(a) 
The city council shall select and establish a suitable animal shelter for impounding all animals, fowl, livestock, and wildlife by the health district.
(b) 
The health director or his or her designee is the designated caretaker of every animal as of the date of intake.
(c) 
Immediately upon intake, the director or his or her designee, as the designated caretaker, is authorized to provide each appropriately aged animal with core immunizations and parasite treatment.
(Ordinance 58-2024 adopted 11/5/2024)
The ASC shall keep records of the following:
(1) 
The description of all animals, fowl, livestock, and wildlife impounded by the health district;
(2) 
The date of impoundment;
(3) 
The date of reclaim;
(4) 
The date of transfer to rescue, adoption, or euthanasia;
(5) 
The amount realized for the reclaim or adoption of each animal, fowl, or livestock; and
(6) 
The name, address, birthdate, government-issued ID number, and phone number of the adopter, owner, person reclaiming the animal(s), person who is dropping off a stray, or any other person that interacts with the city animal services.
(Ordinance 58-2024 adopted 11/5/2024)
All animals, fowl, or livestock at-large are subject to impoundment. In addition to or in lieu of impounding an at-large animal, fowl, or livestock, an ACO may issue the known owner of the animal, fowl, or livestock a citation that will constitute a notice of violation. The citation shall be forwarded to the city attorney for review and potential prosecution.
(Ordinance 58-2024 adopted 11/5/2024)
If an animal, fowl, livestock, or wildlife is observed at-large on private property, the ACO may enter the property in accordance with applicable law for the purpose of emergency impoundment or seizure of the animal, fowl, livestock, or wildlife; the issuance of a citation; or both.
(Ordinance 58-2024 adopted 11/5/2024)
(a) 
The owner of any animal, fowl, or livestock impounded in accordance with this division shall have the right to reclaim the animal, fowl, or livestock upon showing satisfactory proof of ownership and paying the appropriate impoundment fee set by the health district and approved by the city council. The fee schedule will be posted at the ASC.
(1) 
The fee for a first impoundment may be waived or reduced for persons demonstrating financial need who successfully complete the responsible pet owner program.
(2) 
If the owner does not successfully complete the responsible pet owner program, they may be issued citations and will be responsible for paying the difference between the impound fee and any waived or reduced fee.
(b) 
An owner or his designee who reclaims an animal six (6) months of age or older from impound shall provide proof that the animal has been spayed/neutered prior to the release of the animal. If proof that the animal is spayed/neutered is not provided, the owner shall pay for the cost of spaying/neutering the animal and present proof of payment as well as a scheduled appointment to the ASC prior to the release of the animal. The animal shall be spayed/neutered within thirty (30) days of release, and the owner shall bring proof of the animal's sterilization to animal services immediately after sterilization.
(c) 
Sterilization under this section may be postponed for a period greater than thirty (30) days, but not more than ninety (90) days, after release in cases of female animals in season, pregnant, or animals younger than 6 months of age. The owner must provide proof of prepayment and a scheduled spay/neuter appointment to the ASC prior to the release of the animal.
(d) 
Sterilization under this section may be waived for the first impoundment upon proof of current registration with a recognized National Dog Registry.
(e) 
Sterilization is not required for an animal that has not been previously impounded with the city if release is made to an owner who provides proof that:
(1) 
A licensed veterinarian has issued a signed, written opinion that sterilization would jeopardize the animal's health; or
(2) 
The animal is registered with a national dog registry.
(f) 
If upon a second impoundment the animal remains unsterilized, prior to reclamation the owner shall pay all applicable reclaim fees and schedule a spay/neuter appointment for the animal at the owner's expense. Animal services will hold the animal until the appointment and transport the animal to the veterinarian. The owner shall be responsible for picking the animal up from the veterinarian after the sterilization procedure.
(g) 
It shall be unlawful for a person reclaiming an animal under this section to fail to provide proof of rabies vaccination, if applicable, within ten (10) days of the release of the animal if required to do so by this section.
