(A) If an impounded animal is not redeemed by the owner within the period prescribed in § 93.42, it may be destroyed in a humane manner or shall become the property of the County Animal Shelter and offered for adoption to any responsible adult who is willing to comply with this chapter. The animal may be adopted or purchased by the first person who pays the adoption or purchase fee and rabies vaccination fee. No live animals may be sold or offered for adoption for laboratory or testing purposes.
(B) The Animal Control Officer shall not without written consent of a veterinarian allow any dog or cat seven weeks of age or older to be released from the Animal Shelter for adoption until the dog or cat has been neutered or spayed.
(C) In lieu of an adoption fee, or in addition to the adoption fee, a charge may be made as a condition to adoption of an animal for an amount as is determined to be sufficient to pay the cost of neutering the animal.
(D) No animal which has been impounded by reason of its being a stray, unclaimed by its owner, shall be allowed to be adopted from the Animal Shelter during a period of emergency rabies quarantine invoked pursuant to § 93.26 of this chapter, except by special authorization of the Director of Public Health and the Animal Control Officer.
(E) There shall be no adoption of vicious or dangerous animals.
(F) Potentially vicious or dangerous dogs may be adopted only under the following conditions and pursuant to the following procedures.
(1) The potential adopting party must complete the application forms as are provided and complete the counseling as is offered by the County Animal Control Office. Approved counseling may be provided by personnel or qualified volunteers at the County Animal Control Office, by attendance at dog obedience training classes or by viewing videos or reading materials which are provided by or approved by the County Animal Control Office.
(2) The staff and volunteers of the Animal Shelter shall observe the dog during the minimum four-day holding period, and the dog shall be found not to be a vicious or dangerous animal.
(3) The potential adopting party shall pay a fee as is established by the County Board of Commissioners for the purpose of having the dog to be adopted undergo evaluation by a licensed veterinarian with formal training in animal behavior, or with other appropriate qualifications in the field of animal behavior as approved by the County Animal Control Office, and the dog shall thereafter be evaluated and found not to be a vicious or dangerous animal.
(4) The potential adopting party shall sign a release and waiver of all claims upon forms provided by the County Animal Control Office, for the purpose of releasing the county, the County Animal Control Office and its agents and employees, from all liability resulting from property damage or personal injury caused by dogs adopted through the County Animal Control Office, agreeing to assume all legal responsibility and liability for property damage or personal injuries caused by adopted dogs; agreeing to defend and hold the county harmless from all claims for liability resulting from property damage or personal injuries caused by the adopted dogs; and confirming that liability insurance is in place to provide coverage for property damage and personal injury caused by the dogs following adoption.
(Prior Code, § 1.43) Penalty, see § 93.99