(A) The Animal Control Officer, with the assistance of the city police, working under the direction and the supervision of the City Manager, shall be charged with the enforcement of this chapter and it shall be his or her duty to take charge of any stray animal or any animal kept in violation of this chapter and he or she shall convey the animal to an animal clinic which has been designated as the city pound. There, the animal shall be fed, watered and otherwise cared for during the period of not less than five days unless redeemed by its owner upon payment of a $3 service charge for picking up the animal and reimbursement of the city pound for the reasonable costs and expense of caring for the animal during the period of its confinement. All fees and maintenance care shall be paid to the City Clerk and the animal shall not be released until the fees and maintenance are paid in full. However, if the animal is unvaccinated, the animal shall not be released until it has been vaccinated in accordance with this chapter.
(B) The Animal Control Officer shall, not later than the day following the impounding of any animal, serve written notice upon the owner thereof, by mail or in person. If the owner is unknown, the Animal Control Officer shall post a written notice describing the impounded animal. The notice shall be posted in the city hall on Nelson Tripp Drive in the city. If, after a period of five days after the date of service or posting the notice, the animal is not redeemed in the manner set forth in this chapter, it shall be humanely destroyed or otherwise disposed of for the benefit of the city.
(C) If the Animal Control Officer takes charge of any stray animal or any animal which, in the opinion of a licensed veterinarian in the state, is diseased so that it is dangerous for the animal to be around other animals or human beings, then that animal shall be humanely destroyed or otherwise disposed of by the Animal Control Officer or by a duly licensed veterinarian under the direction of the Animal Control Officer.
(D) For the purpose of enforcing this chapter, the Animal Control Officer and the city police are hereby authorized to go upon private property, if necessary, to pick up any animal.
(E) (1) There shall be a $25 charge per day to any owner of an animal that claims his or her pet beginning on the day of impoundment and including the day on which the animal is reclaimed by the owner.
(2) Prior to the animal being released to the owner, the owner shall: (1) pay to the pound a $25 pick-up fee; and (2) provide proof of current vaccination(s) or pay any and all fees applicable for the vaccination(s) of the animal prior to its release. After the first time an owner picks up his or her animal(s) from the pound, the pick-up fee shall be $25 more than the fee paid by the owner or his or her last pick-up, up to a maximum amount of $100 per owner every calendar year.
(3) In the event an animal is surrendered to a rescue group and/or animal shelter the rescue group and/or animal shelter shall not be assessed any fees for vaccination(s) and/or the spay/neuter of the animal; provided that, adequate proof of the shelter or rescue group’s legitimacy is provided to the city or its designated agent.
(1977 Code, § 5-7) (Ord. 84-24, passed 11-12-1984; Ord. 85-6, passed 1-28-1985; Ord. 2010-02, passed 2-22-2010; Ord. 2010-03, passed 4-26-2010; Ord. 2021-12, passed 4-11-2022)