(A) It shall be the duty of the Chief of Police to cause to be captured and impounded in the city pound or some other appropriate place, all animals found running at large in the city, not having a tag on their collar showing them to be licensed. Upon the capture and impounding of any animal, it shall be the duty of the Chief of Police to notify the owner thereof, if such owner can be ascertained, which notice shall advise of the fact of the capture and the date of the impounding and the amount of the license tax due and penalty due thereon; and that in case the tax and penalty be not paid within three days after service of such notice, the animal impounded shall be destroyed. In case the owner cannot be ascertained, a notice containing a description of the animal taken; the date of impounding, and the amount of the license, tax, and penalty thereon shall be posted in the office of the City Clerk, which shall advise all whom it may concern that in case the tax due upon such animal and the penalty due be not paid within three days from the date of the notice, the animal shall be destroyed. At the expiration of three days, in any case, if the license and penalty be not paid, it thereupon shall become the duty of the Chief of Police to cause such animal to be destroyed. In case payment be made of such license, tax and penalty, the owner of the animal taken and impounded under this chapter shall be entitled to a delivery of such animal. In case it be shown that a license tax for the current year has in fact been paid upon any animal, though it has no tag, the animal, upon proof of such fact, shall be delivered to its owner; provided, the owner secures a tag for the animal and affixes the tag to a collar worn by the animal.
(B) Prior to any animals impounded under the provisions of this section being surrendered to its owner, the owner shall first pay an impoundment fee as follows:
(1) Dogs, cats, and similarly sized domestic animals:
(a) Impoundment charge: $20; and
(b) Boarding fee: $7.50 per day.
(2) All other animals, including but not limited to horses, goats, mules, asses, cattle, sheep, or swine:
(a) Impoundment charge: $75; and
(b) Boarding fee: $17.50 per day.
(Prior Code, § 96.91) (Ord. 1450, passed 4-29-1991)