(a) Owners
of impounded dogs, cats, or other animals shall be required to pay
an impound fee per animal and per day for each animal for services
prior to the animal's release from impound. Animal must have proof
of current rabies vaccination.
(b) Fee
schedule for impound and per animal per day boarding:
(1) Impound fee; spayed or neutered animal:
1st incident
$35.00; 2nd incident $45.00; 3rd incident $55.00; all others $65.00.
(2) Impound fee; non-spayed or neutered animal:
1st incident
$55.00; 2nd incident $65.00; 3rd incident $75.00; all others $85.00.
(3) Impound fee; after hours: between 5:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m.
1st incident $100.00; 2nd incident $125.00; 3rd incident $150.00;
all others $200.00.
(4) Boarding fee:
$10.00 per day per animal.
(5) City tag:
$5.00 annually per calendar year.
(6) Surrender fee:
Adult pet (over 6 months) $50.00; per
puppy or kitten $20.00.
(c) If
an animal is not spayed or neutered upon surrender, an additional
$27.50 will be charged.
(d) An
adoption fee of $27.50 plus $5.00 for the city tag shall be charged
for the adoption of any animal. In addition, an adopted animal must
have all current shots.
(e) An
owner's failure to pay such fees or has not coordinated to add to
water bill, constitutes abandonment and shall be deemed a violation
of this article. In addition, any such animal not claimed by its owner
shall be disposed of as provided in this article.
(Ordinance 491 adopted 3/26/20; Ordinance
517 adopted 12/21/2023)
The mayor is hereby authorized and empowered to enter into an
agreement or contract for a period not exceeding two years, renewable
after expiration, with any approved and recognized animal shelter
or organization, such as the Animal Defense League or Wildlife Rescue
and Rehabilitation, Inc., to receive and find acceptable new owners
and homes for stray or unowned animals impounded by the city in lieu
of euthanization at a fee schedule to be approved by the city council
and reset from time to time by the council as circumstances require.
(Ordinance 374, sec. 3.85, adopted 5/27/08)
The position of animal control officer is hereby created and
shall be an additional duty conferred upon the city administrator,
who will be the officer designated for the sole purpose of this chapter
and who will enforce and carry out the provisions of this chapter
in conjunction with the sheriff's department.
(Ordinance 374, sec. 3.86, adopted 5/27/08; Ordinance
522 adopted 7/11/2024)
(a) Any
person aggrieved by an action of the city animal control officer in
interpretation or enforcement of this chapter or in amending, limiting,
defining, suspending, or revoking any approval required by this chapter
may request a hearing before an appeal board comprised of the mayor,
alderman, and city secretary. A hearing must be requested in writing
and filed with the city secretary within ten days of the protested
decision or action, by the aggrieved party. If no such request is
received, the decision or action of the animal control officer becomes
final. Any decision should include the written opinion of the city
veterinarian, when applicable.
(b) Based
on the recorded evidence of such hearing, the appeal board shall make
a final finding, and by simple majority shall sustain, modify, or
rescind any notice or order considered in the hearing. A written report
of the hearing decision shall be furnished to the person who requested
the hearing.
(Ordinance 374, sec. 3.87, adopted 5/27/08)
(a) In
lieu of or in addition to impounding animals as provided for in this
chapter whose owners can be identified, a citation to such animal
owner for violation of provisions of this chapter may be issued at
the discretion of the citing officer.
(b) For
any such offense, if unaggravated, the owner of the animal, upon receiving
a citation, may either pay a standard fine of $50.00 plus costs for
each offense, or appear in municipal court on the proper date to answer
said citation for such offense.
(Ordinance 374, sec. 3.88, adopted 5/27/08)
Acts or omissions denounced herein as unlawful and/or denounced as a violation of this chapter shall be punishable by a fine in accordance with the general penalty provided in section
1.01.009 of this code, plus costs, upon conviction in the municipal court.
(Ordinance 374, sec. 3.89, adopted 5/27/08)
It shall be unlawful to interfere with the animal control officer
or his designee thereof, in order to hinder him in the performance
of his official duty.
(2002 Code, sec. 3.23)
It shall be the duty of the animal control officer or his designee
to keep or cause to be kept accurate and detailed records of:
(1) Impounding and disposition.
Impoundment and disposition
of all animals coming into his custody. Such records shall be kept
for a period of at least three years and shall give the description
of all animals impounded, date of impounding, date of sale or other
disposition, the amount of money received from the sale, and the name
and address of the purchaser.
(2) Bite cases.
All known animal bite cases shall be recorded
by the city.
(3) Monies received.
Records regarding monies received under
the provisions of this chapter shall be open to inspection at reasonable
times by persons responsible for similar records of the city, and
shall be audited by the city auditor annually in the same manner as
other city records are audited.
(2002 Code, sec. 3.24)