(A) As soon as practicable after any animal of apparent value has been impounded, the Animal Control Officer or the Chief of Police shall thereupon post a conspicuously visible notice thereof at the City Hall. The notice shall describe the animal, notify the owner to pay charges thereon and remove the charges prior to the time fixed for the sale thereof, and also state that, unless the animal is claimed, the animal will be sold at public auction at the time and place named in the notice. The time of holding the sale of dogs and fowl shall not be before the third day after posting of the notice and the time of holding the sale for all other animals shall not be before the tenth day after the posting of the notice.
(B) Sales provided herein shall be for cash to the highest bidder. The minimum bid shall cover fees for impounding and keeping the animal until the date of sale, plus a $5 fee to reimburse the city for the sale expense, and shall be conducted by, or under the direction of, the Chief of Police. If there is no bid, the Chief of Police shall provide for and conduct another sale for the sale of the animal by posting notice thereof at the City Hall, if he or she believes that a bid would be made at a later time. Otherwise, after any offering of an impounded animal at a sale without a bidder, the animal shall be disposed of by the Animal Control Officer as provided in this chapter.
(C) A purchaser of an animal at a sale held as provided herein shall acquire absolute title to the animal purchased.
(D) The Chief of Police shall pay to the City Clerk all money received from the sale of impounded animals on the day it is received or on the next day upon which the Office of the City Clerk is open for business.
(E) The owner of an impounded animal sold as provided herein may claim the excess of the sale price of the animal above the fees for impounding and keeping the animal and a fee of $5 to reimburse the city for the expense it has incurred in making the sale. The claim may be made at any time within 90 days after the sale. If a claim is so made and approved by the City Council, the City Clerk shall pay the claimant the excess. If a claim is not so made, the excess shall belong to the city.
(2002 Code, § 90.44)