§ 10-171. Impoundment and redemption procedures.

(a)

Placement in shelter. It shall be the duty of the appropriate officer, on information and view, to cause an animal to be impounded at an authorized animal shelter.

(b)

Redemption. Unless otherwise required to be confined for a longer period pursuant to section 10-31 et seq., all animals (except feral cats) which have been impounded and are not so injured or diseased as to appear useless and in a suffering condition shall be held for redemption by the owner for a minimum of five business days. The animal control division shall attempt to contact the owner of any animal impounded wearing a tag, exhibiting a recognizable tattoo or implanted with an electronic animal identification device. Those animals not claimed within five business days by the owner shall become the property of the county and may be placed for adoption or disposed of in a humane manner.

(c)

Feral cats. All feral cats without identification shall be held two business days for the owner to reclaim the cat and for evaluation by the animal control division. All feral cats not redeemed by the owner within said two business days may be humanely euthanized.

(d)

Release to owner. Impounded animals may be released to the owner when the following conditions have been met:

(1)

Proof of ownership, established by way of a license and rabies vaccination certificate, bill of sale, photographs, or affidavit.

(2)

Rabies vaccination. Satisfactory proof is provided that the animal has received the required rabies vaccination within the previous 12 months, or at such other time frame as conforms to the vaccine manufacturer's directions for the last vaccine received by the animal; or evidence of full prepayment for the required vaccination is provided on a form provided by the county and signed by a licensed veterinarian doing business in the county.

(3)

Payment by the owner of all penalties as provided in this chapter, impoundment fees, daily boarding costs, medical expenses and other costs related to such impoundment, for each and every animal, after provided, for each and every such animal.

(e)

Exception. In the event any untagged animal is found in a state of pain and suffering or becomes so during confinement, the animal control division may euthanize the animal in a humane manner without complying with the waiting periods established by this section.

(Ord. No. 2009-01, § 1, 4-9-09)