All dogs and cats in the County shall be deemed personal property and may be the subject of larceny and malicious or unlawful trespass. Owners, as defined in Section 612.02(s), may maintain an action for the killing of any such animals, or injury thereto, or unlawful detention or use thereof, as in the case of other personal property.
The owner of any dog which is injured or killed contrary to the provisions of this chapter by any person shall be entitled to recover the value thereof or the damage done thereto in an appropriate action at law from such person. The Animal Control Officer or any other officer finding a stolen dog or cat, or a dog or cat held or detained contrary to law, shall have authority to seize and hold such dog or cat pending action before the General District Court or any other court. If no such action is instituted within seven days, the Animal Control Officer or other officer shall deliver the dog or cat to its owner. The presence of a dog or cat on the premises of a person other than its legal owner shall raise no presumption of theft against the owner of such premises. The Animal Control Officer may take such dog or cat in charge and/or notify its legal owner, if known, to remove it. The legal owner of the animal shall pay the boarding fees established in the fee schedule for the keep of such animal while in the possession of the Animal Control Officer.
(Ord. 98-11. Passed 10-7-98; Ord. 17-04. Passed 2-15-17; Ord. 17-09. Passed 10-3-17.)