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Prohibited Acts Involving Animals:
- Abandon or cause an animal to be
abandoned.
- Animal fighting or maintaining a place
for animal fighting for exhibition, sport, or wagering.
- Cruelty, overworking, torture, beating,
wounding, killing, an animal.
- Failure to provide food, shelter, and
failure to keep shelter clean and inoffensive.
- Molestation of birds and fowl, disturb
small birds or nest.
- Wanton poisoning of animals.
- Releasing an animal with the intent to
cause the animal to be impounded.
- Freeing animals from impoundment.
- Allowing an animal to bark, howl or make
any noise in a continual or frequent manner that disturbs any
neighborhood.
- Permitting an animal to excrete on
sidewalks, driveways, right-of-way, or other private or public
property. The owner
or person in charge of an animal shall clean and remove
excretion from property not owned or controlled by such person.
- Allowing an animal to run at large.
- Trapping or killing an animal with the
following exceptions.
As needed by a humane officer or humane society.
Mole, gopher and other rodent traps.
Box traps.
Impoundment of Animals
Vaccination Requirement:
Every dog and cat shall be vaccinated for Rabies by a
veterinarian and shall wear a Rabies Tag issued by the
veterinarian at all times.
Puppies and Kittens too young to be vaccinated shall be
confined to their owner's premises at all times.
Running at Large:
Animals found running at large may be taken and
impounded at a facility approved by the Chief of Police.
Upon identification of the owner of an animal impounded
for running at large, the owner will be notified that they are
required to claim the animal within 10 days of being impounded.
If the owner refuses to claim the animal the owner may be
cited for abandonment of the animal as well as allowing the
animal to run at large.
The owner of the animal shall be responsible for the cost
of housing the animal as follows.
- A $5.00 processing fee for every animal
impounded.
- $10.00 per day for housing a dog.
- $8.00 a day for housing a cat.
- Vicious animals and other animals
requiring special housing needs shall be charged depending on
the needs of the specific animal.
- Proof of Vaccination within the last year
must be presented before the animal can be claimed.
If proof of vaccination cannot be presented the animal
shall be vaccinated by a veterinarian hired by the city at the
cost of $19.00 per vaccination.
The fees detailed above may be subject to
change based on kennel and veterinarian agreements. Animals
impounded for running at large which are not returned to their
owner or adopted shall be euthanized after 10 days.
Adoption of Animals:
Animals found running at large and are not claimed by
there owner may be put up for adoption after 72 hours.
The animal shall be held for 5 days after which the
animal is available for adoption on the sixth day.
The owner who allowed the animal to run at large shall
remain responsible for the cost of housing the animal.
Persons interested in adopting an animal may do so in
writing at the police department.
The adoption fee for any animal is $50.00.
The adoption fee include spay or neutering, vaccinations,
and microchip (if available).
All animals adopted out shall be spayed or neutered.
Animals Impounded Because of Cruelty or
Neglect: Animals
impounded for their safe keeping because of cruelty or neglect
shall be housed at an appropriate facility approved by the Chief
of Police. An animal
disposition hearing shall be scheduled at the next scheduled
Municipal Court Date.
The owner of the animal shall be summonsed to the animal
disposition hearing if located.
Upon a ruling of the Municipal Court the animal may be
released back to the owner, placed for adoption, or ordered to
be euthanized. The
court shall also be requested to order the owner of the animal
to pay all housing and veterinary fees required to care for the
animal.
Operation of a Kennel:
The keeping or harboring of a total of four or more adult
dogs over the age of six months is considered operating a
kennel. Kennels are
only authorized in I Light Industrial Zoned Districts, with the
exception of Veterinary Clinics located in a Commercial District
and the animals are housed within an enclosed building.
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