(A) Any dog found in the city in violation of any of the provisions of this chapter shall be impounded by any police officer of the city, or by any person appointed by the governing body of the city as its agent and employee for that purpose, and placed in the city animal pound or other suitable place provided by the city for that purpose. The Chief of Police, any officer of the Police Department, or the animal control officer appointed by the governing body shall, within 24 hours following the impounding of such dogs, notify the owner of the animal having been impounded and of its confinement in the custody of the city. If the owner of the animal is unknown, such police officer shall post written notice in the City Finance Office describing the animal and stating the time and place where the animal was apprehended, and how the same may be recovered by the owner.
(B) Unless the dog is recovered and all charges paid for its upkeep by the owner or person having charge thereof, and unless such dog is registered and licensed as provided by this code, it shall be sold or destroyed in the most humane manner possible after the expiration of four days from the time when notice was posted stating that the dog was apprehended and impounded; provided, however, that any dog which has been diagnosed by a licensed veterinarian to be suffering from rabies or any dangerous contagious disease shall be immediately destroyed.
(C) The Chief of Police, or any animal control officer appointed by the governing body, shall collect a sum to be determined by the City Council for each dog impounded and the additional sum per day for keeping any dog which has been apprehended or impounded, and such officer shall not release any dog until such charges have been paid, and until said dog has been duly registered and licensed, if need be, as provided by this chapter.
(Prior Code, § 2-2-12) Penalty, see § 90.99
Statutory reference:
Related provisions, see SDCL §§ 9-29-3, 9-29-12