(A) It shall be the duty of the Animal Control Officer to seize and impound any animal found running at large, contrary to the provisions of the next preceding section, and safely keep the same until disposed of according to the law. If not redeemed according to the provisions of this article by the person or persons entitled to the possession thereof within six days after the same has been impounded, it shall be the duty, after three days of public notice thereof to sell any animal to the highest and best bidder for cash, and out of the proceeds pay all expenses and costs of seizing, impounding, keeping and selling the same, and the balance of the proceeds, after paying the expenses, shall be paid into the city treasury and make duplicate statements thereof which shall be made in the manner provided by ordinance for any officer receiving money for the city.
(B) If the Animal Control Officer shall be unable to determine the owner or probable owner of the seized or impounded animal, the Animal Control Officer shall give notice of sale by posting notice thereof in the City Hall and the County Courthouse, and by publishing the same once in a newspaper of general circulation published in the city giving the terms, time and place of sale and description of the animal to be sold.
(C) At the time before the sale of the animal, the owner or person entitled to the possession thereof, on proving his or her right thereto, and paying all charges against the same, shall be entitled to receive the animal and same shall be delivered to him or her and his or her receipt taken thereof. But after the sale is made, the owner shall thereby forfeit all right, title and interest in and to the animal, but the proceeds, after paying all expenses, shall be paid to the owner upon his or her presenting to the Commissioner of Public Safety written affidavit made before any officer competent to administer oaths, sufficiently describing the animal claimed.
(D) The Animal Control Officer shall record in a well bound book, kept for the purpose of this article, an accurate description of each large animal impounded with the date of impounding, time of redemption and by whom redeemed; time of sale and for what price, if sold; and he or she shall also, opposite the description, keep an accurate account of the expenses incurred and properly chargeable to each animal.
(E) Any person violating any provision of this article, or any person who shall release, or cause to be released, any animal prohibited from running at large, shall be guilty of an offense.
(Ord. 3198, passed 9-16-08)