(A) It shall be the duty of the Animal Control Officer, or any other designated officer or employee of the city, to take into custody and impound any animal running at large in violation of the provisions of this chapter.
(B) The Animal Control Officer shall also proceed to impound any dog that is running at large within the corporate limits of the city, or that is not confined with a secure and suitable-sized leash, as provided in this chapter, regardless of whether or not the owner may have a permit, the dog has been vaccinated or the dog bears a tag.
(C) The Animal Control officer shall immediately pick up and impound any and all dogs which are kept, owned, possessed or harbored in violation of any of the terms and provisions of this code of ordinances.
(D) Any person appearing at the municipal pound who shall satisfy the keeper of the same of the fact of ownership or the right to the possession of any dog therein impounded, shall have the dog returned to him or her, upon the payment of the charges due, as authorized by the provisions of this chapter.
(E) Animals which are of no apparent value, taken into custody as provided in this chapter, shall be destroyed in an humane manner by the Animal Control Officer, provided that no animal taken into custody shall be destroyed until the animal shall have been impounded at least five days. During the time, the owner may reclaim the animal or a proper home may be established for the animal by any person desiring the animal as a pet and willing to pay applicable license fees and expenses incurred in the animal’s detention.
(F) Should any licensed institution request of the Animal Control Officer that animals be delivered to it for scientific or educational research, the animals may be released to the institution; provided that, no animal taken into custody shall be delivered to the institution until the animal shall have been impounded for at least five days and remain unclaimed and unredeemed by their owners or any other person desiring the animal as a pet.
(G) It shall be unlawful for any person to, in any manner, obstruct the duties and activities of the municipal official or employee responsible for impounding animals.
(2002 Code, § 90.41) Penalty, see § 90.99