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No one shall keep, possess or harbor a vicious animal within the city. It shall be the duty of the Animal Control Officer to impound such animal at the owner's expense upon the complaint of three individuals residing in separate households and may do so in all other instances where the Animal Control Officer determines in his opinion, that the animal is vicious, and if impoundment cannot be made with safety to the Animal Control Officer or other citizens, the animal may be destroyed without notice to the owner, keeper or possessor. Dogs maintained as guard dogs or placed in an enclosed area, chained or under control with a leash, cord, reasonable in length, for protection of persons or property shall not be included under this section so long as they remain confined to a specific area under complete and absolute control of their owner or custodian. If an animal is impounded because it is vicious, a mandatory court appearance is necessary and the animal shall not be released to the owner or custodian until after the court appearance unless the owner agrees with the city attorney to have the animal placed outside the corporate limits of the city or agrees to have the animal euthanized. Having a vicious animal is declared to be a nuisance and may be corrected as such as prescribed by law including the summary correction procedure relating to nuisances.