(A) (1) Any animal which appears to be lost, stray or unwanted, or not wearing a currently valid dog identification tag and a currently valid rabies vaccination tag, as required by state law or this chapter, or not under restraint in violation of this chapter, may be seized, impounded, confined in a humane manner and taken to the animal shelter.
(2) Impoundment of an animal shall not relieve the owner or keeper from any penalty that may be imposed for violation of this chapter.
(B) (1) Upon impounding an animal, notice of impoundment shall be posted at town hall for a minimum of 72 hours, beginning with the time the animal is taken to the animal shelter, or until the animal is disposed of. Reasonable effort shall be made to identify the owner or keeper and inform the owner or keeper of the conditions whereby the animal may be redeemed.
(2) The notice shall be prominently displayed on a bulletin board of town hall listing the time and place of the taking of the animal, together with the time and date of posting the notice, shall be stated in the notice.
(C) Upon the impounding of any dog by the town, the Code Enforcement Officer or other authorized person in charge thereof, shall make and keep a record of the dog, showing the date confined, a brief description of the animal, whether wearing vaccination and identification tags and if listed for taxes, name and address of the owner if available from the tag or other means and the nature, and date, of the final disposition made of the dog.
(D) If the owner of any dog impounded shall appear within 4 days after being notified, a period to commence from the date notice is telephoned, mailed or posted, he or she shall be entitled to the possession of his or her dog, provided that he or she satisfies the pound-master that he or she has complied with all of the requirements of this chapter as to the listing and payment of all dog license taxes, current and delinquent, rabies vaccination and the proper collaring and tagging of the dogs; and upon the further provision that the owner pays the sum of $10 to cover the costs incurred by the town in impounding and maintaining the dog. The compliance of the owner with the provisions of this section relative to the redemption of an impounded dog shall in no way relieve or discharge the owner from any criminal prosecution brought against him or her for the violation of the provisions of this chapter.
(Ord. passed 5-13-2003)