(Ordinance 58-2024 adopted 11/5/2024)
(a) 
The owner of any impounded dog or cat sixteen (16) weeks of age or older shall, at the time of reclamation, show proof of current rabies vaccination or, if unable to show such proof, shall be required to purchase a rabies voucher and prepay for a city license. The owner shall be required to provide proof of rabies vaccination within ten (10) days after the release from the ASC, at which time a city license will be issued. If the animal has a current rabies vaccination, the owner must purchase a city license if unable to show proof of a current license.
(b) 
The owner of any impounded ferret must show proof of current rabies vaccination.
(Ordinance 58-2024 adopted 11/5/2024)
ASC staff shall keep all dogs/cats who either are wearing a collar, tag, or implanted with a microchip or are otherwise deemed by ASC staff to have a presumptive owner for a period of five (5) working days from the date of impoundment. All dogs/cats without a collar, tags, microchip, or not otherwise deemed as owned will be held for a period of three (3) working days from the date of impoundment.
(Ordinance 58-2024 adopted 11/5/2024)
(a) 
Impoundment for running at-large.
The ACO shall impound livestock with a known owner found to be running at-large within the city limits. Livestock at-large with no known owner will be considered estray and be the responsibility of the sheriff's office as required by state law.
(b) 
Reclamation; fee.
The owner of livestock impounded as provided in subsection (a) of this section may reclaim the livestock by providing proof of ownership and paying all expenses, including any fee associated with the capture of the animal, boarding fee, impound fee, and any other expenses incurred by the ASC.
(c) 
Adoption/transfer of livestock.
Livestock will be held for five (5) working days past the date of impoundment at which time they will be available for adoption or transfer to an appropriate rescue group.
(Ordinance 58-2024 adopted 11/5/2024)
No owner, possessor, or harborer of chickens, turkeys, or other fowl shall allow the fowl to run at-large within the city limits. Fowl running at-large shall be impounded by the ASC. The owner of any fowl impounded may redeem such by paying any applicable impound and boarding fees incurred during the impoundment period.
(Ordinance 58-2024 adopted 11/5/2024)
No owner, possessor, or harborer of any other animal shall allow the animal to run at-large within the city limits. Any animal running at-large shall be impounded by the ASC. The owner of any animal impounded may reclaim the animal by paying any applicable impound and boarding fees incurred during the impoundment period.
(Ordinance 58-2024 adopted 11/5/2024)
(a) 
Any ACO is authorized to employ the use of humane cage traps for the purpose of capturing animals, at their discretion, including sick/injured animals, animals under rabies investigation, abandoned animals, and stray dogs.
(b) 
Residents of the city wishing to trap unwanted animals may do so with the use of humane cage traps. The ASC's trapping guidelines and state law shall be followed. Permission to trap must be obtained in writing from the ASC. As part of the agreement, the ASC will require permission to enter the property to remove the trap and any trapped animal(s). The following guidelines shall be followed while actively trapping:
(1) 
Traps may be obtained from the ASC; however, a deposit is required and limited traps are available.
(2) 
Traps shall be monitored daily.
(3) 
ASC shall be notified prior to 3:00 p.m. any time an animal is found to be trapped.
(4) 
Traps shall be covered at all times.
(5) 
Traps shall be placed in a protected area safe from harsh elements or danger. Traps may be placed in an attic, shed, garage, or under a safe structure, but shall be removed from these areas prior to an ACO servicing the trap. Traps shall not be placed in direct sunlight.
(c) 
Trapping is prohibited at the following times:
(1) 
When the temperature is below 45°;
(2) 
When the temperature is above 80°;
(3) 
During inclement weather; and/or
(4) 
On weekends or city-recognized holidays.
