A. Impounding: It shall be the duty of the animal control officer or the officers of the Police Department to take up and impound, in such place as shall be provided by the City Council for that purpose to be known as the "animal pound", any dog or cat running at large within the City in violation of section 5-4C-1 of this article.
B. Capture, Transporting:
1. Method Of Capture: The animal control officer and his/her assistants shall be allowed the use of leashes, nets and tranquilizer guns as means of taking up and impounding animals specified in this chapter. The use of a tranquilizer gun shall be allowed only after an authorized individual has been properly instructed in its use by a qualified instructor previously approved by a majority vote of the City Council.
2. Transporting: The Animal Control Department shall provide means of transporting impounded animals specified in this article from place of capture to the pound. Transportation may include the use of:
a. A portable pen temporarily or permanently mounted in a vehicle which is property of the animal control officer or his/her assistants; or
b. A portable pen temporarily or permanently mounted in a City- owned vehicle assigned temporarily or permanently for animal control purposes; or
c. A specially designed City-owned vehicle assigned for animal control purposes.
C. Notice Of Impoundment:
1. Determination Of Ownership: When any dog or cat displaying an inoculation tag, license tag, or tattoo registered with the City shall be impounded, the animal control officer shall make a search of the City records or contact the veterinarian who issued the inoculation tag to determine the owner thereof and shall immediately provide the apparent owner thereof, if any, with written notice. The notice shall be delivered by certified, return receipt requested mail.
2. Notice: The notice provided for in subsection C1 of this section shall be in the following or a similar form:
NOTICE
You are hereby notified that a ( ) male ( ) female dog/cat ( ) believed to be owned by you ( ) of which you are the registered licensed owner, has been impounded by the Animal Control Officer of the City of Colona because the dog/cat was found to be running at large ( ) with ( ) without a proper license.
As the owner of the dog/cat, you are liable for a fine up to seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00) for violation of Title 5, Chapter 4, Article C of the City Code.
You may redeem the dog/cat upon showing the Animal Control Officer that the dog/cat has been inoculated and upon payment of a redemption fee of $20.00 for the first offense and $40.00 for each offense thereafter and the current tax if the same is unpaid. Such fees shall be paid to the Animal Control Officer.
If redemption of the dog/cat is not made within seven (7) days from the time of impoundment or by A.M./P.M. on , the dog/cat shall be disposed of in accordance with the provisions of subsection 5-4C-7H of the City Code.
You are hereby notified that if you do not appear within five (5) days of the date of this notice, I will appear before the Circuit Court of Henry County and sign a complaint formally charging you with violation of Title 5, Chapter 4, Article C of the City Code.
Animal Control Officer
D. Care Of Impounded Animals:
1. Shelter: Sufficient shelter shall be furnished in which to cause retention and in which to sustain or improve the health of impounded animals.
2. Food: Sufficient feeding shall be furnished to sustain or improve the health of impounded animals.
3. First Aid; Medical Care: Necessary first aid and medical care shall be furnished to sustain or improve the health of impounded animals.
E. Redemption: Any dog or cat taken up and confined in the City- authorized animal pound may be redeemed by the owner or keeper thereof any time within seven (7) days from the time the same was impounded, upon payment of the following fees:
1. A redemption fee of twenty dollars ($20.00) for the first offense and forty dollars ($40.00) for each offense thereafter;
2. The amount of the current veterinarian inoculation fee unless current inoculation is proven;
3. The license fee imposed by section 5-4C-4 of this article unless valid license is proven;
4. Both the redemption fee and impoundment fee shall be waived for animals which were licensed at the time of impoundment and which have not previously been impounded.
F. Removal Without Paying Fees: Any owner or keeper who shall take said dog or cat from such animal pound without payment of the fees prescribed herein shall be subject to the penalties provided for in section 1-4-1 of this Code.
G. Exempt Animals: It shall be the discretion of the animal control officer to exempt animals violating the provisions of this article after being shown by the owner or keeper proof of restraint or failure.
H. Disposition Of Unclaimed Animals: All dogs or cats not redeemed within seven (7) days from the time the same was impounded shall, under the direction of the Chief of Police or animal control officer be destroyed by a qualified employee or veterinarian.
I. Liability Of Owners Or Keepers: Owners or keepers identified of unclaimed animals will be held liable for all expenses incurred including pickup fees, boarding fees, euthanasia and disposal of such animal. Owner or keeper will also be held liable for any other expenses such as attorney fees that may arise due to the animal remaining unclaimed. (1997 Code)