(A) Prior to the adoption of any animal from the Animal Shelter, an application must be completed by the person wishing to adopt the animal(s). The application is designed to determine the prospective owner’s ability to care for the animal.
(B) Animal Control and the Animal Shelter are under no obligation to sell or transfer possession of any animal in their custody.
(C) All dogs adopted from the Animal Shelter or a licensed humane society must be surgically altered to prevent breeding. The surgical alteration must occur within 30 days after obtaining the dog. If the animal is a puppy, it must be surgically altered within 30 days after reaching five months of age. For the purpose of this section, OBTAINED does not include any animal reclaimed by its owner.
(D) Every owner of a vicious dog in the city shall submit with its initial registration written proof from a veterinarian that the animal has been spayed or neutered, or a written statement from the veterinarian why the animal cannot or should not be spayed or neutered.
(E) An owner of a vicious dog must produce evidence that he or she has the ability to respond in damages up to and including the amount of $10,000 for bodily injury to or death of any person or persons or for damage to property that may result from the ownership, keeping or maintenance of such animal. Proof of financial responsibility may be in the form of certificate of insurance, or in the form of a surety bond conditioned upon the payment of such damages. If such insurance or surety bond is changed, altered or terminated after registration of the vicious dog, the owner of such animal shall provide evidence to the County Director of Animal Control of insurance or surety bond complying with the terms of this provision within 30 days after said insurance or surety bond is changed, altered or terminated.
(F) It shall be unlawful for any owner of a vicious dog in the city to fail to comply with the requirements and conditions set forth in this chapter. A vicious dog found to be in violation of this chapter shall be subject to immediate seizure and impoundment. In addition, failure to comply with this chapter will result in the automatic revocation of the license of such animal.
(Ord. 840.2-10-2-2011, passed 10-10-2011) Penalty, see § 91.99