(A) Authority. The animal control officer, any law enforcement officer, or other person of proper authority is hereby authorized and empowered to enforce all provisions of this chapter.
(B) Interference prohibited. No person shall hinder, delay, or obstruct any person in their ability to enforce the provisions of this chapter.
(C) Allowable enforcement activities. Any person authorized to enforce the provisions of this chapter shall, having reasonable basis to believe a violation of this chapter has occurred, have the power to:
(1) Lawfully enter the premises where the animal(s) is/are kept;
(2) Examine such animal; and
(3) Take possession and impound such animal(s) when, in the officer’s opinion, a violation has occurred. Any animal impounded under this chapter shall be dealt with as provided herein.
(D) Impounded animals. Any impounded animal shall not be released by the animal control officer to any person until such animal has been immunized against rabies; however, no animal so impounded shall be immunized if the owner can present a certificate of current immunization having been previously performed.
(1) Notice to owner. The owner of any animal impounded under the provisions of this chapter, if his or her identity and location can be obtained by reasonable means, shall be notified within 24 hours that his or her animal has been impounded.
(2) Costs. Before any person may redeem any animal impounded under the provision of this chapter, that person shall pay to the person or proper authority an impoundment fee as set by the City Council. The person redeeming such impounded animal, under the provisions of this chapter, shall receive a dated receipt signed by the City Finance Officer or animal control officer. The receipt for payment of impoundment and boarding costs must be presented to the person, association, or corporation housing the impounded animal before such animal may be redeemed.
(a) The owner of any impounded animal that has not been vaccinated or licensed under this chapter, upon satisfactory proof of ownership, may redeem the animal by payment of the fees determined by the City Council. In addition, by making a deposit of $50, the owner shall be allowed 48 hours to get such animal vaccinated and properly licensed. If the owner fails to produce a certificate of vaccination and city license within 48 hours, the deposit shall be forfeited and turned over to the City Finance Officer to be placed in the General Fund and the animal may be impounded again. Upon presentation within 48 hours of a license being issued and certificate of vaccination, the deposit shall be refunded.
(b) If the owner of any impounded animal shall fail to redeem the animal within five days, including Sundays and holidays, unclaimed animals will be put up for adoption or disposed of.
(Prior Code, § 6.5) (Ord. 546, passed - -) Penalty, see § 90.999