(A) Police officers or other persons designated by the city shall impound any dog running at large in violation of this subchapter. Any vicious dog not on a leash, any uninoculated dog, any dog not wearing a current tag issued by the city and any dog, regardless of conditions, which is beyond the premises of its owner and not under direct control of a responsible person, shall be deemed at large in violation of this subchapter and subject to being impounded. (‘88 Code, § 3.212)
(B) (1) When a dog is impounded under the provisions of this subchapter, a notice forthwith shall be posted in a conspicuous place on a bulletin board at the Police Department. The notice shall contain a general description of the impounded dog, showing breed, sex, color and markings. It shall designate the day upon which the described dog shall be sold or otherwise disposed of unless sooner claimed and redeemed. The claim or redemption by the owner or custodian of the described dog shall be made within seven days of the date notice is posted.
(2) Any dog not redeemed from impoundment within the seven-day period, pursuant to this section, shall be sold or otherwise disposed of in the discretion of the Police Chief.
(3) Funds received from the redemption of impounded dogs shall be turned over to the City Administrator who shall duly account for same.
(C) Any animal impounded under the provisions of this chapter and not claimed by its owner within five calendar days becomes the property of animal shelter and may be humanely destroyed, transferred to a rescue, or placed for adoption.
(D) Impoundment without proper care due to incapacity or involuntary absence of owner. Whenever the animal control officer finds that any animal is or will be without proper care because of injury, illness, incarceration or other involuntary absence of the person responsible for the care of such animal, the animal control officer may impound such animal until reclaimed by its owner. The owner must pay the applicable fees in the same manner, as any other owner would in order to redeem an impounded animal prior to the release of such animal by the division. If the owner cannot or does not pay fees within five calendar days of impoundment, the animal shelter may move before the court for an order granting it ownership of the animal for adoption or other humane disposition.
(E) If an owner redeeming a pet cannot show proof of a current rabies inoculation for the pet being held, the owner shall be required to bring proof of inoculation within five business days.
(‘88 Code, § 3.213) (Am. Ord. passed 11-20-12; Am. Ord. 22-10-01, passed 10-18-22)