(A) (1) It shall be unlawful for any person owning or possessing any dog or cat to permit the same to run at large.
(2) For the purpose of this chapter, the following definition shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
RUNNING AT LARGE. The presence of a dog or cat at any place, except upon the premises of the owner. The dog or cat shall not be considered to be RUNNING AT LARGE if it is on a leash and under control of a person physically able to control it.
(B) (1) Whenever the Humane Officer or any police officer or other person designated by the Humane Officer or Chief of Police shall find any dog or cat running at large, as defined in this section, he or she shall, if possible, pick up and impound the animal in the place as the Humane Officer or Chief of Police may direct.
(2) Whenever any impounded dog or cat shall bear an identification mark such as a collar or license tag, the owner shall be notified forthwith. Any dog impounded shall be held for a period of seven days. There shall be no required holding period before returning any impounded cat or dog to the owner unless the cat or dog is suspected of having rabies, in which case the impounded cat or dog shall be held for a period of seven days. At the end of seven days, the impounded dog or cat shall be disposed of unless the owner thereof shall reclaim the dog or cat and pay at the Police Department an impounding fee of $25 for the impounding.
(3) The destruction of any impounded dogs or cats by the Humane Officer or any police officer or any person designated by the Humane Officer or the Chief of Police under the provisions of this chapter shall be by means of a manner prescribed by County Animal Control.
(Ord. 1153, passed 8-30-1989; Am. Ord. 1216, passed 3-2-1993) Penalty, see § 97.99