal.
(c) 
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 such quarantine or observation by a veterinarian, and after payment of all fees necessary for such release. The payment of fees may be deferred until the animal is eligible for such release.
(d) 
Any dog or cat impounded and not reclaimed by the owner as set forth in subsection (a) of this section may be humanely destroyed after being held for at least three (3) days after impoundment; provided, however, that any impounded dog or cat wearing a current vaccination-registration tag shall be held for at least four (4) days after impoundment. For the purposes of this subsection only, five days is defined as business days, Monday through Friday.
(e) 
If any impounded animal, other than a dog or cat, is unclaimed by the owner as set forth in subsection (b) of this section, the animal shall be held for such time as the animal control officer deems reasonable, considering the animal’s probable value, condition of health, and suitability for use.
(f) 
Any animal impounded and suffering from serious injuries, in great pain, with probability of recovery remote, or having a communicable or infectious disease which would endanger the public health or other animals, may be humanely destroyed after reasonable efforts to determine ownership have failed. However, no animal under quarantine or observation for a bite incident or under suspicion of having rabies shall be destroyed until a veterinarian has released it from the quarantine or observation.
(g) 
Animals may be disposed of before the end of the required holding period if upon notification of impoundment of the animal the owner states he or she does not wish to redeem the animal and subsequently in writing releases the animal to the sole jurisdiction of the division.
(h) 
The owner of an animal impounded or quarantined and not redeemed within the required holding period shall be responsible for all legal fees whether such animal is claimed or not.
(2003 Code, sec. 4.66; Ordinance 2016-0329-4 adopted 3/29/16)
Any person who shall refuse to deliver any unlicensed or unvaccinated dog to the animal control supervisor and his or her designated representative upon demand for impounding shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and subject to punishment as provided in section 1.01.009 of this code.
(2003 Code, sec. 4.67)
(a) 
In lieu of impounding a dog found not under restraint or an animal deemed to be a public nuisance, the city enforcement agent may issue to the known owner of such dog or animal a notice of ordinance violation. Such notice shall require the dog’s owner to appear in municipal court to answer such citation. Upon conviction of violation of this chapter, such owner shall be punished in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.
(b) 
If such owner shall fail to appear in municipal court at the time prescribed to answer such citation to appear, such failure to appear shall in and of itself be a violation of this chapter punishable in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.
(2003 Code, sec. 4.68)
(a) 
Any person may take up and deliver to the animal control facility any dog which the city enforcement agent is, by the provisions of this chapter, required to impound.
(b) 
Any dog found trespassing or running at large on any private property may be taken up by any person and delivered to the animal control facility.
(2003 Code, secs. 4.69, 4.70)