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Whenever an animal is found to be either running at large, neglected, abused, in need of rescue or kept in violation of this chapter, an animal control officer may impound the animal at a veterinary clinic or animal shelter. The owner of the animal shall be responsible for actual costs attributed to the care and maintenance of the animal. In addition to those costs, the owner of the animal shall be responsible for the payment of the administrative fee as set out in the Appendix to this Code of Ordinances.
Impounding costs and administrative fees shall be established by resolution of the Council as may be necessary to recover all costs, fees, and charges incurred by the City for impounding and maintaining the animal. All costs shall be paid before the animal is released.
When an animal has been apprehended and impounded, written notice shall be provided to the owner within two (2) days after impoundment, if the owner’s name and current address can reasonably be determined by accessing a tag or other device that is on or part of the animal. Impounded animals may be recovered by the owner upon payment of impounding costs, and if an unvaccinated dog, by having it immediately vaccinated. If the owner fails to redeem the animal within seven (7) days from the date that the notice is mailed, or if the owner cannot be located within seven days, the animal shall be disposed of in accordance with law or destroyed by euthanasia.
(Code of Iowa, Sec. 351.37, 351.41)
When there is reasonable cause to believe that an animal is vicious, the Police Chief is granted the independent authority to issue a Removal Notice and require an owner of an animal to permanently remove the animal from the City. Such requirement will be directed in writing to the owner and the owner will immediately comply. If an owner contests that an animal is a vicious animal, the owner may petition the Council within three (3) business days of the Removal Notice and request a hearing on the matter. The hearing shall take place at the next regularly scheduled meeting of the City Council. However, from the time of Removal Notice and through the time of a hearing, the owner must comply with the written directive and keep the animal outside of the City. If upon written notice, an owner refuses to remove or at any time brings or keeps the animal in the City, an animal control officer may take custody of the animal and the animal may be held in impound until a hearing is held. The animal owner will be responsible for all costs associated with impounding and boarding the animal until the time of the hearing. If after a hearing, the Council determines the animal to be a vicious animal, the animal may be euthanized or humanely killed if it is found to be in the City and the owner shall be responsible for the costs. The provisions of this section do not prohibit the immediate destruction of a vicious animal which is in the act of threatening public safety or which cannot be expeditiously apprehended without substantial risk to any person.
It is the duty of any person who has knowledge of an animal that has bitten or attacked a person, or is suspected of having rabies, to promptly report the information to a peace officer with the Nevada Public Safety Department. It is the duty of physicians and veterinarians to report to the local board of health the existence of any animals known or suspected to be suffering from rabies.
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