It shall be unlawful for any owner or custodian of any dog, whether licensed or unlicensed under this chapter, to permit or allow such dog to run at large within the city. For purposes of this chapter, all dogs within the city and off the premises of the owner or custodian of such dog and not in an automobile, trailer or similar confinement, or which is not effectively restrained by a leash, strap, chain or cord not exceeding eight feet (8') in length attached to the collar or harness of such dog and held by some person or made fast to some stationary object, at "heel" beside a competent person and obedient to that person's commands, or under voice control shall be deemed running at large. It is the owner's or custodian's responsibility to keep such dog confined and restrained in the manner stated above. There shall be no excuse for failure to comply with this subsection. Any person finding any dog running at large may apprehend, capture or take up such dog by any reasonable or humane means, and immediately turn it over to the animal control officer who shall take such dog and return it to its rightful owner, if known. Upon returning such dog to the owner, the animal control officer may issue a citation to the owner for violation of this chapter and such citation shall indicate that said owner shall appear before the municipal judge for disposition of said citation at the date indicated on the citation. If the dog's rightful owner cannot be found after a good faith effort made by the animal control officer, such dog may be impounded in the city animal shelter.
This shall not apply to guide dogs for the blind – "seeing eye dogs". Whenever a "seeing eye dog" is found to be running at large or trespassing and is captured, the animal control officer shall take such dog and return it to it's owner. In such instance, no citation shall be issued and no fine shall be levied. (Ord. 158, 5-11-1988, eff. 5-18-1988)