(Ordinance 58-2024 adopted 11/5/2024)
(a) 
Any animal, fowl, or livestock impounded or found at-large within the city may be humanely euthanized upon determination:
(1) 
By the health director or his or her designee or a local veterinarian that it has been injured or is sick and in such state that recovery is seriously in doubt; or
(2) 
That it is sick and endangers the health of other animals or persons.
(b) 
Euthanasia shall be performed humanely by injection of a lethal drug or other means as approved by state law.
(c) 
All wildlife known to be a high-risk rabies carrier will be humanely euthanized.
(Ordinance 58-2024 adopted 11/5/2024)
(a) 
Detention period.
It shall be the duty of the health director or his or her designee to hold all impounded animals with a microchip, collar, rabies vaccination tag, ID tag, or a city license tag attached to the collar for a detention period of five (5) days, excluding Sundays and city designated holidays, after the date of impoundment. All impounded animals without a collar, microchip, rabies vaccination tag, ID tag, or a city license tag attached to the collar will be held for a detention period of three (3) days, excluding Sundays and city designated holidays, after the date of impoundment.
(b) 
Transfer of ownership.
After the period of detention has ended, title and sole ownership of the animal will be transferred to the health director or his or her designee. Title to the animal is considered vested in the health director or his or her designee for purposes of passing good title, free and clear of all claims. When ownership is transferred to the health director or his or her designee, title and sole ownership of the animal transfers to the health director or his or her designee, and the animal becomes the sole property of the health director or his or her designee. The animal becomes subject to disposition by transfer of ownership, euthanasia, or adoption as the health director or his or her designee deems appropriate once ownership is transferred.
(c) 
Eligibility for transfer of ownership, euthanasia, or adoption.
Once ownership of an animal is transferred to the health director or his or her designee, the animal will be eligible for transfer of ownership, euthanasia, or adoption, and subject to disposition as the health director or his or her designee sees fit.
(d) 
Quarantined animals.
This section does not apply to quarantined animals that are suspected of having rabies or that have been quarantined because the animal bit or scratched a person. Ownership of quarantined animals will be transferred to the health director one day after the date that quarantine has ended excluding Sundays and city-designated holidays if they have not been redeemed or reclaimed by the original owner.
(e) 
Animals seized by court order.
This section does not apply to animals that have been impounded pursuant to seizure warrants because the animal is dangerous and caused injury to a person or has been cruelly treated or abandoned. Title shall transfer to the health director or his or her designee one (1) day, excluding Sundays and city designated holidays, after the date of the hearing on the seizure warrant if the animals have not been reclaimed pursuant to a court order allowing the animal's owner to maintain ownership and good title to the animal. If the rightful owner has not reclaimed the animal obtained pursuant to a seizure warrant within ten (10) days, excluding Sundays and city designated holidays, after the date of the hearing to determine whether the animal has been cruelly treated or abandoned, ownership of the animal will transfer to the health director or his or her designee.
(f) 
Immediate transfer of ownership.
This section does not preclude a person from transferring ownership to the health director or his or her designee per written instrument. Any animals to which an owner has transferred ownership to the health director or his or her designee via written instrument will be eligible for transfer of ownership, euthanasia, or adoption immediately and subject to disposition as the health director or his or her designee sees fit.
(g) 
Reclamation after impoundment.
The person entitled to the possession of any animal delivered to the ASC shall be entitled to have the animal delivered to him or her upon presentation of satisfactory evidence of ownership, as evidenced by the following:
(1) 
A license issued pursuant to this chapter;
(2) 
A microchip indicating ownership of the animal;
(3) 
Receipt for purchase or adoption of the animal;
(4) 
Records from a veterinarian showing vaccinations administered within the previous twelve (12) months;
(5) 
Receipts for payment to a veterinarian or commercial pet service facility for services rendered to the animal within the past twelve (12) months;
(6) 
Photographic or videographic records showing the animal and individual asserting ownership at home or in other environments; or
(7) 
A signed and notarized affidavit in which the owner of the animal attests that the animal is his or her property.
(Ordinance 58-2024 adopted 11/5/2024)