Chapter 6.20 — ANIMALS RUNNING AT LARGE

No person owning, having an interest in, harboring, or having charge, care, control, custody or possession of any dog shall cause or permit such dog to be off the premises of its owner, unless such dog is securely confined by a strong leash of not exceeding six feet, securely and continuously held by a competent person owning, having an interest in, harboring or having charge, care, control, custody or possession of such dog, or unless such dog be confined within an enclosed vehicle. The above section shall not apply to any dog being used for law enforcement purposes by any State, County, City or City and County law enforcement agency. (Prior code § 5-6)

Any person who captures an animal at large, as defined in Section 6.20.010, shall within 24 hours, give notice to the Director. Such notice shall include the following:

• A. The fact that he or she has such animal in his or her possession.

• B. The complete description of such animal.

• C. The license number of such animal, if any, and by what county or municipal corporation issued. If such animal has no license, such person shall so state.

• D. The place where such animal is confined and shall thereafter surrender said animal to the Director upon request.

• (Prior code § 5-6.1)

No person owning or having control of any ox, steer, bull, cow, horse, colt, calf, sheep, goat, or any animal commonly referred to as a "wild species" shall:

• A. Permit such animal to run at large in the City.

• B. Cause or permit any such animal to be pastured, herded, staked or tied in any street, lane, alley, park or other public area.

• C. Tie, stake, pasture or permit the tying, staking or pasturing of any such animal upon any private property within the limits of the City, without the consent of the owner or occupant of such property, or in such a way as to permit any such animal to trespass upon any street or public place or upon any private property.

• D. Permit any said animals to be or remain during the night time secured by a stake, or secured in any manner other than by enclosing such animal in a pen, corral or barn sufficient and adequate to restrain such animal, or by securely fastening such animal by means of a rope, or chain of sufficient size, strength and weight to effectively restrain such animal.

• E. Fail to provide the necessary sustenance, drink, shelter or protection from the weather, or otherwise.

(Prior code § 5-6.2)

It is hereby declared to be a nuisance and no person shall suffer or permit any rabbits and/or permitted birds and/or fowl, owned or controlled by him or her, to run or fly at large or to go upon the premises of any other person in the City. (Prior code § 5-6.3)

• A. No person owning or having control of any monkey, ape, chimpanzee, or other animal of the monkey type, shall permit, allow or suffer such animal to run at large within the City or permit, allow, or suffer such animal to be or go upon any street or public place within the City without having such animal securely fastened by an adequate chain or rope, firmly held or attached to a competent person.

• B. Such animal shall be deemed and considered as running at large, within the meaning of the expression as herein used, when not confined within an enclosure or when not securely tied or chained.

(Prior code § 5-6.4)

• A. No person owning or having charge, custody, control or possession of any animal or reptile known by such person to be vicious or dangerous, or commonly so known, or owning or having charge, custody, control or possession of any elephant, bear, hippopotamus, rhinoceros, lion, tiger, leopard, wolf, monkey, ape, chimpanzee, bobcat, lynx, wildcat, puma, cheetah, or any animal commonly referred to as a "wild species" or any poisonous reptile, shall permit or allow the same to be at large upon any highway, street, lane, alley, court, or other public place or upon private property other than within the enclosed premises of such person.

• B. Any dog having a disposition or propensity to attack or bite any person or animal without provocation is hereby defined as a wild or vicious animal. The Director shall notify the owner or harborer in writing to keep such animal within a substantial enclosure or securely attached to a chain or any other type of control which is reasonably adequate under the circumstances. If such restraint is impossible or impracticable, such animal shall be impounded until the owner or harborer is able to comply with the Director's order. If, upon receiving said written notification, the owner or harborer fails to provide adequate restraint or control of said animal as ordered by the Director within a reasonable time, said animal shall be subject to summary destruction.

• C. Where the official records of the Director indicate a dog has bitten any person or animal on two or more separate occasions, it shall be prima facie evidence that said dog is a wild or vicious animal.

(Prior code § 5-6.5)

CHAPTER 6.24 IMPOUNDING

There shall be provided by the City or by the Director upon such terms and conditions as shall be named in a contract executed by and between the Director and the legislative body of the City, a suitable building or enclosure to keep and safely hold all animals herein enumerated which are subject to be impounded, which shall be known and designated as the "Animal Shelter." (Prior code § 5-7)

• A. At Animal Shelter. It is the duty of the Director to take up, impound and safely keep any of the animals enumerated in this chapter found running at large, staked, tied or being herded or pastured in any street, lane, alley, court, square, park or other place belonging to or under the control of said City, or upon any private property in said City, contrary to the provisions of this title.

• B. Care of Animals. When any animal is to be impounded, it shall be provided with proper and sufficient food and water by the Director for a period of at least five working days, or such longer period as may be provided hereinafter.

• C. Reclaiming of Animals. The owner of any animal impounded shall have the right to reclaim the same at any time prior to the sale thereof upon payment to the Director of the costs and charges for impounding and keeping said animals.

• D. Destruction of Impounded Unfit Animals. It is the duty of the Director to issue and sign a death warrant for and to order the destruction of any animal lawfully taken into custody, which in the opinion of the Director is infected with a dangerous or communicable disease, or which is in an incurable crippled condition, or which is adjudged by a written report of a licensed veterinarian to be afflicted with any painful incurable disease.

• E. Impounding and Quarantine. It is the duty of the Director to take up all dogs found in violation of Chapter 6.20. When such dog is taken up, it shall be delivered to the Director.

• (Prior code §§ 5-7.1—5-7.5)

Subject to the other provisions of this title, any person may make application to the Director for the return of any dog or cat, and upon presentation of proof satisfactory to the Director that such person is the owner or is rightfully entitled to the possession of such dog or cat, may recover such dog or cat upon the payment of the required fee. (Prior code § 5-7.6)

Prior to the release of any dog from the animal shelter to its owner, proof of rabies vaccination shall be required. If owner fails to show proof, the veterinarian on duty shall administer such vaccination for such fee as shall be established by the Director. (Prior code § 5-7.7)

• A. Dogs. All licensed dogs impounded at the animal shelter shall be provided with proper and sufficient food and water by the Director for a period of at least 10 calendar days after written notice is given to the owner, and all unlicensed dogs for a period of at least seven calendar days. Deposit of a letter of impoundment with the United States Postal Service shall constitute written notice.

• B. Cats. All cats impounded at the animal shelter shall be provided with proper and sufficient food and water by the Director for a period of at least 10 days after written notice is given to the owner for cats displaying some type of identification. Cats without identification shall be held at least seven calendar days after which time these cats may be destroyed, except that cats determined by the Director to be wild may be disposed of by the Director upon impoundment.

(Prior code §§ 5-7.8, 5-7.9)

Dogs and cats not redeemed may be sold by the Director to the person offering to pay the highest cash amount thereof, provided that the purchaser shall not be given possession of any such dog or cat until he or she shall have paid to the Director the charges prescribed for such dog or cat. If any dog or cat, impounded by the Director shall not have been redeemed within such periods, and cannot be sold within a reasonable time thereafter, it may be summarily disposed of, for which the Director is responsible, in some humane way as prescribed by the policy making board. The Director shall file at the animal shelter a full description of each dog and cat impounded therein, for said period beginning on the day any such dog and cat is taken or delivered into the possession of the Director.

(Prior code § 5-7.10)