A. Municipal Pound Authorized:
1. The City Commission is hereby authorized to establish a Municipal pound, under the jurisdiction of the Chief of Police or the animal control officer, who shall provide proper sustenance for all animals impounded, and treat them in a humane manner.
2. The Municipal pound may be established on a shared or contractual basis with other units of government or with a private individual or firm, and need not be physically located within the City.
B. Impoundment Of Animals:
1. It shall be the duty of the animal control officer (or any other designated officer or employee of the City) to take into custody, and impound, any animal running at large in violation of the provisions of this chapter.
2. The animal control officer shall also proceed to impound any dog that is running at large within the corporate limits of the City, or that is not confined with a secure and suitably sized leash (as provided in this chapter), regardless of whether or not the dog has been vaccinated or the dog bears a tag.
3. The animal control officer shall immediately pick up and impound any and all dogs which are kept, owned, possessed or harbored in violation of any of the terms and provisions of this Code.
4. Any person appearing at the Municipal pound who shall satisfy the keeper of the same of the fact of ownership or the right to the possession of any dog therein impounded shall have such dog returned, upon the payment of charges due, as authorized by the provisions of this chapter.
5. Animals which are of no apparent value, taken into custody as provided in this chapter, shall be destroyed in a humane manner by the animal control officer; provided, that no animal taken into custody shall be destroyed until such animal shall have been impounded at least seventy two (72) hours. During such time, the owner may reclaim the animal or a proper home may be established for such animal by any person desiring the animal as a pet and willing to pay applicable fees and expenses incurred in the animal's detention.
6. It shall be unlawful for any person to, in any manner, obstruct the duties and activities of the Municipal official or employee responsible for impounding animals. (Ord. 924, 1-11-2010)
C. Fees For Impoundment, Keeping, And Redemption Of Animals: The fees for the impoundment, keeping, and redemption of an animal shall be paid to the City Clerk prior to the animal being redeemed. Receipt for payment of all impoundment, keeping and redemption fees shall be presented to the animal control officer, or the person in charge of the Municipal pound, before the animal shall be released. If the animal is not redeemed, payment for the impoundment and keeping of the animal shall be paid within thirty (30) days of notification of the amount owed. The amount of the impoundment, keeping, and redemption fees shall be in an amount set by the Board of Commissioners as provided in the fines and fees schedule in appendix A, division IV of this Code. (Ord. 2018-012, 9-10-2018)
D. Breaking Pound: No unauthorized person shall break open, or attempt to break open, the Municipal pound, or take or let out any animal therefrom, or take or attempt to take, from any officer or employee of the City, any animal taken into custody as provided by this chapter, or in any manner interfere with or hinder such officer or employee in the discharge of duties relating to the taking into custody and impounding of animals, as provided in this chapter. (Ord. 924, 1-11-2010)
E. Voluntary Surrender Of Animals: Prior to acceptance by the City, residents who voluntarily surrender animals shall pay a surrender fee to the City Clerk. Receipt for payment of the surrender fee shall be presented to the animal control officer, or the person in charge of the Municipal pound, before the animal shall be accepted. Further, the City reserves the right to reject the surrender of any animal for any reason. The amount of the surrender fee shall be in an amount set by the Board of Commissioners as provided in the fines and fees schedule in appendix A, division IV of this Code. (Ord. 2018-012, 9-10-2018)