(a) Unrestrained dogs and animals constituting a nuisance may be taken by the police, the Animal Control Officer, the Humane Officer or other authorized City representative and impounded in an animal shelter and there confined in a humane manner.
(b) Impounded dogs and cats shall be kept for not less than two working days.
(c) If, by a license tag or other means, the owner of an impounded animal can be identified, the police or the Animal Control Officer shall immediately, upon impoundment, notify the owner by telephone or mail.
(d) An owner reclaiming an impounded animal on the first offense shall pay a fine of thirty dollars ($30.00), plus five dollars ($5.00) for each day the animal has been impounded. An owner reclaiming an animal after a second offense shall pay a fee of fifteen dollars ($15.00), plus two dollars ($2.00) for each day the animal has been impounded. An owner reclaiming an animal after a third offense shall pay a fee of twenty-five dollars ($25.00), plus two dollars ($2.00) for each day the animal has been impounded. For the purpose of this section, offenses must occur within the same calendar year.
(e) Any animal not reclaimed by its owner within two working days shall become the property of the local government authority or humane society and shall be placed for adoption in a suitable home or humanely euthanized.
(f) In addition to, or in lieu of, impounding an animal found at large, the Animal Control Officer, the Humane Officer, a police officer or other authorized City representative may issue to the known owner of such animal a notice of ordinance violation. Such notice shall impose upon the owner a penalty of ten dollars ($10.00) to be paid to the City within 72 hours in full satisfaction of the assessed penalty. If such penalty is not paid within the time period prescribed, a criminal warrant shall be issued before a magistrate and upon conviction of a violation of Section 618.02, the owner shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the third degree and shall be punished as provided in Section 698.02.
(g) The owner of an impounded animal may also be proceeded against for a violation of the provision of this chapter which is applicable.
(h) The court may order the impoundment at the County shelter of a dog or other animal that it has determined to be vicious.
(Ord. 03-41. Passed 4-15-03.)