Except as expressly allowed in Iowa Code § 717F, Iowa Administrative Code Ch. 77, or Iowa Code § 481A, no person shall keep or permit any wild animal, as defined in Iowa Code § 717F.1, to be kept on his or her premises for any purpose. This section shall not be construed to apply to zoological parks, wildlife sanctuaries or holder of a wildlife rehabilitation permit performing legally permitted animal exhibitions or circuses. No person shall keep or permit any wild animal to be kept as a pet. Any such prohibited wild animal found in the custody of a person within the city limits is subject to immediate seizure as contraband. Any animal so seized shall be held for three business days and, if the owner has not petitioned the court regarding disposition of the animal and served notice of the pendency of the owner's petition for disposition, the Department of Natural Resources or other city-designated animal welfare agency may take steps to release it to the wild, if feasible, euthanize the animal or permanently place it with an entity which is exempt from the provisions in this section. The Animal Protection Officer or Chief of Police's designee has the power to release or order the release of any infant wild animal once it is deemed capable of survival.
(Ord. 2485, passed 11-27-2012; Ord. 2657, passed 10-13-2020) Penalty, see § 10.99