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3-7-6: IMPOUNDING DOGS, CATS, AND OTHER ANIMALS AT LARGE:
   A.   Authority To Impound; Records: The city shall designate such persons as the city deems necessary to apprehend any dog, cat, or other animal found running at large contrary to the provisions of this chapter and to impound such dog, cat, or other animal in the city pound, if one is maintained, or any other suitable place for the impounding of animals as may be directed by the city. Licensed animals shall be separated from unlicensed animals. A complete registry shall be made upon impounding any dog, cat, or other animal including, with relation to the dog, cat, or other animal entering:
      1.   Its description by species, breed, sex, approximate age, and other distinguishing traits.
      2.   The location at which it was seized.
      3.   The date of its seizure.
      4.   The name and address of the person from whom any dog, cat, or other animal three (3) months of age or over was received.
      5.   The name and address of the person to whom any dog, cat, or other animal three (3) months of age or older was transferred.
      6.   Whether the dog, cat, or other animal is licensed for the current year.
      7.   If the dog, cat, or other animal is licensed, the name and address of its owner and the number of its tag.
   B.   Notice To Owner And Redemption: Not later than two (2) days after the impounding of any dog, cat, or other animal, the city shall attempt to notify the owner, if the owner is known to the city.
   C.   Impound And Redemption Fees:
      1.   The owner of any animal so impounded may reclaim such animal upon payment of an impound fee as established by the city's fee schedule for the first impound each year, a fee as established by the city's fee schedule for the second impound, a fee as established by the city's fee schedule for the third impound, and increasing thereafter a fee as established by the city's fee schedule for each additional impound.
      2.   Additional charges for maintenance and keeping of said dog or cat, giving proper notice, and the cost of any needed rabies inoculation shall be assessed in addition to the license fee and impound fee.
      3.   The owner of any dog or cat six (6) months of age or older impounded by the city which is not licensed for the current year or which has not been spayed or neutered shall be assessed an impound fee as established by the city's fee schedule in addition to the fees hereinbefore prescribed.
      4.   If the owner disputes the fees assessed or prescribed, the owner shall pay the fees and may appeal any disputed fees to conciliation court in Clay County for a refund.
   D.   Disposition Of Unclaimed Or Infected Dogs, Cats, And Other Animals: All animals shall be impounded for a period of at least five (5) regular business days. At the end of the five (5) day period, all animals, which remain unredeemed, must be made available to any registered, recorded, licensed, animal rescue organization. At the end of the five (5) day period, if no requests for animals have been filed with the city by any registered, recorded, licensed, animal rescue organization, all animals, which remain unredeemed, may be destroyed in the discretion of the city. Notwithstanding any provisions within this section, any animal which appears to be suffering from rabies or affected with hydrophobia, mange or other infectious or dangerous disease, as shall be determined by a qualified veterinarian, shall not be released but may be forthwith destroyed. (Ord. 2008-23, 11-24-2008)
3-7-7: MUZZLING REQUIREMENTS:
Whenever it becomes necessary to safeguard the public from the dangers of rabies, the city may order all persons owning or keeping a dog or cat to confine it securely on their premises unless such dog shall have a muzzle of sufficient strength to prevent its biting any person. Any unmuzzled dog or cat running at large after the issuance of such an order shall be seized and impounded unless noticeably infected with rabies. All dogs or cats so noticeably infected with rabies and displaying vicious propensities shall be disposed of without notice to the owner. Dogs and cats impounded during the first two (2) days of such proclamation shall, if claimed within three (3) days, be released to the owner unless infected with rabies, upon payment of the impounding charges. If unclaimed after that period, such dog or cat may be destroyed. (Ord. 2005-1, 2-22-2005)
3-7-8: SUSPICION OF RABIES, NOTICE:
   A.   If a dog or cat is believed to have rabies or has been bitten by a dog or cat suspected of having rabies, such animal shall be placed under the observation of a veterinarian, at the expense of the owner(s) for a period of ten (10) days. The owner(s) shall notify the police department of the fact that their dog or cat has been exposed to rabies and, at its discretion, the police department is empowered to have such animal removed from the owner's premises to a veterinary hospital and placed under observation for a period of ten (10) days at the expense of the owner.
   B.   It shall be unlawful for any persons knowing or suspecting that a dog or cat has rabies to allow such dog or cat to be taken off their premises or beyond the limits of the city without the written permission of the police department. Every owner or other person, who suspects a dog or cat is rabid, shall immediately notify the police department who shall either remove the animal to the pound or destroy it.
   C.   Upon request of any person who has been bitten by a dog or cat within the city limits, or upon request of the guardian of said person, the police department shall impound said animal and shall deliver said animal to a veterinarian to be placed under observation of a veterinarian, at the expense of the owner of said animal, for a period of ten (10) days thereafter. Owners wishing to appeal the impounding of their animal may request the chief of police to review the impound or may seek redress in the courts. (Ord. 2005-1, 2-22-2005)
3-7-9: PROHIBITED ACTS AND CONDITIONS:
   A.   Premises Kept Clean: Any person operating or maintaining a kennel for any number of dogs or cats, either commercially or privately, or maintaining a dog or cat on a leash, or chained in a back yard or elsewhere, or allowed to roam in a fenced in yard of any size, shall clean waste material daily. All waste material shall be stored in steel containers, covered fly and watertight and to prevent any noxious odor therefrom.
   B.   Animal Wastes On Public And Private Property: No person shall allow a dog or cat owned by them or in their possession to deposit animal waste in city parks, on public property or on the property of other citizens or residents of the city. Any person charged and convicted of a violation of this subsection shall be subject to a fine or administrative penalty not to exceed ten dollars ($10.00) for the first offense and thereafter not to exceed fifty dollars ($50.00) for further offenses.
   C.   Animals Disturbing The Peace 1 : No person shall keep or harbor any animal, which habitually barks, cries or howls. Any such animals, which habitually bark, cry or howl are hereby declared to be a public nuisance. "Habitually barking, crying or howling" shall be defined as barking, howling or crying for repeated intervals of at least five (5) minutes, with less than one minute of interruption. Such barking, crying or howling must be audible off of the owner's or keeper's premises. Any person desiring to make an administrative or criminal complaint against the owner or keeper of a habitually barking, crying or howling animal must contact the police department and state facts supporting the alleged nuisance. The police department, upon receipt of a sufficient complaint, shall then notify the person owning, harboring or keeping the animal that a complaint has been received and that such nuisance must be abated, and remain abated for a period of two (2) months. Notice shall be sufficient for purposes of this section if the alleged violator is informed orally of the complaint or if notice of the complaint is posted upon a door of the residence where the alleged violation occurred. If the animal is not quieted within the above time period and for the above described time period, an administrative or criminal complaint may be made out against the alleged violator.
   D.   Feeding Of Wildlife Prohibited: No person shall feed wildlife within the city limits, unless that person is doing so in the course of that person’s employment as a veterinarian, city employee, or Minnesota Department of Natural Resources employee. (Ord. 2020-15, 1-11-2021)

 

Notes

1
1. See also subsection 4-4-2B5 of this code.
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