(A) Impounded animals not claimed shall be kept for not less than 3 working days from the date of impoundment. In calculating the length of this time period, the first working day after impoundment shall be considered day one.
(B) If, by a license tag or other means, the owner of an impounded animal can be identified, the Animal Control Officer shall as soon as practicable after impoundment notify the owner by telephone, if reasonably possible, advising that if the animal involved is not redeemed within 3 working days after impoundment, disposition will be made in accordance with this chapter.
(C) Impounded animals, other than those impounded for observation for rabies, shall be subject to immediate redemption. Such animals may be redeemed by anyone entitled to possession thereof while the same are in the city shelter after paying the appropriate fees as set forth in the fee ordinance.
(1) Dogs and cats (payable upon return of animal):
(a) Spayed or neutered (sterilized). As set forth in the fee ordinance.
(b) Unspayed or unneutered. As set forth in the fee ordinance.
(c) If proof of surgical sterilization is provided within 15 days from the date an animal is released, the difference in impoundment fees between sterilized and unsterilized will be refunded. Dogs and cats under the age of1year shall be charged the sterilized fee. Animals may be exempted from sterilization upon written recommendation from a licensed veterinarian that such alternatives would be harmful or dangerous to the animal. Owners of these animals are to be subject to the lower impoundment fee.
(d) The owner must provide proof of a current vaccination from a licensed veterinarian to the Animal Control Officer at which time the owner will be issued a city license. Owners shall be permitted 48 hours to obtain the required city license after they have obtained their animal. Following this 48-hour period, a citation shall be issued for no license.
(2) Livestock (payable upon return of animal). As set forth in the fee ordinance.
(D) After impoundment, the City Manager shall authorize the selling of impounded livestock or other such animals at public auction for cash. The City Secretary shall publish notice of the time, terms and place of sale in the local newspaper of the city, describing the animal impounded and stating that the same will be sold to defray costs. At any time before the sale, the owner may reclaim the animal by paying the expenses of taking up and keeping, together with the cost of sale. If not reclaimed, the Animal Control Officer, or the person designated by him or her shall, between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. on such day advertised, sell such animal at public auction to the highest bidder. The proceeds from the sale of the auction shall be paid into the city treasury.
(E) Conditions for release of impounded animals shall be as follows:
(1) Before releasing any animal to the owner or purchaser, the Animal Control Officer shall require sufficient proof that reasonable precautions have been taken to prevent further violations of this chapter. If the owner does not submit sufficient proof of such precautions the animal may continue to be impounded for 3 additional days. Upon the expiration of that third day, the Animal Control Officer shall determine the disposition of the impounded animal in accordance with division (F) of this section.
(2) In case any animal impounded sought to be redeemed is suffering from any disease or ailment, it shall not be released until the Animal Control Officer shall be satisfied that arrangements for providing for its proper treatment are assured. Animals put under observation or isolation as described in this section shall become subject to redemption when found to be free from rabies.
(F) Except as provided in division (D) of this section, impounded animals not redeemed by their owner within 3 working days following impoundment shall become the property of the city and shall at the direction of the Animal Control Officer be placed for adoption in a suitable home, transferred to a bona fide humane society for adoption purposes, transferred to a bona fide animal rescue group, kept for use by the city, transferred to another government agency, or humanely destroyed.
(G) A person who desires to adopt an animal from the animal shelter shall pay an adoption fee, pay any license fee, if required; and have the animal vaccinated for rabies within 5 days after adoption. Fees for adoption, license, and/or vaccination shall be charged as set forth in the fee ordinance.
(H) No impounded dog or cat shall be released until the person to whom the dog or cat is released pays all applicable fees.
(I) Dogs, cats, and other impounded animals not redeemed or adopted as provided for in this section shall be humanely euthanized at the city animal shelter under the direction of the Animal Control Officer.
(J) The Animal Control Officer shall cause to be maintained a record describing each identifiable animal impounded. Such record shall be kept for a period of 2 years. In the case of dogs and cats, the license tag number shall be noted and the name of the person to whom it was issued. In the case of each identifiable animal, it shall be noted how the impounded animal was disposed of, giving the names and addresses of persons to whom such animal was delivered.
(Ord. 599, passed 9-6-2005)