(A) A police or animal control officer may seize and take into custody or possession any animal running at large in violation of this chapter, or any animal which is suspected of having rabies or which has bitten a human or harmed another domesticated animal. A person may seize and take into custody or possession any animal found running at large or trespassing upon the premises owned or occupied by that person. A person who takes an animal into custody or possession pursuant to this section, or who has been bitten by an animal, or who owns an animal and knows that a person has been bitten by the animal, shall immediately notify the Police Department or other law enforcement agency. The Police Department or law enforcement agency shall promptly take custody or possession of the animal.
(B) If the Police Department takes custody or possession of an animal under this section, and if the owner of the animal is known, the Police Department shall return the animal to its owner, unless the owner refuses to make reparation as provided in § 8-9(G). If the owner is not known, the Police Department shall turn the animal over to the county for disposition as appropriate.
(C) The owner of an animal in the custody or possession of the Police Department pursuant to this chapter, at any time prior to the sale or other disposition thereof, may claim and be entitled to the possession of the animal. Upon payment of reasonable compensation to the entity or agency in possession of the animal for care and keeping of the animal, upon satisfactory proof of ownership of the animal, and upon making reparation as provided in § 8-9(G), the animal shall be returned to its owner.
(D) In addition to, or in lieu of impounding an animal found at large, a police or animal control officer or any person appointed by the Council for that purpose may issue to the known owner of such animal a notice of code violation. Such notice shall impose upon the owner a penalty in a dollar amount to be assessed as determined by resolution of City Council, which may, at the discretion of the animal owner, be paid within 72 hours in full satisfaction of the assessed penalty.
(E) If such penalty is not paid within the time period prescribed, a criminal warrant shall be initiated before a magistrate; and upon conviction of a violation of this article, the owner shall be punished as provided in § 1-9.
(F) The owner of any animal impounded under the provisions of this chapter shall be liable to the city for the expense of impoundment. Failure to make payment in full to the City Treasurer within ten days of receipt of an invoice shall constitute a civil infraction. The city may commence a civil action against a person who is liable for the payment of impoundment expenses to recover the expenses, statutory interest, court costs, and reasonable attorney fees, where the person has failed to make payment in full within ten days of receipt of an invoice from the City Treasurer.
(G) In the event that an owner desires to surrender an animal to the city, whether for purposes of euthanizing the animal or otherwise, the owner shall be required to compensate the city for costs incurred for transport and proper disposal of the animal.
(1978 Code, §§ 6-12, 6-48, 6-49, 6-51, 6-52; Ord. No. 215-A, §§ 1, 4, 12-19-89; Ord. No. 368, § 1, 3-18-03; Ord. No. 411, § 5, 2-1-11) Penalty, see § 1-9
Statutory reference:
Animals running at large, see M.C.L. §§ 433.14 through 433.18