(A) It shall be unlawful for any person owning or having possession of a dog to allow the dog to run at large within the corporate limits.
(B) It shall be unlawful for any person owning or having possession of a dog to permit the dog to run at large upon the property of another, without the permission of the property owner.
(C) It shall be the duty of the Police Department, when it is notified or becomes aware of any dog running at large, or failing to comply with this section for a dog or a cat, to ascertain the identity of the person owning or having possession of the dog or cat, and notify the person that he or she is in violation of this section.
(D) If the owner or person having possession of the dog, cat or vicious animal, in violation of any division of this section, cannot be ascertained, the Police Department shall deliver the dog, cat or vicious animal to the County Humane Officer for disposition as provided by the County Humane Department's rules and regulations. Any vicious animal found running at large within the corporate limits shall be immediately impounded, its owner or the person having possession immediately notified, and if the vicious animal cannot be caught and impounded and is presenting a dangerous and immediate threat to the health, safety and welfare of the public, then the vicious animal shall be destroyed by any available means by the Police Department.
(E) It shall be unlawful for any person to harbor, feed, keep in possession by confinement or otherwise, any dog that does not belong to him or her, or which he or she has no authority to keep, unless the person shall notify the Police Department within 24 hours from the time the dog comes into his or her possession.
(F) If any dog, cat or vicious animal is impounded under the provisions of this section, and the animal is turned over to the County Humane Officer, and if the owner of the animal can be ascertained, the Police Department shall send a written notice to its owner informing him or her that his or her animal has been impounded and how he or she may regain custody of it. Impounded animals shall be confined in a humane manner for not less than ten days, and if not claimed, may thereafter be disposed of in a humane manner. The impounding of animals shall be in accordance with the rules and regulations of the County Humane Department. The owner may reclaim the animal when he or she pays the fees and charges levied by the County Humane Officer, and also pays the town the civil penalty provided herein.
(Ord. passed 8-5-2014)