[Ord. No. 2.000, 11-2-1981; Ord. No. 2.500 § 5, 11-2-1981; Ord. No. 2.500 -A § 5, 8-3-1982]
A. Any unrestrained dog or any animal defined as a public nuisance by
this Chapter may be taken by the Police or Animal Control Officer
and impounded in an animal shelter or at a designated holding place
and be there confined in a humane manner pending further action pursuant
to this Chapter or other law. If an owner or keeper is present or
can be found, in lieu of impoundment or in addition thereto, a General
Ordinance Summons may be issued to that person and said person may
retain possession of the animal if it is the belief of the officer
issuing such summons that such possession is not in conflict with
any other Section of this Chapter.
B. Whenever any animal is confined by authority of this Chapter, it
shall be the duty of the Animal Control Officer to release the same
upon satisfactory proof that the party claiming the animal is entitled
to possession thereof and upon payment of impoundment fees. Within
ten (10) days of the date of release, the owner must have the animal
vaccinated and bring proof of vaccination to the City Clerk and pay
the fee for any license required by this Chapter. Any person not obtaining
the required vaccinations and license within the ten-day grace period
will be subject to prosecution on charges of violation of this Chapter.
[Ord. No. 2.000, 11-2-1981; Ord. No. 2.500 § 6, 11-2-1981; Ord. No. 2.500 -A § 6, 5-3-1982]
After the impoundment of any animal where a General Ordinance
Summons has not been issued to the owner or keeper, the Animal Control
Officer shall promptly notify the owner of such animal of its impoundment
if the owner can be determined and located by reasonable investigation;
however, no liability shall attach to the City or to the Animal Control
Officer or his/her staff for failure to give such notice. The owner
of an impounded animal who does not redeem his/her animal may still
be proceeded against for violation of any applicable Section or Sections
of this or any other applicable ordinance.
[Ord. No. 2.000, 11-2-1981; Ord. No. 2.500 § 21, 11-2-1981; Ord. No. 2.500 -A § 21, 5-3-1982]
A. Impounded animals shall be kept for not less than seven (7) days
except:
1.
When given to be disposed of by an owner, keeper or harborer,
in which case the animal shall be held until the next calendar day
before making a disposition;
2.
When an animal arrives at the shelter in so sick or injured
a condition that in the judgment of the Animal Control Officer or
licensed veterinarian, human compassion requires that the suffering
be promptly ended. In such instance said time period shall not apply
and the animal will be humanely killed to prevent needless suffering.
B. Whenever any animal shall remain in the animal shelter or at a place
of impoundment of a designated representative for a longer period
than seven (7) days from the impounding of such animal said animal
shall be disposed of in a humane manner by the Animal Control Officer.
C. The Animal Control Officer may, in lieu of having an unclaimed animal
killed as provided herein, give such animal into the custody of any
adult requesting custody (animal adoption) of such specific animal
as a pet after viewing it, providing that in the judgment of the Supervisor
said person will humanely care for such animal and will not permit
its use for laboratory or experimental purposes. If more than one
(1) qualified person requests an animal, the Animal Control Officer
may award it to the custody of the person making the highest and best
bid.
D. No animal will be given to the custody of a person who, in the judgment
of the Supervisor, is requesting the animal with the intent to sell
it. Not more than two (2) animals may be given into the custody of
any individual or family per year.
[Ord. No. 2006-03-13-03 § 1, 3-13-2006; Ord.
No. 2021-3021, 5-11-2021]
A forty-nine dollars and fifty cents ($49.50) fee shall be charged
when any animal is picked up by the Animal Control Officer and transported
to the animal shelter or other City designated place of impoundment.
In addition to said pick up fee a fee of twenty-nine dollars ($29.00)
shall be charged for each day or portion of a day that said animal
is impounded; provided, however, that such fee shall be increased
by the actual amount of any unusual expenses incurred either in the
impoundment or the care of said animal. An owner or keeper must pay
these fees in full to obtain custody of his/her animal, but this payment
is not required for animal adoption.