The City Manager, with the consent and approval of the City Council, shall appoint some suitable person as Poundmaster, who shall have charge of the public pound and who shall enforce the provisions of this title. The City Council may provide, by contract, for the execution of the office and duties of Poundmaster by any person authorized or organized under the laws of the state to act for the humane treatment of animals or to prevent cruelty to animals. The Poundmaster and his or her Deputies may collect license, impoundment, quarantine, adoption and other fees.
(Prior code § 3.31; Ord. 2943 § 7, 1992)
The Poundmaster shall keep such records as the City Manager may prescribe. Such records shall be kept in a book provided for that purpose, and such records at all times shall be available for inspection by the City Manager.
(Prior code § 3.32)
The Poundmaster and any Deputies appointed by the Poundmaster, or the members of any corporate or other organization performing the duties of Poundmaster or Deputy Poundmaster, while engaged in the execution of their duties, shall wear in plain view a badge having the word, "Poundmaster," or the words, "Deputy Poundmaster" engraved thereon. If the City has contracted with or engaged any society formed and existing under laws of the state providing for the designation of officers of such institution by any other means, then the badges or method of identification provided by such institution may be used in lieu of the identification required by this section.
(Prior code § 3.33)
All money received by the Poundmaster under the provisions of this chapter shall be deposited in the general fund of the City. The City Council may enter into a contract whereby it may be provided that all money collected by the Poundmaster together with all or a portion of the money collected from the sale of licenses for dogs in the City, may be retained by or paid over to the Poundmaster in payment for the work, labor and duties performed by the Poundmaster. The Poundmaster shall file a monthly report with the City as may be required by the City Manager or as may be provided for by agreement.
(Prior code § 3.34; Ord. 2943 § 8, 1992)
There shall be a public pound. The pound shall be located in the county, and may be located by the Poundmaster with the approval of the City Council.
(Prior code § 3.35)
If any dog impounded under Section 7-16.060 shall be found by the Poundmaster to be duly licensed, the Poundmaster shall immediately mail notice by certified mail to the registered owner of such dog at the address given in the license application for such dog. Any dog or other animal picked up and impounded pursuant to Section 7-16.060 may be recovered by the owner only upon payment of the charges and costs of redemption of impounded dogs as provided in Section 7-16.100. Any licensed dog not recovered by the owner within seven days after mailing the notice shall be disposed of as though such dog were an unlicensed dog when impounded.
(Prior code § 3.37)
If a stray or lost dog is reported to or impounded by the Poundmaster and is found to be licensed, the Poundmaster shall thereupon notify by certified mail or personal notice the owner to whom such license was issued at the address given in the license application, and upon demand of the owner, the Poundmaster or the person in possession of the dog shall release the same to the owner. If the dog has been taken into possession by the Poundmaster and impounded, release to the owner shall not be made until the charges provided in Section 7-16.100 have been paid. If no person lawfully entitled to such dog shall, within seven days after the date of giving such notice, claim the dog, then the same may be considered abandoned and may be disposed of by the Poundmaster as though such dog were unlicensed.
(Prior code § 3.38)
Redemption of an impounded animal shall be made by exhibiting to the Poundmaster any required license certificate and identification tag issued by the Poundmaster and otherwise by establishing ownership and by paying to the Poundmaster the charges provided for in this chapter. The Poundmaster may require that the charges be paid in cash, cashier's check or money order. Upon such redemption being made, the Poundmaster shall release the animal.
If an animal is sold, or released to another person, the owner of such animal may, at any time within 30 days after such sale or release, redeem the same from such purchaser or other person by paying him or her the amount of the purchase price, if any, plus any fees for board and feed from the date of such sale or release to and including the date of redemption; except that no person may redeem an animal under this section if he actually received written notice of impoundment under Section 7-16.070 or 7-16.080 and failed for a period of seven days after receipt of the notice to comply with the requirements for the release or redemption of the animal from impoundment.
(Prior code § 3.39; Ord. 2943 § 10, 1992)
No dog or other animal shall be released by the Poundmaster or his Deputies until all charges, costs of redemption, costs of identification tag and current year's license charge, if any, have been paid by the owner. The charges and costs of redemption to the owners of impounded animals shall be set as by resolution by the City Council in the following categories:
(A) 
For each unlicensed dog or other dog impounded for violation of this title. In addition, a fee for the actual cost of board, feed and veterinary care for each day or fractional day of impoundment shall be due and payable from the owner to the keeper of the impounded animals;
(B) 
For large animals (horses, cattle, donkeys, etc.) and large exotic animals impounded for violation of this title. In addition, a fee for the actual cost of board, feed and veterinary care for each day or fractional day of impoundment shall be due and payable from the owner to the keeper of the impounded animal(s);
(C) 
For medium-sized animals (sheep, goats, calves, etc.) and medium-sized exotic animals impounded for violation of this title. In addition, a fee for the actual cost of containment, feed and veterinary care for each day or fractional day of impoundment shall be due and payable from the owner to the keeper of the impounded animal(s);
(D) 
For each cat and other small animals (birds, fowl, rabbits, etc.) and small exotic animals impounded for violation of this title. In addition, a fee for the actual cost of board, feed and veterinary care for each day or fractional day of impoundment shall be due and payable from the owner to the keeper of the impounded animal(s);
(E) 
The Poundmaster, in his or her sole discretion, may accept a credit card as a method of payment for any fee or penalty;
(F) 
The Poundmaster is authorized to reduce any fee or penalty if good cause exists to justify the reduction.
(Prior code § 3.40; Ord. 2798 § 1, 1989; Ord. 2943 § 11, 1992; Ord. 3258 § 11, 1996)
The Poundmaster shall keep any impounded animal for a period of at least 96 hours, and for such longer period as may be required for any notice to be given under this chapter. At any time after the expiration of such time, the Poundmaster may, unless the animal is redeemed by the owner or unless a bona fide home has been obtained for such animal, destroy the same in a humane manner.
(Prior code § 3.41)
If any person fails or refuses to obey any lawful order for the quarantine of an animal for observation of rabies, the Poundmaster may impound the animal for such quarantine at the expense of the owner. The Poundmaster shall charge the owner in such case for the care and board of the animal. Such rates shall be set by resolution of the City Council. The redemption fees provided in Section 7-16.100 do not apply to an animal quarantined for rabies observation.
(Prior code § 3.42; Ord. 2943 § 12, 1992)
Any person discovering a stray or apparently lost animal shall report the same to the Poundmaster. Any person who apprehends or picks up a stray or lost animal shall report the same to the Poundmaster within eight hours thereafter, and shall release such animal to the Poundmaster upon demand.
(Prior code § 3.28)
All animals adopted from the pound shall be spayed or neutered within 30 days of adoption if the animal is over six months of age. All animals adopted under the age of six months shall be spayed or neutered within 30 days of the date the animal turns six months of age. Adoption fees shall be set by resolution of the City Council. The Poundmaster is empowered to seize and impound every animal found in violation of this section and shall require the owner of the animal to either spay or neuter the animal or to produce a certificate of sterilization signed and dated by a veterinarian which lists the veterinarian's name, clinic's name, address, telephone number, license number, pet name, age, breed and adequate description of the animal.
(Ord. 2943 § 13, 1992)