A. Domesticated Animals At Large:
1. Animal control officers have the authority to take possession of and impound any domesticated animal at large. The officer may go onto private property, exclusive of buildings, and take the animal into their possession for impoundment.
2. No person may capture, restrain, harbor or take possession of a domesticated animal not owned by them, unless the person shall notify or deliver the animal to the Metropolitan Animal Control Facility within twenty four (24) hours. This does not apply to persons who take possession of a domesticated animal at the owner's request.
3. If a dog or cat sporting a valid license or registered tattoo or microchip implant is impounded at the Metropolitan Animal Control Facility, the Metropolitan Animal Control Facility staff will notify the owner by phone or by mail to the address currently listed on the license application.
4. Domesticated animals impounded at the Metropolitan Animal Control Facility shall be held no less than five (5) working days from the date of impoundment.
B. Animal Control Shelter Duties And Records:
1. When an animal is delivered to the animal control shelter for impoundment, the shelter shall keep a record of each animal giving a description, the date of impoundment and the disposition of the animal.
2. The Metropolitan Animal Control Facility is not required to release the names of adopters of unclaimed stray animals.
C. Animals Surrendered For Adoption; Holding Period: Any domesticated animal surrendered by its owner to the Metropolitan Animal Control Facility for adoption shall be held no less than five (5) working days, providing the animal is healthy and adequate cage space is available.
D. Time For Reclaiming:
1. In the event the owner does not claim a domesticated animal within the time period prescribed in this Section and Section 4-1-7, subsections 4-1-8D, 4-1-9A and 4-1-13A of this Chapter and subsections E and F of this Section, the owner will lose all rights of ownership to such domesticated animal.
2. Any domesticated animal not reclaimed by its owner within the time period prescribed in the sections cited above shall be deemed abandoned, and shall be placed for adoption in a suitable home or humanely destroyed.
3. No animal surrendered to a municipal animal shelter or humane society will be released for research purposes.
E. Release Conditions:
1. The owner of an impounded domesticated animal shall pay the Metropolitan Animal Control Facility a boarding fee for each day or fraction of a day that the animal was impounded.
2. The Metropolitan Animal Control Facility may release an impounded domesticated animal to its owner, or a representative of the owner, if:
a. The owner or representative presents a valid form of identification;
b. The owner or representative presents evidence that the dog or cat is licensed. If the animal is not licensed, the owner must obtain a license for the animal;
c. The owner or representative pays the boarding fees and any impoundment fees or fines for the animal.
3. The Metropolitan Animal Control Facility may release a domesticated animal to a person other than the owner if:
a. The owner does not claim an impounded domesticated animal within the time periods prescribed in this Section and Section 4-1-7, subsections 4-1-8D, 4-1-9A and 4-1-13A of this Chapter, and subsections D through F of this Section;
b. The person to whom the domesticated animal is released presents a valid form of identification, including name, address and phone number;
c. The person to whom the domesticated animal is released signs a statement agreeing to license the dog or cat, vaccinate the domesticated animal against rabies (unless evidence is present that proves the animal is currently vaccinated against rabies), and to alter the animal within two (2) months of adopting, the dog or cat must be altered before it reaches eight (8) months of age;
d. The person to whom the domesticated animal is released, if required by the Metropolitan Animal Control Facility, pays any required adoption fee or boarding charges.
4. In the event an adopter does not abide by the signed agreement, the Metropolitan Animal Control officers may reclaim the domesticated animal, and the adopter will forfeit any fee paid for the animal. When reclaiming a domesticated animal, animal control officers may go onto private property exclusive of buildings.
F. Animals At Large; Citation: In addition to, or in lieu of impounding a domesticated animal found at large, the animal control officer or police officer may issue to the known owner (or his agent) of such animal a citation or notice of ordinance violation. A criminal warrant may be initiated before the Municipal or County judge in the event the owner or his agent fails to appear as stated in the citation or notice, or fails to post an appropriate bond in lieu thereof. (Ord. 99-04, 11-16-1999)