§ 97.02. PROHIBITED AT LARGE; IMPOUNDMENT; DISPOSAL; FEES.

(A) No person shall permit any dog, cat, fowl or other animal, domestic or domesticated, to run at large in the city.

(B) Any police officer or any other person so designated by the city is hereby authorized to seize and impound any such dog, cat, fowl, domestic or domesticated animal running at large within the city limits, with the same animal or fowl to be impounded as further provided herein.

(C) The City Manager or other designated city official is hereby authorized to enter into contracts with licensed veterinary hospitals or boarding kennels to carry out the impoundment provisions of this section.

(D) Any impounded dog, cat, fowl, domestic or domesticated animal impounded shall be disposed of by the city or the veterinary or kennel operator, as agent of the city, who retains the impounded animal, in the following manner.

(1) If the animal or fowl has a collar, license or other evidence of ownership, the city or its agents shall notify the owner in writing and return the animal to the owner, upon demand and payment of any fees or proof of any required certificates or licensing. The disposition of the animal otherwise without permission of the owner shall be made only after seven days from the mailing of the written notice.

(2) If the owner or harborer of the animal or fowl cannot be reasonably determined, the city or its agents are authorized to dispose of the animal or fowl in any humane manner; provided, however, that, the disposition shall not be made until after 96 hours.

(3) If the animal or fowl, in the opinion of the city or its agent, is diseased or injured to the extent that the holding period would cause undue suffering to the animal, the same shall be disposed of in a humane manner.

(E) The city may establish criteria for the release of animals and fowl impounded to owners and others claiming the animal or fowl, including fees for the first and/or subsequent impoundments of the same animal or fowl, and where applicable may require immunization certificates, neuterization or proof of licensing.

(Prior Code, § 6-2) (Ord. passed 11-17-1986)

Statutory reference:

Similar provisions, see M.C.L.A. § 287.388 and M.C.L.A. §§ 433.11 et seq.; M.S.A. §§ 18.789(1)et seq.