§ 4-66. When confinement or impoundment is authorized.

(1)

Any animal in violation of the provisions of this chapter may be impounded at the city animal shelter by the animal control officer or designee.

(2)

Whenever a report is made of a person being bitten, injured or attacked by any dog, cat or ferret or a notice is received by the animal control officer, police department, or health center of a dog, cat or ferret having bitten a person or other animal, but no summons or warrant is sworn up charging maintenance of a dangerous, vicious or ferocious dog, the animal control officer shall immediately issue an order to the owner to confine the animal and keep the animal under observation at the owner's residence for a period of ten (10) days during which time the animal control officer shall check on and observe the animal during the ten-day observation period for signs of rabies. If the owner refuses to comply with the provisions of this section, the animal control officer shall immediately impound the animal at the city animal shelter, a licensed veterinarian's business or secured compound at the owner's expense for the remainder of the period of the ten-day observation period. It shall be at the sole discretion of the animal control officer to impound an animal if there have been prior complaints of the animal running at large, or neglected or abused, or if the owner is not willing to comply with the observation period. If within the observation period, such animal does not develop or manifest rabies, the owner of the animal shall be released from any further requirement of this section. If the animal develops rabies during such period, it shall be put to death. The animal shall be subject to testing at the owner's expense.

(3)

Any dog or cat observed running at large shall be impounded and kept at the city animal shelter. If the dog or cat has upon it the name or address of the owner, or such or address is known to the animal control officer, the owner shall be notified of the seizure of the animal and redemption procedures followed as below.

(4)

Whenever a summons or warrant is sworn out against the owner of a dog charging dangerous, vicious or ferocious animal, the dog in question shall be impounded and kept at the city animal shelter, licensed veterinarian's business, rescuer/rehabilitation center or under in house confinement at the discretion of the animal control officer, pending final disposition of the case.

(5)

Any female dog or cat in season shall be confined in an enclosure. If there is any question of whether or not said animal is in season, it shall be verified by the veterinarian at the owner's expense if it is in season; or at the city's expense if it is not in season.

(Ord. No. 4379, § 1, 7-20-15)