§ 9-7. IMPOUNDING AND DESTRUCTION OF CERTAIN DOGS.

9-7.1 Causes for Impounding. The Certified Animal Control Officer or Animal Cruelty Investigator shall take into custody and impound, or cause to be taken into custody and impounded, any of the following dogs:

a.

Any unlicensed dog running at large in violation of the provisions of this Chapter.

b.

Any dog off the premises of the owner or the person keeping or harboring such dog, which the Certified Animal Control Officer or Animal Cruelty Investigator or his agent has reason to believe is a stray dog.

c.

Any dog off the premises of the owner or the person keeping or harboring such dog without a current registration tag on its collar.

d.

Any female dog in season off the premises of the owner or the person keeping or harboring such dog.

e.

Any dog which has been determined to be a vicious dog, provided that such dogs may also be seized by any police officer, and provided further that if such dogs cannot be seized with safety, they may be killed.

f.

Any dog or other animal which is suspected to be rabid.

g.

Any dog or other animal off the premises of the owner reported to, or observed by, a Certified Animal Control Officer or Animal Cruelty Investigator to be ill, injured or creating a threat to public health, safety or welfare, or otherwise interfering with the enjoyment of property.

(Ord. #1015, § 10-7.1; Ord. #1518-85, § 10-7.1)

( Ord. No. 285-15, 5-11-2015 )

9-7.2 Access to Premises. Any officer or agent authorized or empowered to perform any duty under this Chapter is authorized to go upon any premises to seize for impounding any dog which he may lawfully seize and impound when the officer is in immediate pursuit of such dog, except upon the premises of the owner of the dog if the owner is present and forbids this, in which event the officer shall proceed by complaint and warrant.

(Ord. #1015, § 10-7.2)

9-7.3 Notice of Seizure. If any dog so impounded or seized wears a registration tag, collar or harness bearing the name and address of any person, or of the owner, or of the person keeping or harboring the dog, the Certified Animal Control Officer or Animal Cruelty Investigator shall immediately serve on the person whose address is given on the collar, or on the person owning, keeping or harboring the dog, a notice in writing stating that the dog has been seized and will be disposed of or destroyed if not claimed within seven (7) days after the service of the notice.

A notice under this subsection may be served either by delivering it to the person on whom it is to be served, or by leaving it at the person's usual or last-known place of abode, or at the address given on the collar, or by forwarding it by mail in a prepaid letter addressed to that person at his usual or last-known place of abode, or to the address given on the collar.

(Ord. #1015, S 10-7.3; Ord. #1518-85, S 10-7.3)

( Ord. No. 285-15, 5-11-2015 )

9-7.4 Disposition of Unclaimed Dogs. The Certified Animal Control Officer or Animal Cruelty Investigator is authorized and empowered to cause the destruction of any unclaimed dog, in as humane a manner as possible, under any of the following conditions:

a.

When any dog so seized has not been claimed by the person owning, keeping or harboring the dog within seven (7) days after notice or within seven (7) days of the dog's detention when notice has not been or cannot be given, as set forth in the previous subsection.

b.

If the person owning, keeping or harboring any dog so seized has not claimed the dog and has not paid all expenses incurred by reason of its detention, including maintenance, not to exceed three dollars and fifty ($3.50) cents for the first day, and one ($1.00) dollar per day for each additional day.

c.

If the seized dog is unlicensed at the time of its seizure and the person owning, keeping or harboring the dog has not produced a license and registration tag.

(Ord. #1015, § 10-7.4; Ord. #1518-85, § 10-7.4)

( Ord. No. 285-15, 5-11-2015 )