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It shall be a violation of this chapter to interfere with or impede a humane officer or officers in the performance of their duties as set forth in this chapter.
(Prior Code, § 71.13) (Ord. 10-92, passed 11-9-1992) Penalty, see § 91.999
(A) All animals found to be at large, stray or being a public nuisance may be taken by the police or humane officer and impounded.
(B) If any dangerous, ferocious or vicious animal is found a large and cannot be safely taken up and impounded, the animal may be tranquilized, slain or humanely euthanized, to prevent undue suffering, by a police officer or his or her designee or a humane officer.
(C) Impounded dogs and cats not wearing town tags (licenses) must be kept for no fewer than three days before being adopted out or humanely euthanized.
(D) (1) If dogs and cats wearing town tags (licenses) are impounded by the animal control agency, an attempt shall be made by the humane officer to return said animal to the owner, as indicated on the records of the animal control agency, as soon as is practical after the time of the impoundment. If said attempt to return said animal is impossible or without success, the animal control agency shall send a written notice to the owner at the address indicated in the records of the animal control agency that said agency has in its possession said animal and that unless said animal is claimed by the owner within ten days from the date of said impoundment, said animal may be placed for adoption or humanely euthanized.
(2) This process shall be followed for the first offense only. On second and subsequent violations, the impounded dogs or cats wearing town tags (licenses) shall be kept for not fewer than five days to permit their owners to claim them. After the fifth day of said second or subsequent violations, such dogs or cats may be placed for adoption or humanely euthanized if their owners have not claimed them and paid the required fees.
(E) All other impounded animals (except dogs and cats specifically covered herein) shall be under the authority of the humane officer. The animals shall be held at least one day, after which time the animal shelter shall have the authority to take whatever action is necessary with regard to the adoption or euthanasia of such animals.
(F) An owner reclaiming an impounded animal shall pay to the town’s animal control agency its then-current redemption fee plus the total daily boarding fee for redemption of the animal.
(G) (1) No unlicensed dog or cat shall be released from an animal shelter without a license being issued in accordance with this chapter, except a dog or cat less than six months old. However, because proof of current, effective rabies vaccination is required before the license is issued, if such shelter does not have licensed veterinary services on site to administer such required rabies vaccination, the dog or cat may be released upon presentation of a veterinarian’s charges for such vaccination and must be vaccinated within 48 hours after such release, and the owner shall supply proof of same to the town’s animal control agency within 72 hours after the release, at which time the license tag shall be issued.
(2) Failure of the animal owner to obtain such vaccination after such release shall constitute a breach of the release agreement and entitle the town’s animal control agency to regain possession of the animal.
(H) (1) An animal owner redeeming an impounded animal belonging to him or her shall pay to the town or its agent a redemption fee of $15 on the occasion that an animal is released to such owner by the town’s animal control agency. An owner redeeming an impounded unlicensed animal shall pay to the town a redemption fee of $25 before the animal is released by the animal control agency. Such redemption fee shall increase by an additional $25 per impoundment for each subsequent time within a three-month period that the same or any other animal belonging to the same owner may be impounded.
(2) Any impounded animal which is not required to be licensed under the provisions of this chapter may be redeemed by its owner for a $10 fee for the first impoundment.
(3) The town’s animal control agency shall collect all such licensing and redemption fees for the town and shall account to the town and pay over to the Clerk-Treasurer such amounts of such fees as required by the animal control contract between the town and the animal control agency then in effect.
(I) The town’s animal control agency shall have the authority to take whatever action is reasonably necessary, including humane euthanization, to deal with a sick or injured animal for the welfare of the animal and for the safety of humane officers and the public.
(J) In the event that an animal is retained at the impounding facility because its owner has been in violation of this chapter, the person redeeming the animal by paying the redemption fee shall also be subject to paying for veterinary bills incurred, for routine vaccinations for the animal(s), if necessary, veterinary services, boarding fees, all pertinent expenses and all applicable permit and/or licensing fees reasonably necessary and incurred for the benefit of the animal.
(K) Any animal impounded in an animal control facility, if not reclaimed by its owner as provided for herein, shall thereby become the property of the animal control agency and, if not adopted out, must be humanely euthanized.
(Prior Code, § 71.19) (Ord. 4-91, passed 5-28-1991; Ord. 10-92, passed 11-9-1992)
It shall be unlawful for any person to break into any animal shelter wherein animals are impounded by the town or in any way to remove or assist in the removal of any animal from the described property without lawful permission.
(Prior Code, § 71.17) (Ord. 10-92, passed 11-9-1992) Penalty, see § 91.999
REGISTRATION, PERMITS AND FEES
(A) Any person owning, keeping, harboring or having custody of any dog or cat over the age of six months must obtain a pet registration for such animal; provided that no pet registration shall be required of any municipal animal control facility or governmental agency or guide dog. Animals belonging to those agencies or persons will be issued complimentary registration tags.
(B) Written application for such registration shall be made to the town’s animal control agency and shall include the name and address of the applicant, description of the animal, payment of the appropriate fee and valid rabies certificate and written verification if the pet has been spayed or neutered, issued by a licensed veterinarian. Said application must be made within 30 days after either obtaining a dog or cat over six months of age or after a younger animal attains six months, except that this requirement will not apply to a nonresident keeping a dog or cat within the town for not longer than 30 days.
(C) A durable tag stamped with the registration number and year of issuance will be provided to the pet registration holder for each registration granted. Dogs and cats must wear their tags at all times, except when involved in any organized show, obedience demonstration, training situation or under the care of a licensed veterinarian, or when properly kenneled.
(D) No such registration shall be issued for a dog or cat unless the animal owner provides proof of current and effective rabies vaccination.
(Prior Code, § 71.20) (Ord. 10-92, passed 11-9-1992) Penalty, see § 91.999
Cross-reference:
Related form, see Ch. 91, Appx. A
(A) (1) It shall be unlawful for any person to possess within the town any controlled animal or controlled animals as defined herein unless the owner of said animal or animals possesses proper state and/or federal permits as required for said animal or animals and a valid town controlled animal permit.
(2) It shall be unlawful for any person to possess within the town any protected or endangered species as may be listed or published from time to time by any department or agency of the federal or state government unless the owner of said animal possesses proper state and/or federal permits and a valid town controlled animal permit as defined in this chapter.
(3) It shall be unlawful for any person to possess within the town any wild animal indigenous to this state unless said owner possesses proper state and/or federal permits and a valid town controlled animal permit.
(4) It shall be unlawful for any person to possess within the town any non-domestic animal unless said owner possesses proper state and/or federal permits as required by law for said animal and a valid town controlled animal permit.
(B) This section shall not be deemed to prevent the importation, possession, purchase or sale of any species by any institute of higher learning, zoological park, persons holding valid state or federal permits together with a valid town controlled animal permit, or to any person or organization licensed to present a circus or carnival pursuant to this chapter.
(C) Any animal being possessed in violation of this section may be seized by a humane officer and impounded.
(Prior Code, § 71.21) (Ord. 10-92, passed 11-9-1992) Penalty, see § 91.999
Cross-reference:
Related form, see Ch. 91, Appx. B
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