(a) How done. An owner may redeem an impounded animal by:
(1) complying with the rabies vaccination and licensing provisions of this title;
(2) paying all redemption fees;
(3) paying any outstanding fines unless adjudication has been requested;
(4) providing satisfactory proof of ownership; and
(5) complying with the requirements of this section and any other conditions for return of the animal as ordered by the Agency.
(b) Fees. Redemption fees include:
(1) for a spayed or neutered animal, an impoundment charge of $25 for the first impoundment, $50 for the second impoundment, and $100 for the third or any subsequent impoundment within a 12-month period;
(2) for an animal not spayed or neutered, an impoundment charge of $50 for the first impoundment, $100 for the second impoundment, and $200 for the third or any subsequent impoundment within a 12-month period;
(3) a $5 shelter fee for each day that the animal is held at the Agency facility; and
(4) the cost of any required veterinary services.
(c) Waiver of shelter fees. Accrued shelter fees shall be waived by the Agency when a delay in adjudication at the Commission, Board of Appeals, or Circuit Court occurs due to a contested request for postponement by the County. Fees shall be waived for the time between the request and the next hearing date.
(d) Community cats.
(1) Community cat caregivers may reclaim impounded eartipped community cats without the proof of ownership or the payment of shelter fees and impoundment charges required under § 12-4-504 and without complying with the licensing requirements under § 12-4-702, if the community cat caregiver agrees, in writing and on a form provided by the Agency, to abide by the trap-neuter-return standards described under this title and to return the community cat to its original location or provide for rehoming.
(2) If an impounded community cat has not been sterilized, vaccinated for rabies, and undergone eartipping, the community cat may only be redeemed by a community cat caregiver after receiving a rabies vaccination administered by the Agency. Release from impoundment shall be conditioned on referral to a trap-neuter-return program and a written agreement with the County. Documentation of sterilization and eartipping shall be forwarded to the Agency within 60 days of release from impoundment.
(e) Active investigations. If an animal is impounded under this subtitle as a danger to persons or property, the Agency may deny redemption of the animal for the lesser of 14 days or the duration of an active investigation into the incident for which the animal was impounded.
(f) Spay or neuter conditions. If a dog or cat that is not spayed or neutered is impounded two times within a 12-month period, the owner shall have the animal spayed or neutered at the owner's expense prior to redemption unless the owner appeals to the Commission within five days after the date of the condition being imposed and the Chief, following a recommendation from the Commission, waives this requirement or orders other action.
(g) Appeal. The owner of an animal may appeal redemption conditions imposed by the Agency under this section by filing a written appeal with the Commission within five days of the conditions being imposed. At least five days prior to the hearing, the owner of an animal shall be notified of the date, time, and location of the hearing.
(h) Commission hearing. The hearing before the Commission shall be governed by § 12-4-206. After a hearing on an appeal of redemption conditions, the Commission shall submit a recommendation to the Chief noting any conditions the Commission recommends be upheld, amended, waived, or added.
(i) Redemption pending appeal. If the owner files a timely appeal to the Commission, the Chief may allow redemption of the animal by the owner while the appeal is pending without the owner complying with the appealed condition. If a redemption condition is upheld by the Chief after the hearing, the owner shall present satisfactory proof of compliance with all redemption conditions to the Agency within 30 days of the final decision being issued.
(j) Microchipping. An impounded animal shall be microchipped at the owner's expense prior to redemption if, within the 24 months prior to the impoundment, the owner of the animal was found guilty, placed on probation before judgment for, or paid a civil citation for a violation of §§ 12-4-402, 12-4-903, 12-4-904, 12-4-905, or 12-4-906.
(1985 Code, Art. 12, § 5-104) (Bill No. 41-01; Bill No. 59-16; Bill No. 96-17; Bill No. 75-18; Bill No. 89-20)