(A) In accordance with the statutes of the State of Nebraska, including Neb. RS 17-526, 17-547 and 17-557, it is hereby declared to be unlawful for any person in charge or having custody or control thereof to permit any animal or fowl to go loose or run at large in any of the public ways or upon the property of another in the city, or to be tethered or staked out in a manner as to allow an animal or fowl to reach to or pass into any public way or upon the property of another, except in enclosed places on private property owned or leased by the owner of the animal or fowl.
(B) Any person finding any animal or fowl upon his or her property to his or her annoyance may take up the same and remove it to any private or other animal shelter that will take possession of it. If a shelter is available, he or she may hold the animal or fowl in his or her own possession, and shall, as soon as possible, notify the Police Department of the custody, giving a description of the animal or fowl and the name of the owner, if known. The Police Department, as soon as possible after receiving notice, will dispatch an officer to take possession of the animal or fowl. If the officer has or can obtain with reasonable dispatch the name of the owner or custodian of the animal or fowl, he or she will return it to the residence. If there is no one at the residence, the officer will leave a notice as to where the owner or custodian may reclaim the animal or fowl. The officer will then leave the animal or fowl with the nearest animal hospital or shelter which will accept the animal or fowl. The officer may then serve a citation on the owner or custodian for permitting the animal or fowl to be at large.
(C) The owner or custodian who redeems an animal or fowl from an animal hospital or shelter will pay a board bill on a per diem basis in an amount previously agreed to between the city and the owner of the hospital or shelter, but in no event shall the payment be less than $2.
(D) Any police officer or other person designated by the city for this purpose is authorized to capture and impound any animal or fowl found at large. In the event capture cannot be effected efficiently, the officer or person is authorized to destroy the animal or fowl.
(E) If any animal or fowl is picked up which is not accepted by an animal hospital or shelter, the officer or designated person is authorized to call a trucking firm to convey the animal outside the corporate limits to a farm for retention in the same manner as though it were placed in an animal hospital or shelter.
(F) Any animal or fowl not redeemed within 72 hours will be disposed of. The owner of the hospital or shelter is made an agent of the city for this purpose and his or her action in this regard is declared to be for a governmental purpose.
(1998 Code, § 6-202)