(A) Unrestrained dogs, unlicensed dogs, and nuisance animals shall be taken by the animal control officer or his designee, and impounded in an animal shelter and there confined in a humane manner.
(B) Impounded dogs and cats shall be kept for not fewer than five (5) working days.
(C) If, by license tag or other means, the owner of an impounded animal can be identified, the animal control officer shall, within twenty four (24) hours of impoundment, notify the owner by telephone or certified mail.
(D) An owner reclaiming an impounded animal shall pay all applicable fees as established by resolution of the city council. Subsequent impounds occurring within twelve (12) months are charged double.
(E) Any animal not reclaimed by its owner within five (5) working days shall become the property of the local government authority and shall be placed for adoption in a suitable home or humanely euthanized.
(F) In addition to, or in lieu of, impounding an animal found at large, the animal control officer or his designee may issue to the known owner of such animal a notice of violation.
(G) The owner of an impounded animal may also be proceeded against for violation of this chapter.
(H) The animal control officer shall keep complete and accurate records of the care, feeding, veterinary treatment and disposition of all animals impounded at the shelter.
(I) Any person who at any time finds any animal at large in violation of any of the provisions of this section may take up, confine and hold the animal; provided, that such person shall within four (4) hours thereafter notify the animal control officer of the fact that he has the animal in his possession and shall surrender possession of the animal upon demand to the owner or the animal control officer. If the animal is taken at a time when the animal shelter is not open for business, the person confining the animal shall within four (4) hours after the animal shelter reopens, notify the animal control officer that he has the animal in his possession and shall surrender the animal to the animal control officer upon demand. (Ord. 682-00, 9-5-2000)