Any police officer or designated Animal Control Officer of the city who finds an animal in a motor vehicle, residence, or any structure in violation of this section and the animal is clearly in a life threatening condition may break and enter the motor vehicle, residence, or structure if necessary, without civil or criminal liability, to remove the animal. Park Rangers, as defined in § 98.01 of this Code, may also enter a motor vehicle located within a city recreational facility, without liability and under such conditions as set forth above, to rescue an animal in distress. In the event an animal is suspected to be abandoned inside a residence or any other structure, and does not appear to be in any immediate danger, a notice of abandonment shall be posted in a prominent place. This notice of abandonment shall allow 24 hours for an owner to respond. If no response has been made within the 24-hour time period following the posting of such notice, a police officer or animal control officer may break and enter the residence or structure without any civil or criminal liability to remove the animal. The law enforcement officer removing the animal shall follow impoundment procedures. The law enforcement officer shall, in the event the owner or custodian of said animal cannot be otherwise contacted, leave in a prominent place in the motor vehicle, residence, or structure a written notice bearing his name and department with the address, so that the animal may be claimed by the owner thereof.
(Ord. 2000-63, passed 6-13-00; Am. Ord. 2019-02, passed 10-9-18)