A. Any owner or keeper of an animal who does not claim and redeem the animal within a five (5) day impounding period shall forfeit all right, title and interest in and to the animal. Fiscal responsibility for any animal not redeemed within five (5) days from the time of impounding shall be transferred from the City to the operator of the animal shelter. Any animal not redeemed within five (5) days from the time of impounding may at once be put up for adoption in accord with the normal procedure of the animal shelter operator. Any animal which has been impounded for five (5) days and has not been redeemed or adopted may be humanely destroyed and disposed of at the discretion of the animal shelter operator.
B. No animal shall be put up for adoption or destroyed if the identity and whereabouts of the owner can be readily ascertained from a rabies vaccination tag, license tag or other identification tag worn by the animal, until a reasonable effort has been made to notify the owner.
C. Disposition of unredeemed hoofed animals shall be in accord with Colorado Revised Statutes section 35-44-101 et seq.
D. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection A of this section: 1) an animal without identification, including, but not limited to, a microchip or collar, 2) animals that are relinquished to the animal control contractor by the owner, 3) abandoned animals, and 4) animals experiencing extreme pain or suffering may be humanely disposed of after having been impounded for less than five (5) days in accord with the provisions of Colorado Revised Statutes section 35-80-106.3. (1968 Code §§11-124, 11-144.5; Ord. 74-59; Ord. 74-114; 1980 Code; Ord. 01-42; Ord. 03-31; Ord. 08-209)