(A) (1) It is unlawful for any person to keep or maintain at any one location within the city more than four of the following types of animals, those being dogs, cats, ferrets and pot-bellied pigs; and of those four, no more than three shall be of the same species. This limitation applies to animals that are more than six months old or animals that are from more than one litter that are more than three months old.
(2) This limitation shall not apply to any person provided that person:
(a) Is licensed to operate a kennel, animal shelter, pet shop, boarding kennel, commercial kennel, commercial breeder operation, veterinary hospital, zoological garden, circus, carnival, educational or medical institution or research facility as defined by state law, and said person is in compliance with the zoning ordinances of the city;
(b) If such animals are kept or maintained upon property zoned as agricultural property within the city; or
(c) If said person has applied for and obtained a permit to keep more than four animals from the humane society of the county and said person keeps said animals within a residentially zoned district and exception in division (A)(2)(a) above does not apply to said person.
(3) Upon receipt of an application for a permit as provided by this section and the payment of a $10 fee, an animal control officer shall inspect the applicant’s animal housing facilities and the sanitary condition of the same. If the housing facilities are adequate and kept in a sanitary condition, an excess number of animals permit shall be issued.
(B) Indoor pets, such as gerbils, hamsters, guinea pigs, mice, birds, fish, snakes and reptiles and similar animals normally maintained as pets in an enclosure inside of a dwelling are not proscribed by this section unless specifically regulated by other sections.
(C) If a person is found to be keeping more than four animals without the permit required by this section, the excessive number of animals may be immediately removed from the property and impounded. Any such impounded animals shall be held for seven days and if the owner has not either complied with the requirements of this section or petitioned the court for the return of the animals by the end of the seventh day, the animal shelter shall seek to permanently place the animals or euthanize such animals.