(A) Apprehension and surrender.
(1) Upon an initial determination or upon registration of a dog to be dangerous, potentially dangerous or vicious, or if the Sheriff’s Office has reasonable suspicion to believe that a dangerous, potentially dangerous or vicious dog is being kept or harbored within the territorial jurisdiction of this subchapter in violation of it or of a permit issued hereunder, the Sheriff’s Office of the county and of any municipality subject to this subchapter shall impound such dog.
(2) It shall be a violation of this subchapter to fail or refuse to surrender such dog to such officers upon their lawful demand. The officer impounding such a dog shall deliver the same to the County Animal Shelter.
(B) Confinement. A dog impounded by or surrendered to the Sheriff’s Office as provided herein shall be confined in the County Animal Shelter or, upon request of the owner, keeper or harborer of the dog, or a permittee hereunder, and at such person’s expense, at a private veterinary facility or kennel approved by the Sheriff’s Office, subject to the following conditions.
(1) Costs of impoundment. Impoundment shall be at the expense of the owner, keeper or harborer of the dog, or of the permittee. Costs of impoundment at the County Animal Shelter shall be paid by the person liable therefore at the daily rate therefor. The costs of impoundment at a veterinary facility or kennel shall be paid by the person liable therefore pursuant to the terms of the agreement between such person and the proprietor of such facility or kennel. In no event shall the county or any municipality subject to this subchapter be liable for or pay for impoundment at such private facility or kennel.
(2) Release from impoundment. No such dog shall be released from impoundment as provided herein, except upon registration of such dog and issuance, as provided herein, of a permit or temporary permit allowing such release. No such dog shall be released from the County Animal Shelter until costs of confinement of such dog, any registration and permit fees for such dog and any civil penalties assessed in connection with such dog have been paid in full.
(C) Disposition of unclaimed or abandoned dogs. The following dogs impounded at the County Animal Shelter pursuant to this section shall be deemed abandoned and disposed of in accordance with the provisions of this subchapter and the rules and regulations of the County Animal Shelter:
(1) Any dog which remains unclaimed by its owner, keeper or harborer or permittee thereof for a period more than ten business days or a period of lawful quarantine, whichever is longer;
(2) Any dog claimed by its owner, keeper or harborer, which is confined for a period in excess of ten business days, or a period of lawful quarantine, whichever is longer, during which no application has been made for a permit or temporary permit; provided, however, the Sheriff’s Office shall extend such time upon a showing of justifiable delay in such action by the owner, keeper, harborer or permittee thereof; and
(3) Any dog unclaimed by its owner shall be disposed of pursuant to the direction of the Sheriff’s Office.
(Ord. 2013-24, passed 9-15-2013)