A. Impounding Facility: The City Council may maintain a Municipal impound facility or may designate as the Municipal impound facility a suitable kennel or veterinary hospital either within or outside the City limits of the City. The keeper of the impound facility shall provide an account of any and all impound fees received on behalf of the City.
B. Impound Facility Reporting: The keeper of the impound facility shall provide a monthly written report providing the following information: the animals impounded; the duration of the impoundment; and the method of disposal of each animal. The impound facility is authorized to turn unclaimed animals in impound over to recognized animal rescue or adoption programs.
C. Seizure And Impoundment Of Animals: Subject to the exceptions stated in section 5-4-12 of this chapter, the animal control authority may seize and impound any animal running at large in the City or any animal found to be in violation of the provisions of this chapter or Minnesota Statutes sections 347.50 through 347.565. Upon the impoundment of an animal, the animal control authority must promptly notify the owner of the impoundment in person, by phone or by mail. If the owner is unknown, the City must post a written notice within twenty four (24) hours of impoundment of the animal at City Hall and the Inver Grove Heights Police Department describing the animal and stating where the animal is impounded. Said notice shall remain posted at City Hall and the Inver Grove Heights Police Department for at least seven (7) days.
An impounded animal displaying a need for medical care may be taken to a veterinarian for emergency treatment. The owner of the animal is responsible for payment of expenses incurred as a result of the veterinarian's treatment. Based on the severity of illness or injury to impounded animal, the Chief of Police may authorize humane destruction.
D. Impoundment After Biting Human: Every doctor or other person who treats a person for an animal bite shall report to the Inver Grove Heights Police Department the name and address of any person treated for an animal bite inflicted within the City. The owner or keeper of any dog or other animal that bites any person where the bite breaks the person's skin or the bite requires treatment by a doctor, and the person bitten or his or her parent or guardian must report the incident to the Inver Grove Heights Police Department within twenty four (24) hours of the bite. The dog or other animal shall immediately be confined for a period of not less than ten (10) days in a veterinary hospital or on the owner's premises, as directed by the animal control authority. Subject to the exceptions stated in section 5-4-12 of this chapter, the animal control authority may refuse to permit confinement on the owner's premises if the animal has previously been found repeatedly running at large or if the animal does not have a currently effective rabies vaccination. If confinement on the owner's premises is permitted, the animal may not be allowed off the premises or in contact with other people or animals during the confinement period, except for medical purposes. If the owner fails to comply with these restrictions, the animal control authority may enter onto the property, seize the animal, and remove it to a veterinary hospital. The owner is responsible for all costs of confinement incurred under this subsection. If, after completion of the ten (10) day impound period, the animal does not have rabies, it may be released to its owner unless release is otherwise prohibited by another section of this chapter. As a condition of releasing a confined animal, the animal control authority may require that the animal's owner take the animal for an examination by a veterinarian. The impound fee shall be borne by the owner of the animal.
E. Impoundment And Destruction Of Rabid Animals:
1. A dog or animal displaying symptoms of being rabid may be seized at any place or time and confined in the City impounding facility at the owner's expense, until found to be free from rabies.
2. If a dog or other animal appears to be diseased, vicious, dangerous, rabid or has been exposed to rabies, and the dog or other animal cannot be impounded without serious risk of personal injury, the dog or other animal may be destroyed, if reasonably necessary for the safety of a person or persons.
F. Redeeming Impounded Animals: The animal impound facility may not release an animal until it has received authorization to do so from animal control authority and upon fulfillment of the following conditions:
1. Dogs, cats and ferrets are properly inoculated for rabies;
2. Payment by the owner to the impounding facility of the costs of keeping the animal in the pound;
3. Payment of an impounding fee to the City in the amount listed in the City fee schedule;
4. Providing proof of ownership of the animal; and
5. In the case of a dog that resides in the City, proof of a valid license for the dog.
An animal impounded pursuant to Minnesota Statutes chapter 343 may be redeemed pursuant to the provisions of Minnesota Statutes section 343.235.
A potentially dangerous dog or dangerous dog impounded pursuant to any provision in Minnesota Statutes sections 347.50 through 347.565 may be redeemed pursuant to Minnesota Statutes sections 347.50 through 347.565 and upon fulfillment of the requirements of section 5-4-6 of this chapter.
G. Disposition Of Dangerous Or Potentially Dangerous Dog By Owner: If the owner of a dog deemed dangerous or potentially dangerous elects to dispose of the animal, the owner shall provide the animal control authority with proof of disposition.
H. Disposition Of Unclaimed Animals: If an impounded animal is not reclaimed within seven (7) regular business days after the required notice is given to the owner or posted pursuant to this chapter, the animal shall be deemed to have been abandoned, and the impounding facility may sell or give the animal to any adult person or shelter program except research institutions. If an abandoned animal is not sold, it may be destroyed in a humane manner. A "regular business day" for purposes of this section means a day during which the impounding facility having custody of the animal is open to the public at least four (4) consecutive hours between eight o'clock (8:00) A.M. and seven o'clock (7:00) P.M.
I. Costs Of Impoundment: The owner of the animal is responsible for the costs of the impoundment and housing of an impounded animal. (Ord. 1367, 4-8-2019, eff. 5-1-2019)