(a) 
Animals subject to impoundment.
Dogs at large and animals creating a public nuisance, as defined in this chapter, shall be taken by the police or the animal control officer and impounded in an animal shelter and there confined.
(b) 
Notification of owner.
If, by a license tag or other means, the owner of an impounded animal can be identified, the director shall within reasonable time notify the owner by telephone or mail, and when possible return said animal to the owner’s premises. The mailing of a registered letter, return receipt, to the address of the license or owner shall be deemed sufficient notice, whether he receives the same or not.
(c) 
Unclaimed animals.
Any animal not reclaimed by its owner within three (3) working days shall become the property of the city and shall be sold or euthanized.
(d) 
Notice of violation.
In addition to or in lieu of impounding an animal found at large the animal control officer or police office may issue to the owner of such animal a notice of ordinance violation.
(Ordinance 976, art. 5, adopted 4/23/96; 1972 Code, sec. 4-17)
Whenever the animal control officer finds that any animal is or will be without proper care because of injury, illness, incarceration or other involuntary service absence of the person responsible for the care of such animal, the animal control officer may impound such animal until reclaimed by its owner or agent. The owner must pay the pound fees prescribed prior to the release of such animal by the animal control officer.
(Ordinance 976, art. 5, adopted 4/23/96; 1972 Code, sec. 4-18)
(a) 
If an animal if found upon the premises of another person, the occupant of the premises may confine the animal. Within a reasonable time after confinement, the occupant shall notify the director, who shall thereupon impound the animal.
(b) 
Any person confining any domestic animal found running at large or contrary to the provisions of this chapter shall surrender such animal to the animal control officer upon demand.
(Ordinance 976, art. 5, adopted 4/23/96; 1972 Code, sec. 4-19)
(a) 
The owner of any animal taken up and delivered to the animal shelter, upon proper application, shall be entitled to retake said animal from the animal shelter, provided such animal is not infected or thought to be infected with rabies or other infectious or contagious disease, and upon the payment of the following charges and/or fees, when applicable:
(1) 
An impounding fee as set forth in the fee schedule in appendix A of this code, in addition to any license fees required.
(2) 
A boarding fee as set forth in the fee schedule in appendix A of this code.
(3) 
Costs of vaccination for animals not currently vaccinated against rabies.
(b) 
All animals to be released from the pound shall be vaccinated against rabies in accordance with the provisions of this chapter prior to release and the cost thereof charged against the owner, or the owner thereof shall present a veterinarian’s certificate showing a current vaccination. In order for the owner of an animal not vaccinated and registered in accordance with the provisions of this chapter to otherwise obtain the release of the animal, such owner must sign a statement giving the name of the owner and the address where such animal shall be immediately confined, and stating he will have the animal vaccinated in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. Such vaccination certificate shall be presented to the animal control officer within three (3) working days of release. Failure to have such animal immediately vaccinated and a certificate presented shall be grounds for immediate return of the animal to the city pound and such animal may be disposed of in accordance with this chapter. Refusal to show a certificate of vaccination shall constitute prima facie evidence of such failure.
(c) 
The owners of all animals impounded in the animal shelter shall be required to redeem the same as provided for in subsection (a) hereof and shall not be permitted to purchase such animal in lieu of paying the redemption fee.
(d) 
It is hereby made unlawful to remove animals from the animal shelter except in accordance with the procedures established herein and the regulations established by the director.
(e) 
There may be an additional cost for impoundment if a special vehicle or handling is required.
(f) 
The animal control officer shall review automatically all licenses issued to animal owners against whom three (3) or more ordinance violations have been assessed in a twelve-month period.
(Ordinance 976, art. 5, adopted 4/23/96; 1972 Code, sec. 4-20; Ordinance adopting 2023 Code)
A person who desires to adopt an animal from the city shelter shall:
(1) 
Pay to the city an adoption fee in the amount set forth in the fee schedule in appendix A of this code for any animal which has been impounded and unclaimed by a previous owner.
(2) 
Pay the fees and license tax required by this chapter, and furnish a signed statement in compliance with section 3.03.004(b) that such animal was not previously owned by him, if such person desires to purchase an impounded unvaccinated animal not previously claimed by such person.
(Ordinance 976, art. 5, adopted 4/23/96; 1972 Code, sec. 4-21; Ordinance adopting 2023 Code)