(A) Impounding. The city may seize, impound or restrain any unlicensed dog or any dog without an affixed license tag or any dog running at large found in the city. The fact that a dog is without a tag attached to a collar shall be presumptive evidence that the dog is unlicensed. To enforce this chapter, sworn police and community service officers are authorized to enter upon any public or private property on which they have reasonable cause to believe a dog that is not licensed or tagged or running at large is present.
(B) Notice to owner. The officer who seized, impounded or restrained a dog pursuant to this section shall, without delay, notify the owner, personally or through the United States mail, if the owner be known to the officer or can be ascertained with reasonable effort. If the owner be unknown or cannot be ascertained, then the officer shall post written notice in three public places in the city, giving a description of the dog, stating where it is impounded and the condition for its release.
(C) Redemption. All dogs seized, impounded or restrained pursuant to this section must be held by the poundmaster for redemption by the owner for at least five regular business days of the pound. For the purpose of this division, “regular business day” means a day during which the pound is open to the public not less than four consecutive hours between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. If, after the five regular business days, the owner does not claim the dog, then any right of redemption shall be deemed to have been waived and the dog shall be disposed of as provided in division (D) below. Any impounded dog shall be released to the owner upon presentation of a current license tag or a receipt for a dog license for the current year and upon payment of the impounding fee and fees for the cost of feeding and caring for the animal, on a per day basis, as specified in the appendix to Chapter 35.
(D) Disposition of unclaimed dogs. Any dog which is not claimed within the five-day period, as defined in division (C), must be made available to any licensed institution which has requested the dog as required by M.S. § 35.71. If a tag affixed to the dog or a statement by the dog’s owner after the dog’s seizure specifies that the animal may not be used for research, the dog must not be made available to any institution and may, in the discretion of the pound, be sold for not less than the amount provided in division (C) to anyone desiring to purchase the dog or be destroyed after the expiration of the five-day period.
(‘81 Code, § 5-8) (Ord. 145, passed 6-24-74; Am. Ord. 304, passed 10-13-83; Am. Ord. 522, passed 10-24-91)
Cross-reference:
Control of pets, see § 151.29
Statutory reference:
For provisions concerning dogs at large during rabies proclamation, see M.S.§ 35.69
For provisions concerning the seizure of unlicensed dogs, see M.S.§ 347.14