(A) It shall be unlawful for a dog to run at large or to be a public nuisance, and the owner of the dog shall be guilty of a violation of this chapter if the dog is found to be in violation.

(B) All dogs taken up and impounded under this section shall be held in an adequate and sanitary pound. Any dog so impounded shall be held for at least five days from the date of the impounding before being destroyed or otherwise disposed of. After any dog is impounded, the owner will be notified, or, if the owner of the dog is unknown, written notice shall be posted for three days at three conspicuous places in the city describing the dog and the place and time of taking. If the owner appears and redeems the dog, he shall pay, in amounts as established by resolution of the City Council, an impoundment fee and in addition a sum for each day, or part thereof, the dog was impounded, this fee being the actual cost of boarding the animal at the pound. The boarding fee will not be assessed for the first day of impoundment if the dog is taken after 8:00 pm. If no owner appears and redeems the dog within five days from its impounding or five days from the date the owner was notified or notices were posted, or if the dog was impounded as a public nuisance for killing or seriously injuring a person, it shall be killed in a humane manner; except that if, in the opinion of the Chief of Police, the dog is not dangerous and can be safely kept, the Chief of Police may release the dog to any responsible person upon receiving assurance that the person will properly care for the dog and not allow it to become a nuisance, and upon payment of a sum of money as established by resolution of the City Council, plus the cost of keeping during its impounding. The person shall thereafter be liable as owner of the dog.

(C) Notwithstanding the provisions of division (B) of this section, any dog impounded for biting a person shall be held for not less than ten days before redemption or destruction to determine if the dog is rabid.

(Ord. 1503, passed 3-26-84; Am. Ord. 1613, passed 10-27-86)