1. Except as hereinafter provided, licensed and vaccinated animals impounded under the provision of this chapter may be reclaimed by the owner or keeper upon payment of the impoundment fee as provided in the fee schedule and the animal shelter boarding fee. The owner or keeper has 72 hours after impoundment, Saturdays, Sunday and city holidays excluded, to redeem the animal. If the owner or keeper has not made arrangements to redeem the animal within this period, the animal becomes the property of the city and may be disposed of as provided in this chapter.
2. No unlicensed dog or cat may be released from the impoundment to its owner or keeper until such dog or cat is issued a license, as provided in this chapter, and after payment of the fee as provided in the fee schedule.
3. No unvaccinated animal may be released from impoundment unless the owner or keeper signs an agreement to have animal vaccinated against rabies within two weeks of release, or from the time the animal reaches the age of six months, by a licensed veterinarian and return documented proof of such to the Animal Control Officer on or before the contract compliance date. Failure to comply with the agreement shall be unlawful, and may result in the issuance of a citation for violation of the provisions of this chapter. The owner or keeper shall also be required to deposit funds with the animal shelter to ensure the animal is vaccinated. The amount of the deposit shall be set in the fee schedule, and will be refunded to the owner upon presentation of the documented proof on or before the contract compliance date.
4. The owner or keeper of an unaltered dog or cat impounded under the provisions of this chapter may redeem their pet upon payment of the required fees. The owner or keeper shall also be required to deposit funds with the animal shelter in an amount equal to the sterilization deposit, as established in the fee schedule, that will be refunded to the owner upon presentation of a written statement signed by a licensed veterinarian that the animal has been neutered or spayed. The statement must be presented within 14 days from the redemption date in order to receive the refund. If the dog or cat has been impounded for a third or subsequent time, the animal may not be released from the animal shelter unless the owner or keeper signs an agreement, in addition to making the deposit, to have the animal neutered or spayed within two weeks of release. If the animal is less than six months old at the time of redemption, the statement must be presented within 14 days from the date the animal attains the age of six months. Failure to comply with the agreement shall be unlawful, and may result in the issuance of a citation for violation of the provisions of the chapter.
5. Upon presentation of a written report from a licensed veterinarian stating that the life or health of an unaltered dog or cat may be jeopardized by surgery, the Animal Control Officer shall grant a 30-day extension of the period within which the spay or neuter surgery would otherwise be required. Further extensions may be granted upon additional veterinary reports stating the necessity for such extensions.
6. The vaccination and sterilization deposits required above will be retained by the city, and a refund of the deposits will be made upon presentation of a written statement signed by a licensed veterinarian that the animal has been vaccinated and/or neutered or spayed. If the animal has not been vaccinated and/or altered within the time specified in the release agreement, the deposit will be forfeited to the city. Deposits forfeited to the city shall be placed in a separate account, which shall be an interest bearing account if feasible, and such forfeited funds shall be used for promoting programs which educate the public on the need for vaccinating and altering animals, and responsible pet ownership.