(a) The Animal Control Officer or any other officer of the Police Department shall capture, secure and remove in a humane manner to the City animal shelter which shall destroy and bury, as hereinafter provided, any and all dogs that are found to be running at large in violation of Section 618.02 or are dangerous animals in violation of Section 618.19.
(b) No dog taken by the Animal Control Officer, the Chief of Police, or any other officer of the City as provided in this section shall be disposed of until at least ten days have expired after its impounding.
(c) The City shall provide or cause to be provided a safe, suitable and conveniently located animal shelter for the impounding, keeping and destruction of domestic animals. All animals placed in the City animal shelter shall be treated in a humane manner and shall be provided with adequate food and fresh water each day.
(d) For dogs found to be running at large, the period of impounding shall constitute the time allowed for the owner to claim or redeem his or her animal. For every animal so claimed or redeemed, the owner shall pay redemption fees as set out in the Master Fee Schedule, a copy of which is located at the office of the City Clerk, as well as applicable impounding fees and the costs of disposal of the animal, in the event that the owner does not claim the animal or orders the disposal of the animal.
(e) The Animal Control Officer or another officer designated by the City Manager shall release, during such period, from the animal shelter any animal found running at large to any person who proves ownership thereof, provided that before such animal is released, adequate proof shall be presented that all redemption and impound fees and all penalties have been paid and that such animal has been vaccinated against rabies as provided in Section 618.24. Any owner who fails to redeem his or her animal within the time provided shall be liable as provided in subsection (d) hereof and for the costs of disposal of the animal. The Animal Control Officer shall notify the owner of any animal identifiable by tag or microchip of any impoundment. Such notice shall be by personal service or mailed to the address appearing on the identification.
(f) Any animal that remains in the shelter beyond the applicable impoundment period without being claimed, redeemed or released shall be destroyed and buried as provided in this section, unless, in the judgment of the Animal Control Officer or another officer designated by the City Manager, a suitable home may be found for such animal. If a suitable home is found for any such animal within the corporate limits of the City, the person taking such animal from the animal shelter shall first present to the Chief of Police a receipt for the payment of the shelter fee and any other penalties provided in this chapter. The City acquires legal title to any animal impounded in its animal shelter at the expiration of the applicable impoundment period.
(g) An animal at the City animal shelter which is alleged to be a dangerous animal shall not be released except upon the direction of the Police Department. Prior to release, the owner shall pay a redemption fee as set out in the Master Fee Schedule, a copy of which is located at the office of the City Clerk to a maximum of five hundred dollars ($500), plus applicable fines and costs. When an animal is impounded in the animal shelter as a dangerous animal, an investigation shall be completed by the Police Department and said investigation reports directed to the City Prosecutor for consideration of filing under state statutory provisions or Section 618.19. No animal shall be held as an alleged dangerous animal in the City animal shelter for more than twenty-one days unless a "Dangerous Animal" Complaint under State statutory provisions or Section 618.19 of the City has been filed within that time. Upon the filing of a "Dangerous Animal" Complaint, said animal shall continue to be held until such time as the Complaint has been adjudicated or is dismissed. If said animal is ordered by the Court to be destroyed pursuant to State statutes or Section 618.19, the animal shelter will comply with the Court Order therein and the owner of said animal is responsible for and will pay an impoundment fee as set out inthe Master Fee Schedule, a copy of which is located at the office of the City Clerk thereafter to a maximum of five hundred dollars ($500), plus any costs of destruction and disposal of the animal.
(Ord. 1151. Passed 10-10-89; Ord. 1606. Passed 5-27-08; Ord. 1800. Passed 9-25-18; Ord. 1813. Passed 10-22-19.)