(a) As used in this section, unless the context otherwise indicates,
(1) “Dog” and “cat” means both the male and female gender.
(2) “Owner” means any person or persons, firm, association or corporation owning, keeping or harboring a dog and/or cat.
(3) “At large” means off the premises of the owner and not under the control of the owner, the owner’s agent or a member of the immediate family either by leash, cord, chain or otherwise.
(b) No person owning or having any dog or cat in his custody shall permit the same to go at large to the injury or annoyance of others, nor shall such animals be permitted at large upon the streets or other public ways of the City. Such action is declared to be a nuisance and dangerous to the public health and safety.
(c) Any person finding any dog and/or cat upon his property to his injury or annoyance may take up same and remove it to any private or other animal shelter that will take possession of it. If no such shelter is available, he may hold the dog and/or cat in his own possession, and as soon as possible notify the Police Department of this custody, giving a description of the animal and the name of the owner if known.
(d) The duly appointed agent as soon as possible after receiving notice will dispatch an officer to appear at the premises and take possession of the dog and/or cat.
(e) If the proper officer has or with reasonable dispatch can obtain the name of the owner or custodian of the dog and/or cat, he will return it to the residence address. If there is no one at the address, he will leave a notice where the owner or custodian may reclaim the property. He will then proceed to the nearest animal hospital or shelter which will accept the dog and/or cat and leave it. He will then secure or cause to be secured and serve or have served a warrant of arrest on the owner or custodian for permitting the dog and/or cat to go at large.
(f) The owner or custodian who redeems a dog and/or cat from an animal hospital or shelter will pay a board bill on the per diem basis in an amount previously agreed to between the city and the owner of the hospital or shelter, but in no event shall such payment be less than one dollar ($1.00).
(g) Any officer or designated person picking up a dog and/or cat and after reasonable diligence is unable to find who owns or has custody of it, will take it to the nearest animal hospital or shelter and leave it.
(h) Any person designated by the City for such purpose is authorized to capture and impound any dog and/or cat found at large, impounding to be in accordance with the procedure authorized by this section. In the event capture cannot be effected promptly, the officer or person is authorized to destroy the dog and/or cat.
(i) Any dog and/or cat not redeemed within five days will be disposed of in such manner as previously agreed upon between the City and owner of the animal hospital or shelter. The owner of the hospital or shelter is made an agent of the City for this purpose, and his actions in this regard are declared to be for a governmental purpose.
(j) The Mayor of the City is instructed to enter into the necessary agreements with animal hospitals, shelters and farms to carry out the terms of this section.
(k) Any person, firm or corporation violating any of the provisions of this section shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof shall be fined in an amount not exceeding twenty-five dollars ($25.00) or be imprisoned in the county jail for a period not exceeding ten days or be both so fined and imprisoned. Each day such violation is committed or permitted to continue, shall constitute a separate offense and shall be punishable as such hereunder. (1978 Code Sec. 4-18)