55.08 RELEASING OR MOLESTING ANIMALS .

No person, except the owner of a pet animal or the owner’s authorized agent, shall willfully open any door or gate on any private or public premises for the purpose of enticing or enabling any such animal to leave such private or public premises; nor shall any person willfully molest, tease, provoke, or mistreat a pet animal.

55.09 CONFINEMENT OF ANIMALS .

Any pet animal which appears to be suffering from rabies when impounded shall be confined in a designated facility or a veterinary hospital for a period of not less than ten days or may be euthanized. Such animal, or its carcass if it dies, shall be subject to such reasonable veterinary or pathological tests as the City determines, which tests shall be conducted at the expense of the owner.

55.10 REQUIRED REPORTS.

1.   Physicians. It is the duty of every physician or other practitioner in the City to make written reports to the City of the name and address of persons treated for bites inflicted by animals, together with such other information as will assist in the prevention of rabies.

2.   Veterinarians. It is the duty of every veterinarian in the City to report to the City any diagnosis of rabies in an animal made by said veterinarian or under said veterinarian’s supervision.

3.   Owners and custodians. Every owner or person having possession, custody, or control of an animal which is known to be rabid or which has been bitten by an animal infected with rabies shall immediately report such fact to the City and shall have such animal placed in isolation and quarantine as directed by the City for such period as may be designated and at the expense of the owner.

4.   Report of Bites. Every animal which bites a person shall be promptly reported to the City. Such animals shall be securely quarantined at the direction of the City for a period of ten days. At the discretion of the City, such quarantine may be on the premises of the owner or custodian, at a shelter selected by the City, or in a veterinary hospital of the owner’s or custodian’s choice at the owner’s or custodian’s expense. In the cases of animals whose ownership is not known, such quarantine shall be at a hospital or shelter selected by the City. If the animal is quarantined at a shelter selected by the City, the owner or custodian of the animal shall be responsible for all expenses.

55.11 ISOLATION AND QUARANTINE OF SUSPECT ANIMALS.

1.   It is the duty of the City to cause to be placed in isolation and under quarantine for observation for a minimum period of ten days any animal suspected of being infected with rabies or other diseases communicable to humans or any animal that has bitten or caused a skin abrasion upon any person in the City.

2.   Such isolation and quarantine shall be either at the municipal pound authorized by the City or in a veterinary hospital, except that if such animal is properly licensed and is currently vaccinated against rabies, it may be placed in the custody of the owner on the owner’s premises during the isolation and quarantine period if the owner resides in the City. When isolation and quarantine is authorized on the owner’s premises, it will be at the discretion of and under the direct supervision of the City.

3.   All expenses of isolation and quarantine at a municipal pound or a veterinary hospital will be borne by the owner.

55.12 RABIES PROCLAMATION .

Whenever it becomes necessary to safeguard the public from the dangers of rabies, the Mayor may issue a proclamation ordering every owner of a pet animal to confine the same securely on the owner’s premises at all times for such period of time as is deemed necessary.

55.13 RABIES VACCINATION .

All dogs four months of age or older shall be vaccinated against rabies. The owner or custodian of a dog shall provide the City with proof that such dog has been vaccinated against rabies as well as the expiration date of such vaccination. An owner or custodian who refuses to provide proof of such vaccination upon request by the City shall be deemed to have failed to provide such proof.

55.14 STRIKING DOMESTIC ANIMAL WITH MOTOR VEHICLE .

Any person who, while operating a motor vehicle, strikes a domestic animal in the City is encouraged to stop at once, shall render reasonable assistance, and shall immediately report such injury or death to the animal’s owner. In the event the owner of said animal cannot be ascertained and located, such person should report the accident to the City. This section shall in no way be construed as requiring the person striking the animal with a motor vehicle to be financially responsible for any injury or death of the animal.

55.15 PETS AT LARGE PROHIBITED.

1.   No pet animal shall be at large within the City at any time. A properly licensed animal shall not be deemed at large if:

   A.   It is on the premises of the owner; or

   B.   It is on the premises of another person with the knowledge and consent of that person; or

   C.   It is under the control of a person competent to restrain the animal, either by leash or properly restrained within a motor vehicle, or enclosed within a structure.

2.   Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection 1, any pet animal shall be deemed at large at any time when attacking persons, domestic animals, destroying property, or on any public property, except when under restraint as set out in subparagraph 1(c) of this section. Furthermore, any female pet in heat shall be deemed at large at any time except:

   A.   When housed in a building which is completely enclosed; or

   B.   When housed in a veterinary hospital or boarding kennel licensed or registered with the State; or

   C.   When on the premises of the owner, provided the area on which such animal is located is completely enclosed by a fence or other structure having a height of at least 60 inches; or

   D.   When under the control of a person competent to restrain the animal, either by leash or properly restrained within a motor vehicle.

55.16 IMPOUNDMENT.

1.   Any pet animal found in violation of the provisions of this chapter may be impounded by the City.

2.   The City may impound any animal that is doing any of the acts prohibited by the City or which is determined to be in danger of being subjected to cruel treatment, or when the animal is found to be sick, injured, or dead.

3.   The City may impound any animal if, upon taking its owner or custodian into custody for any lawful reason, no other person or party can be readily found to provide appropriate and adequate care and supervision to the animal. In such instances, the person in custody shall be notified of the impoundment.

4.   The person authorized to impound pet animals, upon receiving any pet animal, shall make a complete registration for such animal, entering the date, species, breed, color, and sex of such animal, any tattoo number or other special characteristics, and whether licensed. If such animal is licensed, said person shall enter the name and address of the owner and the number of the license tag. Not later than two days after the impounding of any pet animal, the owner, if known, shall be notified of such impoundment.

5.   The City, upon impounding of a dog, shall record the breed, color, and sex of the animal and whether or not it is wearing a current license tag. If the dog is currently licensed, the City shall enter the name and address of the owner or custodian and the number of the license tag. If the dog is not returned to its owner or custodian, the City shall make a reasonable and diligent effort to notify the owner or custodian within 24 hours or as soon thereafter as possible by mail, telephone, or personal notice that the dog has been impounded and where it may be redeemed. Any currently licensed impounded dog shall be held for the owner or custodian for at least five days from the time of impoundment. Any unlicensed dog shall be held for the owner or custodian at least five days from the time of impoundment.

6.   It is the duty of the City to keep all animals impounded pursuant to this chapter for a period of five days after the owner has been notified as provided herein. If, after five days following service of notice on the owner (either by certified mail or by personal service) of the impoundment of the owner’s animal, said owner has failed to claim and redeem any such impounded animal, such animal may be adopted, transferred to any State institution pursuant to the provisions for the purposes of Chapter 351A of the Code of Iowa, or humanely euthanized and disposed of. In the event that the owner is not willing to accept service by certified mail or by personal service, then, after a period of five days following the attempt to make service on the owner, the animal control personnel shall have the right and duty to dispose of said animal in the manner provided for by the City.

7.   If a pet animal is not licensed, and if the owner is unknown, it shall be the duty of the City to keep the animal for five days from the date that the animal is first picked up, and then said animal may be disposed of as provided for in this section.

8.   The registry of impounded pet animals not wearing a license tag when impounded shall be available during reasonable hours for inspection by owners.

9.   Any animal not redeemed after the expiration of the holding period may be adopted out.

10.   Any animal impounded pursuant to this section may be redeemed upon payment of all redemption fees. In addition, any unlicensed dog must be licensed at the time of redemption.

11.   Any dog running at large during rabies quarantine shall be immediately impounded by the City and kept for the remainder of the quarantine at the owner’s or custodian’s expense.