(A) The city shall have the authority to impound any animal in such manner and under such conditions and circumstances as prescribed by this section:
(1) The Council may enter into a contract with any qualified person, firm or corporation to be designated as the City Poundmaster, whose duties shall be to enforce the provisions of this section.
(2) The city shall provide an adequate facility within or in close proximity to the city, where all animals taken into custody shall be kept and cared for until disposed of according to the provisions of this section.
(B) The City Poundmaster may impound any animal where there is reasonable cause to believe said animal:
(1) Exhibits ferocious or vicious tendencies;
(2) Constitutes a public nuisance as defined in § 8.101(D);
(3) Has bitten a person; or
(4) Is not displaying the proper tag listed in the provisions of § 8.101.
(C) When the ownership of the animal is known, or can be determined, the Poundmaster shall provide notice to the owner within 24 hours of the impoundment by the means available to them.
(D) Any animal impounded pursuant to the provisions of this section shall be kept for not less than five regular business days unless reclaimed prior to that time by their owner as provided hereafter. The owner of any impounded animal may reclaim the same upon payment to the Treasurer or Poundmaster of an impounding fee as set by resolution of the Council, and the payment of such daily boarding fees as shall be determined by the Council for such time as the animal has been confined. The Poundmaster shall not release any animal subject to the vaccination requirement in § 8.101 without proof of current anti-rabies vaccination.
(E) Any animal which is unclaimed by the rightful owner within the prescribed time may be sold to anyone desiring to purchase said animal, if not requested by a licensed educational or scientific institution under state law.
(1) All sums received in excess of costs shall be held by the Treasurer for the benefit of the owner. If not claimed within one year, such funds shall be placed in the general fund of the city.
(2) Any animal which is not disposed of as provided above shall be painlessly killed and buried by the Poundmaster.
(F) Nothing in this code shall prevent the Poundmaster from disposing of any animal in less than the prescribed time if such animal is injured and, in the opinion of the Poundmaster, the only humane act would be disposing of the animal.
(`77 Code, § 8.103) (Am. Ord. 1535, passed 9-8-08; Am. Ord. 1658, passed 1-27-20; Am. Ord. 1673, passed 4-25-22)