A. Possession (Without Permits) Unlawful. It is a misdemeanor for any person to have, keep, maintain, breed, sell, trade, exhibit or let for hire any wild, exotic or carnivorous undomesticated animal without first obtaining a special permit from the animal control officer pursuant to this section.

B. Animals Otherwise Licensed. The licensing provisions of this section shall not be applicable to licensed circuses, carnivals, zoos or other collections of wild, exotic or carnivorous and undomesticated animals under the jurisdiction of the city, the county, the state or the federal government.

C. Authority of Animal Control Officer. The animal control officer may authorize by permit the keeping or maintaining of any wild, exotic or carnivorous undomesticated animal when, in his opinion, the animal may be kept or maintained without endangering the safety of any person, other animal or property or creating a nuisance; provided, however, that the animal control officer may require that the animal be properly caged, tethered or restrained and may impose such additional requirements as he deems necessary and proper under the circumstances.

D. Inadequate Care of Animals. Any person who in the reasonable judgment of the animal control officer is unable to maintain and provide for any wild, exotic or carnivorous undomesticated animal adequately and safely shall not be issued a permit.

E. Right to Appeal. Any person denied a permit may appeal the denial to the animal control officer within thirty days of the denial. The permit applicant(s) shall be notified in writing at the time of denial of the right of appeal and the procedures pertaining to the appeal process. Appeals must be in writing and state the name, address and phone number of the applicant(s) for the permit. The appeal shall be heard by the city council within two weeks of its filing with the animal control officer and the disposition of the permit application shall be decided by a majority of the city council.

F. Right to Inspect Conditions--Revocation. The animal control officer may at any time inspect the premises where any animal subject to this section is proposed to be kept or is kept and may investigate the conditions under which any such animal will be, or is, maintained in order to determine the appropriate requirements to include in any permit to be issued or whether the existing conditions comply with requirements of an issued permit. He may at any time add to or modify the requirements of an issued permit when in his opinion the public health and safety so require. The animal control officer may, after notice and hearing, revoke such permit upon a showing of persistent violations of the terms or requirements thereof.

G. Notice of Escape. Any person keeping or maintaining a wild, exotic animal which escapes from its confinement shall immediately notify the animal control officer of such escape.

H. Disposition. Wild, exotic or carnivorous undomesticated animals found running loose may be impounded in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. Neither the city nor its officers, agents or employees shall be liable for injury to or disease contracted by such animal while being captured, transported or impounded. Wild, exotic animals found at large and injuring, damaging or threatening to injure or damage any person or property will be deemed to be a public nuisance and may be summarily destroyed. Neither the city nor its officers, agents or employees shall be liable for any such summary destruction. Reclamation by an owner or keeper of any impounded wild, exotic animal may be permitted upon payment to the animal control officer of his actual costs of impounding and care of such animal.

I. Fees. The following yearly permit fees are due and payable before the permit is issued and in each and every year thereafter on the anniversary date that the permit was issued. The fee is delinquent thirty days after it is due. If the fee is not paid within thirty days of the delinquency date, the fee will be increased by fifty percent.