55.10 ANIMALS IN FOOD HANDLING ESTABLISHMENTS.

No person shall take or permit to remain any dog, cat, or any live animal on or upon any premises where food is sold, offered for sale, or processed for consumption by the general public. Fish in tanks and dogs serving persons who are blind or who have other medically and physically limiting disabilities are exempt from this prohibition.

55.11 NUMBER OF DOGS AND CATS LIMITED.

No family or occupant of the same address shall own, harbor or keep more than four dogs or four cats or a combination exceeding four dogs and cats per household on any residentially zoned lot except that a litter of puppies or kittens or a portion of the litter may be kept on the property not more than twelve weeks from birth.

(Ord. 1675 – Oct. 10 Supp.)

55.12 OWNER’S DUTY.

It is the duty of the owner of any dog, cat, or other animal which has bitten or attacked a person or any person having knowledge of such bite or attack to report this act to a local health or law enforcement official. It is the duty of physicians and veterinarians to report to the local board of health the existence of any animal known or suspected to be suffering from rabies.

(Code of Iowa, Sec. 351.38)

55.13 CONFINEMENT.

If a local board of health receives information that an animal has bitten a person or that a dog or animal is suspected of having rabies, the board shall order the owner to confine such animal in the manner it directs. If the owner fails to confine such animal in the manner directed, the animal shall be apprehended and impounded by such board, and after ten (10) days the board may humanely destroy the animal. If such animal is returned to its owner, the owner shall pay the cost of impoundment. This section does not apply if a police service dog or a horse used by a law enforcement agency and acting in the performance of its duties has bitten a person.

(Code of Iowa, Sec. 351.39)

55.14 CONTRACT WITH SOCIETY OR ASSOCIATION.

The City may contract with any incorporated society or association for the following:

1.   The prevention of cruelty to animals;

2.   The collection and protection of dogs;

3.   The maintenance of a shelter or pound for unlicensed or untagged dogs, and for lost, strayed or homeless dogs;

4.   The destruction or other disposition of seized dogs not redeemed as provided by law or ordinance;

5.   The disposal of dead animals;

6.   Assistance in the collection of licenses upon dogs.

The City shall incorporate in the contract the manner in which the work shall be done and in which payments are to be made by the City thereunder, and it may also direct the disposition of all dogs seized, as provided by law, and provide for the costs of care or disposition as provided in this chapter.

55.15 IMPOUNDMENT.

1.   Notification of Owner. It shall be the duty of the Police Department or any society under contract with the City to cause to be collected and impounded any dog or cat found to be at large within the City, as defined in Section 55.01(4) of this chapter. When an animal has been apprehended and impounded, written notice shall be provided to the owner within two (2) days after impoundment, if the owner’s name and current address can reasonably be determined by accessing a tag or other device that is on or part of the animal.

2.   Impoundment Fees. Impoundment fees are set and charged by the society under contract with the City. The City requires a $45.00 impoundment fee for any animal transported to the society by the City and recovered by the owner.

(Ord. 1684 - Jan. 11 Supp.)

3.   Service Fee. The owner or responsible party of a licensed animal impounded by the City shall pay a $25.00 service fee to the City. The owner or responsible party of an unlicensed animal impounded by the City shall pay a $45.00 service fee to the City. The owner or responsible party of an unlicensed animal impounded by the City shall license the animal within five business days after the animal is recovered from impoundment. The owner or responsible party of an unlicensed animal recovered at the Police Department will be billed the service fee charged for impoundment.

(Ord. 1684 - Jan. 11 Supp.)

4.   Procedure for Redemption. Owners of animals recovered from the Police Department will be charged a service fee. Owners of animals recovered from the society may be charged impoundment fees and/or service fees.

(Ord. 1684 - Jan. 11 Supp.)

5.   Disposition of Animals. If the owner of an animal apprehended or impounded under the provisions of this section fails to redeem the animal within seven days from the date that the notice is mailed, or if the owner cannot be located within seven days, the animal shall be disposed of in accordance with law or destroyed by euthanasia. Feral cats shall be disposed of pursuant to Section 55.17.                (Ord. 1684 - Jan. 11 Supp.)

(Ord. 1675 – Oct. 10 Supp.)

55.16 PET AWARDS PROHIBITED.

(Code of Iowa, Ch. 717.E)

1.   Prohibition. It is unlawful for any person to award a pet or advertise that a pet may be awarded as any of the following:

   A.   A prize for participating in a game.

   B.   A prize for participating in a fair.

   C.   An inducement or condition for visiting a place of business or attending an event sponsored by a business.

   D.   An inducement or condition for executing a contract which includes provisions unrelated to the ownership, care or disposition of the pet.

2.   Exceptions. This section does not apply to any of the following:

   A.   A pet shop licensed pursuant to Section 162.5 of the Code of Iowa if the award of a pet is provided in connection with the sale of a pet on the premises of the pet shop.

   B.   Youth programs associated with 4-H Clubs; Future Farmers of America; the Izaak Walton League of America; or organizations associated with outdoor recreation, hunting or fishing, including but not limited to the Iowa Sportsmen’s Federation.

55.17 AT LARGE CATS.

Any cat found to be at large without (a) collar, (b) license or (c) imbedded ownership chip shall be determined to be a feral cat. For purposes of this section a cat shall have a short coat of fur to qualify as a feral cat in addition to the aforementioned requirements of the definition. A feral cat shall be held for a period of twenty-four hours from the date of capture before transportation to the Animal Rescue League. If unclaimed within twenty-four hours, the cat shall be identified as a feral cat for purposes of record management with the Animal Rescue League.

(Ord. 1675 – Oct. 10 Supp.)