(A) Running at large. Any animal running at large is hereby declared a public nuisance. Any Animal Control Officer or police officer may impound any animal found unlicensed or any animal found running at large and shall give notice of the impounding to the owner of the animal, if known. Except as otherwise provided in this subchapter, it shall be unlawful to kill, destroy or otherwise cause injury to any animal, including dogs and cats running at large.
(B) Biting animals. Any animal that has not been inoculated by a live modified rabies vaccine and which has bitten any person, wherein the skin has been punctured or the services of a doctor are required, shall be confined in the city pound or local humane society for a period of not less than ten days, at the expense of the owner. The animal may be released at the end of the time if healthy and free from symptoms of rabies and by the payment of all costs by the owner. However, if the owner of the animal shall elect immediately upon receipt of notice of need for the confinement by the officer to voluntarily and immediately confine the animal for the required period of time in a veterinary hospital of the owner’s choosing, not outside of the county in which the city is located, and provide immediate proof of confinement in the manner as may be required, the owner may do so. If, however, the animal has been inoculated with a live modified rabies vaccine and the owner has proof of the vaccination by a certificate from a licensed veterinarian, the owner may confine the dog or other animal to the owner’s property.
(C) Reclaiming. All animals transported to the pound shall be kept, with humane treatment and sufficient food and water for their comfort, up to five regular business days, unless the animal is a dangerous animal as defined under § 91.32 of this chapter, in which case it shall be kept for ten regular business days. The provisions of M.S. § 343.21, as it may be amended from time to time, relating to overworked and mistreated animals apply to anyone seeking to reclaim an animal. In all cases, an owner or keeper desiring to reclaim an animal from the pound shall:
(1) Pay the applicable release fee;
(2) Pay all maintenance costs of the pound for housing and caring for the animal for each day the animal is in the pound; and
(3) Provide proof of a current city issued license or obtain the required city issued license for an impounded dog as required in this chapter.
(D) Unclaimed animals.
(1) At the expiration of the times established in division (C) above, if the animal has not been reclaimed in accordance with the provisions of this section, the officer appointed to enforce this section may let any person claim the animal by complying with all provisions in this subchapter, or the officer may sell the animal to the University of Minnesota, or cause the animal to be destroyed in a proper and humane manner and shall properly dispose of the remains thereof.
(2) Any money collected under this section shall be payable to the City Administrator.
(2002 Code, § 6.26) (Ord. 119, Sixth Series, effective 4-27-2010; Ord. 82, Seventh Series, effective 4-5-2019; Ord. 22, Eighth Series, effective 2-27-2022) Penalty, see § 91.99