(a) Deemed abandoned. At the end of the minimum time period indicated in section 6-135, unclaimed animals shall be deemed abandoned and shall be disposed of in a humane manner. The animal may be destroyed in a humane manner or the animal may become the property of the animal shelter or may be offered for adoption to a legitimate rescue group or may be offered for adoption to any responsible adult who complies with the provisions of this chapter. Such animal may be adopted or purchased by the first person who pays the adoption or purchase fee. No rabies vaccination fee will be required for animals sold to dealers licensed pursuant to the United States Department of Agriculture's Animal Welfare Act.
(b) Spaying/neutering. Animal control may recommend that all adopted female dogs and cats released from the animal shelter be spayed and that all adopted male dogs and cats released from the animal shelter be neutered.
(Code 1982, § 4-33; Ord. No. 01-022, § 1, 11-8-2001; Ord. No. 2008-Code-04, 10-16-2008)