(A) Any dog or cat found to be running at large within the city, without a valid license tag, shall be deemed a stray and may be impounded by any member of the Police Department at any time. After the second time any dog or cat is picked up running at large within the city, the subsequent time an animal is picked up running at large within the city such dog or cat will be required to be spayed or neutered at the owner's expense.
(B) Upon a complaint being made, in writing, by any resident of the city, that any dog or cat, whether licensed or unlicensed, has committed any one or more of the following acts shall be picked up and impounded by the Police Department; provided, however, no such written complaint shall be necessary where any of the acts mentioned below are committed in the presence of any officer of the Police Department:
(1) Fighting;
(2) Bitten or attempted to bite any individual;
(3) Damaged or destroyed any vegetables, flowers or shrubbery, clothing, bedding, household goods, footwear or any other personal property of any kind or character; or
(4) Has jumped upon, knocked down or injured any child or adult.
(5) Violation of any portion of the Animal Control Act (510 ILCS 5/)
(C) Any dog or cat which is impounded, as herein provided, shall be kept in an enclosure established as the city pound until redeemed or otherwise disposed of, as herein provided. The Pound shall be under the charge of the Chief of Police, who shall be responsible for the care and custody of the same. Dogs and cats so impounded shall be humanely treated and fed.
(D) Any person seeking to redeem any impounded dog or cat shall pay a fee of $25 and an additional fee for each day during which such animal has been impounded by the city. It shall be unlawful for any person to release any dog or cat impounded by the city without the consent of the Chief of Police.
(E) If any dog or cat bearing a valid license tag be impounded, it shall be the duty of the Chief of Police, within 48 hours, to notify the registered owner of such dog or cat, in writing, of such impounding. The notice shall be mailed to the registered owner at the address shown on the registration record.
(F) If any dog or cat impounded, as aforesaid, shall not be redeemed within seven days thereof, in the manner herein provided, then the Police Department is authorized to place, euthanize, or to otherwise destroy or dispose of such dog or cat, in such manner as the Chief of Police may deem best.
(G) If the owner of any dog or cat shall request the Police Department to euthanize or dispose of any dog or cat belonging to such owner, the owner shall first pay a fee before being entitled to the services of the City in disposing of the dog or cat.
(H) The Chief of Police may, when deemed necessary by him or her, impound any dog or cat which for any reason may appear to be afflicted with rabies and may have such dog or cat examined or tested for rabies at the owner's expense and may immediately euthanize or otherwise destroy any dog or cat so found to be afflicted with rabies.
(Ord. passed 5-22-59; Am. Ord. 77-18, passed 7-11-77; Am. Ord. 17-34, passed 8-8-17; Am. Ord. 17-48, passed 12-12-17)