(A) There is hereby created the position of Animal Control Officer for the city, who shall be appointed by the Mayor of the city. The Animal Control Officer, or his or her designee, shall be responsible for the seizure, impoundment and confinement, and if necessary, destruction of stray or vicious animals within the corporate limits of the city and shall be supervised by the Chief of Police.
(B) It shall be the duty of the Animal Control Officer or his or her agent to apprehend and impound any animal running at large within the corporate limits of the city. In the event any animal cannot be safely taken up and the animal is deemed to be a threat to any person or property, the Animal Control Officer is hereby empowered to immediately destroy the animal. If, pursuant to this section, an animal is impounded by the city, the following procedures shall be followed:
(1) Known ownership.
(a) When the owner of a stray animal is known through licensing, collar identification or other immediate means, the Animal Control Officer shall notify the person of the impounding in the most expeditious manner available.
(b) The release of an impounded animal shall not be made by the Animal Control Officer until all expenses of apprehension, notification and impounding have been paid by the owner.
(c) If the impounded animal is one requiring a license and/or rabies vaccination, the owner shall have 48 hours in which to present proof of licensing and/or rabies vaccination to the Animal Control Officer.
(d) The known owner of the stray animal shall have seven days from the time of notification in which to claim the animal.
(e) Failure by the known owner to obtain release of the impounded animal within this time period shall be deemed an act of disclaiming or abandoning the animal and the Animal Control Officer may cause the animal to then be destroyed.
(2) Unknown ownership.
(a) When the owner of a stray animal cannot be ascertained, the animal shall be impounded by the city for no less than 72 hours.
(b) If the stray animal is unclaimed beyond this period of time, the Animal Control Officer shall be authorized to destroy the same.
(Ord. 2014-23, passed 8-28-2014)